We must take a stand

I am truly upset by the news on the Lars Larson show today.  Some background: Lars had previously announced that he would be spearheading a plan to put up a Christmas cross in Portland’s Pioneer Square for Christmas week.  His plan was to help remind people of the real “reason for the season” by using the most recognizable symbol of Christianity.

Unfortunately, the progressive anti-Christian elements of our society came unglued.  They have been making very public, very overt threats to damage property and possibly harm people in order to destroy the cross.  Consequently, Lars said today that he will probably be unable to complete his plan.

Lars believes that the possibility of harm makes it irresponsible to follow through with this action.  He is also worried about legal and financial liability if someone is actually physically harmed.  He thinks this chance of violence might take away from the spirit of the message, that Christmas is a time of rejoicing and goodwill.  He also doesn’t want to feel responsible if his action in supporting the cross creates a situation where someone is hurt.

Now I usually agree with Lars.  But I must respectfully disagree with his choice to back down.  I understand how he feels.  And I respect his feelings.  But the key word there is feelings.  I think Lars is letting his emotions take over, pushing logic and reason aside.

First and foremost, let’s think about that cross and what it means…

Sometime close to 1972 years ago, Jesus was nailed to that cross.  He could have saved Himself.  But instead, He sacrificed Himself to save us all.  He spent three days in Hell for the sins of all mankind.  We must never diminish the real meaning of that cross.  Any Earthly harm to any person is insignificant compared to the harm He suffered for us.

During the following 1972 or so years, countless Christians have been martyred for the cross.  During the first few hundred years of Christianity, those who followed the teachings of Christ found themselves thrown to lions, hunted down and slaughtered, and persecuted without compassion.

I don’t think too many of those early Christians would have thought too highly of someone who backed down from affirming and celebrating the birth of Christ in order to avoid the mere possibility of some type of harm.

Now let’s think about what it means to back down…

We must never, never give in to those would threaten violence in order to change our way of life.  While one cross in one city is a relatively minor thing compared to the events of the world as a whole, the meaning is the same.  Right now, we have a few hundred thousand troops half-way around the world in harm’s way, fighting to preserve the American way of life, fighting to protect and promote democracy, fighting to defeat terror.  Over two-thousand of those brave souls have now gone to meet their maker, having made the ultimate sacrifice in the ongoing fight.

There is an anti-war, anti-American movement out there that is actively trying to end our involvement in the Global War on Terror.  One of their primary arguments is that we mustn’t take such actions when it means that Americans might be killed.  They say we should get out of Iraq.  They say we shouldn’t be in the Middle East because our presence there only riles the terrorists and promotes their hatred of America.

What if we backed down?

I can understand the feelings of those who think that it is better to get out and prevent the further loss of life.  But they are feelings, not thoughts.  If we back down, the terrorists win.  If we cut and run, we say to the terrorists, “if you make the price of freedom too high, we will surrender it to you.”  If we back out of Iraq, they will take it over.  And it won’t just be Iraq that falls; the terrorists will spread into neighboring nations.  They will be emboldened to do more harm to America.  Another 9/11 will come.  We can’t let that happen.  We must respond to the threat of terror.  We must never give in.

This is no different from backing down in the War on Christianity.  If the threat of violence, or even the threat of property damage, is sufficient to stop the raising of a cross, what message does that send to these domestic terrorists?  Yes, that’s what they are.  It’s one thing to be opposed to a religious display in public.  That’s your right.  And you have the right to protest it, the right to be heard in court, and the right to put up your own alternative display.  But you don’t have the right to make threats of harm against other people.  When you start saying “give up Jesus, or I’ll get violent,” you are promoting the same type of terror as employed by the terrorists who attacked our nation on 9/11.  So what message does backing down send to these terrorists?  It says “we will submit; we will cut and run if you make the price too high to pay.”

If we allow these threats to modify our behavior, we give in to domestic terror.  It will only get worse from there.  This year, we give up on a cross.  What happens next year, when these domestic terrorists start making new threats over some other symbol?  Where does it end?  If we let them have their way, it ends with the complete and total removal of God from our society.  We must not let that happen.

And finally, let’s talk about responsibility…

Lars sounds like he doesn’t want to have it on his conscience if his campaign to display the cross results in someone getting hurt.  Again, I respect his feelings.  But Lars, listen up: you have fallen into the trap of liberalism, and tossed aside common sense in favor of emotion.  Lars, if some domestic terrorist harms someone because of the cross, it won’t be on your conscience.  You won’t be responsible.  The domestic terrorist will be responsible.  Christians weren’t responsible for their brethren being tossed into the lion pits of Rome.  Nero was responsible.  Christians didn't cause that violence.  Crosses didn't cause that violence.  The free will of those who actively despised and hated Christianity caused that violence.  The same would be true today.  There will be no blood on your hands.

