On a state university campus, no less.
The Alumni Memorial Chapel (non-denominational) is in the background.
I received a copy of the following e-mail sent to an administrator:
…I believe you have some supervisory authority over…[b]uilding, however I am not sure whether your authority would extend to the adjacent grounds. Nevertheless, I have spotted what appears to be recent landscaping on the south side…. Sod has been planted in a patch of mulch that is surrounded by sidewalk.
The sod appears to be in the form of a Pentecostal cross. Perhaps this is an attempt at a formal garden effect, but the timing of this landscaping being shortly before Easter seems curious. Further, the scale of the sod used will require the use of a pushmower to care for this, instead of the wide track mowers that are used on the campus lawns. So it appears that someone is willing to use some additional equipment for its maintenance, or it is only a temporary, seasonal display.
Perhaps the planting is innocuous, but the effect is disturbing to have at a public university that promotes diversity. Hopefully this is something for which you can get some satisfactory answers…
The view from the third floor of an adjacent building.
As I’ve shown the photographs to various individuals the reactions I get range from “Too funny” to “I think it’s a sign!” to “It doesn’t even follow the aesthetic of the rest of the campus.”
I’d see anything in the landscapeing. As it is now, on first impression I would have probably wondered when the statue/fountain/bird-bath was going in and which it would be.
We had Jesus Week every spring, which meant a lot of public praying, lectures on the Rapture, and Kirk Cameron.
We also got regular updates through the campus mass e-mail system, which the director of OU Hillel complained about. The response by the e-mail admin was “Well, you’re free to use the e-mail system to get people to come to your events, too!” She had no reply when she was told that Jews aren’t allowed to proselytize, it’s not in their religion.
This chapel was constructed to honor all those courageous AMERICANS who gave their lives to defend LIBERTY and FREEDOM in this country. The vast majority of those who were honored by the construction of the chapel were Christians. It’s rather insulting to even have this post as some University alumni make take great offense. Without a doubt, Jews, Muslims and other religions also have displays on campus from time to time.
I have no idea of this display is permanent or temporary, nor does it bother me whatsoever. The ARROGANCE that this somehow has no place on a state university next to an alumni chapel bothers me greatly. Why does this bother you and why would you spend time troubling people about it?
I am proud of our religious heritage, proud of what George Washington an our founding fathers achieved against all odds. I was to preserve that at all costs. And I am truly proud of our son who was nearly killed three time in Iraq defending our freedoms to even argue about things like this stupid planting.
State one thing about this country or our Missouri State Education that you are PROUD of. Everything you see this is an attack on something, evil to be disclosed, so that we no longer have pride in who we are, or where we came from.
May the souls honored by this fine chapel rest in peace and may the alumni forever be able to honor their service in any way they deem appropriate.
Comrades:
I agree with commissar Bersin! Only party approved speach is to be allowed. All speach and expression of religion (the opate of the masses)will need to be approved by Commissar Bersin or who he appoints as guardians of approved thought and expression. Our Brownshirts, known as Americorps, will begin to remove the offending religious symbols of presumed freedoms for mankind. Our only freedoms now come from the party and it’s dictates as expressed by Commissar Bersin.
Chairman Obama
Michael,
You are the person who chose to be insulting and demeaning. That is the point which you refuse to acknowledge.
And if you google caolila you will find it to be a very fine Scottish single malt.
Liberals resort to demaning and insulting when they wish to avoid arguing on point. It happens every time.