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Title: Jesus Statue Could Be Forced Off Montana Mountain
Source:
Associated Press
URL Source: http://ksax.com/article/stories/S2341163.shtml?cat=10230
Published: Oct 23, 2011
Author: Associated Press
Post Date: 2011-10-23 19:36:43 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 74076
Comments: 97
The statue has been a curiosity to skiers at the famed Big Mountain ski hill for decades, mystifying skiers at its appearance in the middle of the woods as they cruise down a popular ski run. "This has been an illegal display. The lease should have never happened," said Gaylor. "Just because a violation is long lasting doesn't make it Rehberg, a Republican, is telling the Forest Service he agrees the historical significance outweighs other concerns. 
A statue of Jesus on U.S. Forest Service land in the mountains over a Montana ski resort faces potential eviction amid an argument over the separation of church and state.
The Forest Service offered a glimmer of hope late last week for the statue's supporters by withdrawing an initial decision to boot the Jesus statue from its hillside perch in the trees. But as it further analyzes the situation before making a final decision, the agency warned rules and court decisions are stacked against allowing a religious icon on the 25-by-25 foot patch of land.
But the Freedom From Religion Foundation isn't amused by the Jesus statue. The group argued that the Forest Service was breaching separation of church and state rules by leasing the small plot of land for the Jesus statue, and is pushing the agency to stand by its original decision to remove the religious icon.
"This has huge meaning for Americans. And if you aren't religious it has huge meaning as well," said Annie Laurie Gaylor, with the Madison, Wis.-based group. "If skiers think that it is cute, then put it up on private property. It is not cute to have a state religious association."
The local Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, have maintained the statue ever since members that included World War II veterans, who were inspired by religious monuments they saw while fighting in the mountains of Europe, erected the monument in the 1950s. But the group thinks the large statue made of a cement-type material is too fragile in its current state to be moved around the rugged mountainside to a different location.
The Forest Service in August initially rejected a renewal of the 10-year lease. It said the religious nature of the statue was obvious and believed it could be placed on private land as close as 2,600 feet away. The Knights have never been charged for use of the public land.
The agency, under fire from Congressman Deny Rehberg and others, announced Friday it would withdraw that decision and open the issue again to public comment. It said a notification that the statue is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places could help - but is far from a guarantee it can stay.
Gaylor, with the group fighting the statue, called it a "ruse and a sham" to consider it an historic marker.
historic. It makes it historically bad. It makes it worse. It makes it all the more reason to get rid of it."
Bill Glidden, Grand Knight of the Kalispell Council, recently submitted the request asking the Forest Service to change its mind. He stressed the historical significance of the statue to the Whitefish, and believes it honors the memory of the veterans who installed it.
"We would like to see it stay there. The community would like to see it say there," Glidden said. "It's more than just a religious icon, it is a memorial to our vets."
"The Forest Service's denial of the lease defies common sense. Using a tiny section of public land for a war memorial with religious themes is not the same as establishing a state religion," Rehberg said in a statement. "That's true whether it's a cross or a Star of David on a headstone in the Arlington National Cemetery, an angel on the Montana Vietnam Memorial in Missoula or a statue of Jesus on Big Mountain."
The Forest Service in its original decision pointed to case law stacked against such a statue, and argues rules prevent the federal government from favoring or promoting religion. The Knights were ordered in that August letter to have a removal plan in place by the end of the year, and must have the statue moved and the site restored in a year.
Phil Sammon, media coordinator for the Forest Service's Northern Region, said the agency is carefully looking at the issue.
"We absolutely understand the local importance and local history of this statue," he said. "That's what makes this a complicated issue."
Whitefish resident Bob Brown, a former state legislator and Montana secretary of state, said the issue dominated talk at his American Legion meeting this week. He said residents, few old enough to remember a time when it wasn't there, don't understand the turmoil.
"We all agreed around the table this is a tempest in a teapot. This is making trouble for us in our little community. Why don't they just leave us alone?" Brown said. "We are accustomed to it. It is part of our tradition here. So we are thinking, `why does anyone want to tear that down."'
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 58.
#1. To: Brian S (#0)
I think the statue should stay. What about you?
It seems as though rent is being paid for the piece of ground the statue is on so I'm fine with it. Of course other religions should be afforded the same right on adjacent ground to rent and place their religious icons should they desire to do so.
OK, now say islamic people want to rent another piece of public land for a statue to honor Allah and his prophet Mohammed. They would have to allow this to be fair. You can't favor one religion this way and not have others want to compete in this way.
You can't favor one religion this way and not have others want to compete in this way. Of course other religions should be afforded the same right on adjacent ground to rent and place their religious icons should they desire to do so. Indeed. That is what I'm saying...
