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Robinson: Pensacola Should Find Way To Keep Cross
June 28, 2017
by Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson
Do we practice what we preach? We hold ourselves as Americans out to acknowledge that we are open and tolerant and founded on principals of freedom. We drape ourselves in the Bill of Rights to protect the things we want but do we truly protect those things we don’t like.
Recently, Pensacola has found itself at the center of a national debate related to a cross which has stood for more than 60 years in Bayview Park. While the arguments have focused on who is right, they should have been focused what kind of community do we want to create?
The very beginning of European settlements in what is now known as the United States is centered on religious freedom and tolerance, just look at the Pilgrims, Rhode Island, Maryland and Pennsylvania. However, in each of those settlements, it would have totally been expected that symbols could and would have been displayed.
While I firmly and steadfastly support the religious freedom and the prohibition of a national religion in our Bill of Rights, a cross is not the establishment of a religion. It is a symbol related to a religion. There are symbols to religion and other principals throughout our public buildings and parks in Pensacola, much less than places like Washington DC that is totally created on symbols.
Supposedly we now have to remove a symbol because one person was offended. This is a misapplication of the law. No symbol is universally liked. Let’s take the most popular symbol in NW Florida, the Blue Angels on the Escambia County seal. While I know the Blues are love here, I know in less than 3 hours, I could find 4 people who are offended by that symbol, the same number who filed suit against the cross.
This brings us to the real question, how tolerant are we and what is the community we want to create?
While Christianity is a majority now, its history has not always been that way. At times, Christian symbols have had to vary to prevent its believers from persecution. Yes, the US judiciary now has joined some of the best autocratic Caesars, like Nero, Caligula and Diocletian, who have disallowed Christian symbols.
My point is no symbol, religious, national, ethnic or cultural, is universally liked, but they are all important to the people that are represented by them. No one says anyone has to like a symbol. The only thing that should be embraced for us to create the unique and great country our founders
envisioned is that we should tolerate the symbols of others. We are a better community when we do that and we are more likely to find unity in respect than in division.
We have real problems in Pensacola and the United States. Removing symbols that mean something to people in our community does nothing to help us find solutions or unity. Instead it creates division and distrust that makes solutions harder to find. Whether business or politics, I have never had a problem working with anyone who is represented by a different symbol than me. However, if someone can not respect the symbols that represent me, then that severs our ability to move forward together in relationship.
I don’t need you to think the way I do or to come from the same background or believe the same things as me for us to be friends and work together. All I need is for you to respect me and tolerate my symbols as I will do for you. That is what lies at the heart of the Bill of Rights, respect, and that is what has been lost in Washington DC and in our judicial rulings.
If we truly believe in tolerance and diversity, then the cross should stay. Otherwise, are we really as open and tolerant and supportive of freedom as we say? I support the cross staying and I hope Pensacola will find a way to ensure it does for we are better when we respect than when we remove.
Comments
24 Responses to “Robinson: Pensacola Should Find Way To Keep Cross”
I am going to use some examples of why this is so dangerous. 1st, intolerance. The Confederate symbols. Now this is American history. But the offended, wanted all symbols taken off state, owned property, Ok. Now they want to remove monuments, and now threat to destroy graves and any markers left. People who have the right to display these items on personal vehicles and property are now being attacked. So what is next, rewrite all the history books and deny what happened? All because some people where offended, See what happened? Now 2, Christian Symbols , There has always been a hate among, those who do not believe in God. So, It Offends them. Anwser, remove them all. So if we comply, what next? Well based on Intolerance, the same thing will happen. Erase it all. Why? Because they are offended. Well, there will always be things that offend, But one group does not have the right to determine what is offence or not!No, you see , this is what teaches tolerance. Maybe, we should, deal with our own feelings and not force it on the world. I am a southerner, But history does not bother me, it is what it is. I am a Christian, Your choice of what to believe is up to you. But the thin skinned aprouch to ( well I do not like it take it down) must stop. So, If a mere symbol offends you so deeply, How are you going to function in a world of real people??? And we do live in the real world. 2017.
I am a law abider and I take pride in that. How can we legally do anything about it? Any ideas?
All of this controversy because 4 (FOUR) people didn’t want to see it. How about those four and any others who don’t like it, use your free will and DON”T LOOK AT IT!!!!!! Better yet leave Pensacola, I’m sure you won’t be missed
Pandering is exactly what he is doing. Move it to Grover’s front yard.
What I find is that everyone who want the cross to stay are pontificating and posting their opinion. None of you offer legal arguments to support your cause. Those who support removing it cite the law. How about we have an informed opinion vs hurt feelings?
Like? What on Earth does like have to with it?
