13 Years Since 9/11

I recently read an article on a court case concerning the Establishment Clause that I find very interesting - American Atheists, Inc. v. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. This lawsuit began in 2011 as an attempt to keep a 17-foot steel cross recovered from the rubble following the terrorist attacks on September 1, 2011 from being publicly displayed at the Ground Zero museum. 

Metal cross found in the rubble at site of 9/11.
Picture found on the blaze.com.

The case was unanimously dismissed and for good reason. The court explained that, “the Establishment Clause is not properly construed to command that government accounts of history be devoid of religious references.” The groups then demanded that there should at least be equal religious representation and a plaque concerning atheists involved in the traumatic event should also be displayed at the museum. This request was denied because there is no atheist-related artifact and the First Amendment does not require one to be manufactured for "fairness."

Now I am by no means a very religious person, but I do not understand why this would cause so much controversy. The cross is simply an artifact included in the museum that conveyed a message of hope, not some push to convert everyone to Christianity that needs to be banned. 

Click Here To Read More