I am even against a Wicca shrine or icon on public land. The First Amendment calls for what is government to not favor one religion over another. And I don't think my religion deserves more consideration in this than any other. If this case is resolved with this statue standing, then other religions will use the courts if they have to because of the precedent this sets.
More Print ALBANY -- Gov. Paterson floated a possible state solution to the Ground Zero mosque fight yesterday -- offering public land for the proposed Islamic center farther away from the World Trade Center. Excerpt from NY Post http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/gov_offers_land_for_mosque_if_it_YKrG1nuNaSdM bNuoZ7IabM Where's the uproar over this? We will give you public land to move your mosque off 9/11 lands. There should be no compensation for this.
In a better world there would be no mosques in America or anywhere on earth.
Have you ever restated your own quote in a mirror, say before going to work or after school, or even while you take a shower after sex with your wife? You know, you are a FUCKING ASSHOLE. I am sick & tired of your opinions, too. You are some MFer whacking off to porno sites that thinks bullshit. You only come here on this channel for some sort of passion about control based on RULES that you don't even observe.
Have you ever restated your own quote in a mirror, say before going to work or after school, or even while you take a shower after sex with your wife? What I am saying is this buckeroo. If there really is a God. If his word really is the Bible. Wouldn't it be nice if we were all following him and living in peace, truth, love. Truly following God and doing what is right. If that were the case why would there be any mosques?
You have no sense of reality, pal. All you have are hopes and dreams based upon false ideals and opinions + you have no conceptual picture of the REAL world. What a laff!
If you had good reading comprehension. You would have understood what the words "In a better world" meant. You just assumed it meant something else. I think you assumed it meant we should harm muslims or something like that. That isn't what it meant. So you should have been polite and asked for clarification if you didn't understand. But that is ok. Now you know.
Good luck twit.
I see where you are going: covering your own errors of logic, Fine.
But notice your own self-defensive characteristics: no new data or presentation.
You are a "whack-job." And I am through with you, pal, with the exception of
saying this:and continue your self-stimulation. You are non receptive to ideas
or opinions. You are an ignorant MFer that knows nothing, understands nothing
and has no reach for anything about himself or the Universe around yourself.
There is no reason for me to make any more posts on your channel. Goodbye as I
can not learn anything. I saw that you deleted my earlier
post and called me a "twit." Go f**k YOURSELF similar to the hypocrisy of
your beloved patronage, "yukon." You suck donkey dicks, EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU IS
HYPOCRISY. You know NOTHING.
You are a twit. You said you were already gone. What 5 or 10 times now. Will you keep your word this time? I don't think so. Regardless have a good life. Sorry you are in such a foul mood tonight. Hope everything is ok.
It doesn't matter what's going on in his life, good, or bad, his behavior towards you was uncalled for. Just speaking for myself, I would have apologized to that walking hangover when hell froze over....jmo!
Git your ass back up there in the hills and FUCK your cousins. Enjoy your corncob pipe and 200% moonshine. It is a American tradition, correct?
I thought you weren't coming back. Is it harder then giving up booze?
#59. To: A K A Stone (#58)
I am smoking a cocaine rock of the purest origin upon the planet. And you worry about booze? What is the matter with you? Are you really a DUMBFUCK?
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#2. To: A K A Stone (#1)
by leasing the small plot of land for the Jesus statue
#6. To: Brian S (#2)
"It seems as though rent is being paid for the piece of ground the statue is on so I'm fine with it."
#11. To: Ferret Mike (#6)
OK, now say islamic people want to rent another piece of public land for a statue to honor Allah and his prophet Mohammed. They would have to allow this to be fair.
#16. To: Brian S (#11)
#23. To: Ferret Mike (#16)
#24. To: master_of_disaster (#23)
#41. To: A K A Stone (#24)
In a better world there would be no mosques in America or anywhere on earth.
#48. To: buckeroo (#41)
In a better world there would be no mosques in America or anywhere on earth.
#49. To: A K A Stone (#48)
Wouldn't it be nice
Wouldn't it be nice
#50. To: buckeroo (#49)
#52. To: A K A Stone (#50)
#53. To: buckeroo (#52)
#54. To: A K A Stone (#53)
You would have understood what the words "In a better world"
meant.
#55. To: buckeroo (#54)
I saw that you deleted my earlier post and called me a "twit."
#56. To: A K A Stone, buckeroo (#55)
Sorry you are in such a foul mood tonight. Hope everything is ok.
#57. To: Murron (#56)
#58. To: buckeroo (#57)
Replies to Comment # 58.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 58.
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