I think the cross is fine, I do not find it of endive in the least. But when I look about at the countries of the world where government and religion are one, failures the whole lot of them. Israel is the most successful, and they are building a wall around the whole country.
We have done just fine allowing citizens place these elements in their own private lands. That is good for me.
Mr. Robinson,
Pander much?
Comparing the judiciary to people who actively killed Christians might be a bit of a stretch. Ask your judge buddies how they like your comparison. Crazy.
Also, you’re saying you wouldn’t do anything to prohibit the display of a Swastika, Pentagram, inverted US Flag, or a Blood Drop Cross, because we are a better community when we tolerate the symbols of others. Sure.
If it wasn’t a cross that was going to be taken down we wouldn’t have heard a peep out of you. Truth.
Peace.
Why would this even bother anyone? I think it looks beautiful.
Mat..In which god / whose god do you trust. There shouldn’t be any reference to any god on currency, license tags or any other state sponsored artifacts.
To Michael: “He would have been leading the parade instead of appearing to jump on the band wagon just to get some free campaign advertising….. ” Campaign for what? He’s not running for commissioner again. Besides, I have known him for years and you are completely wrong about his beliefs and character.
A bit cynical?!
Kevin- I guess the non-believers will also try to change our money, since all of our currency and coins say “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
Well said Commissioner, well said.
@Matt and everyone else who seems to be confused by the Constitution, you can’t have religious symbols displayed on government property. No one is stopping anyone from privately leasing that land and maintaining the cross. If you feel that strongly about it, then that is your option. Otherwise, you’re setting a precedent and I’m sure you’re really not going to like the results (i.e. having other religious symbols displayed in the park).
I would have liked to have seen Commissioner Robinson’s letter a week or so before the judge ruled on the case. He would have been leading the parade instead of appearing to jump on the band wagon just to get some free campaign advertising…..
The intent of the part of our Constitution used to push this case was ignored in this article. Also ignored is that tax payer’s money, the money paid by members of other religions and the non-religious, was used to maintain this “symbol”. If we replace the cross with a thirty-foot Coca-Cola sign, illuminated at night, even though a majority of us may enjoy and “respect” Coca-Cola, it would be inappropriate. Pepsi would want their voice heard also. One person was offended? What a stretch. We have secular government. The public property provided by government in America should also be secular, this includes public schools. Where tax money is applied, religion must be denied or we regress to the governmental situations our country was created to leave behind: state mandated religion.
One has to stand for something or become a sheeple. I’ll stand and fight for this cause. One nation under God!
Thank you Commissioner Robinson. I would just like to add that this cross removal was started by the Freedom From Religion group and they are going around the country looking for ways to diminish our respect for God. This isn’t just one person being offended. If there would be a way to stop this nonsense it would be great but this is a national organization and they are out to destroy everything that represents God. We as Christians need to stand up for our convictions and not thumb our noses to God as too many in our country are doing today. This Great United States of America will pay dearly for our actions and disrespect for our Maker. We need to prey for wisdom for us and for our children and grand children.
I guess next the non believers will fight to remove the lower case letter t from the alphabet because it looks like a cross.
Thank You Commissioner! You are always so level headed and truly a blessing to our community. Why let a few non engaged in their community speak for the majority. We have rights, wishes and things we believe in and have voices. The Cross needs to stay. This community is majority great people who love each other and God. I completely support keeping our Cross right where it is….we love Pensacola just like it is….Cross and all.
@ bob in baker
Assuming you’re a grown man with your own mind, no one can impose something on you that you do not accept or believe. Just because the cross stands doesn’t mean that someone is forcing religion on you or anyone else. A true Christian doesn’t go around forcing their religion on anyone. They accept you for who you are and for your beliefs and although they may not agree with them they love you anyway. Anyone who is against leaving the cross may want to speak to the man who died on it for all of us. He loves you even if you don’t love or believe in him.
The law on this is settled. The solution is to move the cross to privately-owned property.
Mr Robinson,
Thank you. Very well stated and I agree. This country was founded on Christian values. We have gotten so far from those values. Our Fore-Father’s would be shaking their heads at what we, the people, are allowing. The separation of church and state wasn’t meant for what it stands for now. It was so that the Church wouldn’t govern the state or government. We need to get back to Old-fashioned values and stand up for what is right.
Easy for you to say when you’re part of the Christian majority. Just because you’re in the majority doesn’t mean that non-christians don’t have rights too. This is symtomatic of all of the so called religious restoration legislation which is really meant to allow people to impose their religious views on others. Religion pits people and nations against each other.
Well spoken Commissioner Robinson!
One thing I would add is: If this cross has to come down, then ALL religious symbols everywhere must come down as well.