So here is what needs to be done:

The cross needs to go up as planned.  And our law enforcement needs to do what it is paid to do.  People on left-wing websites are making anonymous threats of violence.  That’s domestic terrorism (not to mention a civil rights violation against all Christians).  There is no such thing as a truly anonymous poster on a website.  Everyone has an IP address.  So law enforcement needs to investigate who is making these threats, and subpoena on-line records if necessary.  Hopefully, the administrators of these left-wing websites would simply cooperate and give up the information about the terrorists who make these threats.  If not, then the people need to be made aware of whom these internet enablers are.  Those making threats need to be locked up.  Those who facilitate the terror process by giving the terrorists a forum and refusing to cooperate with law enforcement to protect the civil rights of Christians need to be help publicly accountable.  Christians need to know who the owners of these websites are, so that they can launch a boycott of their advertisers and other supporters.  We must take a stand.

Put that cross up.

Comments

[Vonski]

You said more than I did, but essentially the same thing. I agree, the plan to put the cross up needs to go through. I also think I could manage to drive up from Eugene and take a shift on guard duty (armed with a camera) if that would help.

[not really anonymous]

It sounds like Lars is saying he is afraid the controversy might cause crime. Isn't that like saying concealed handguns cause crime? Wake up, Lars. CRIMINALS cause crime!

[Paul "Porpoise Driven" Simer]

I'll volunteer for a shift...

[Robin]

I understand that Lars does not want anyone to get hurt, but with technology today (cameras, etc.)and facial recognition technology if they really wanted to, they could catch people doing damage to property... but of course they'll say they don't have the money or manpower.

I think the whole situation is very sad

[Bob]

Let the police stay away. Let the moonbats bring their A-game.

I'm in.

[Rivrdog]

This would be about the 648th recent sign of the coming conflict. The moonbats talk violence now quite often, so it's only a matter of time until they make violence their routine.

I'll be ready for them.

Have you been to the range lately?

[Heather Simpson]

AMEN! I couldn't have said it better. I am with you 100%. GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!
To live is CHRIST to die is gain Phillipians 1:21

[DarePDX]

Come on. At first the cross debate was the theme of the show. Just as it began to run its course Lars switch it to talking about legal risks, frivolous lawsuits, and the hypocrisy of liberal minorities with inconsistent platforms of "tolerance". Lars made his point clearly and it doesn't require the erection of a cross.

The city of Portland does not support christianity in any public fashion. Randy Leonard is not a conservative though the local media attempts to paint him that way. Liberals hate with a capacity that dwarfs the extreme right that the media loves to portray as the mainstream Republican party. Most of all though his show is underlining how liberals use lawsuits to cause a chilling effect on your freedom.

Mission accomplished Lars - Good job and I'm proud to see it happen. You've created alot of conversations, taking place at watering holes and coffee shops around Oregon.

[auspatriotman]

GULLY
YOUR GUY WILL, REPEAT WILL, BE ABLE TO DO IT AND HERE IS THE WEB LINK TO GO TO AND CALL AND THEY WILL REPEAT WILL, HELP HIM GET IT DONE. READ ABOUT ALL THE CRAP THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE!!!! PLEASE!!
http://www.lc.org/news/index.html

These are the recent news releases and then go to home page and you'll find all the info you need for anyone being threatened or persecuted!!!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND JESUS IS LORD!

[Oregon Conservative]

I feel the way you do Gully. Your point about the police is well taken. They should be there to protect our rights.

They were certainly there in Woodburn, several weeks ago, when illegal immigrants were getting illegal Mexican IDs. Those demonstrating against illegal aliens had not even threatened harm, nor ever behaved in a threatening way. However, the police were still there, guaranteeing illegal immigrants constitutional liberties they don't even have a right to, just in case.

Are we to assume, that in Portland, we can't count on police to protect legal Christian citizens from attack while putting up a Cross, even in the face of proven threats, over a right that is supposedly guaranteed by the Constitution? No one should have to concern themselves with being attacked or sued. Obviously, this is hardly what our Founding Fathers intended.

Mistakes have been made with this Christmas project. It should not have been announced in advance, especially so far in advance. The Cross simply should have appeared there, in its rightful place, as though it was unremarkable. The ceremony should have unremarkably taken place. That's how it has always been; unremarkably anticipated as an ordinary part of Christmas. Remarkable should apply to expressions other than Christmas.

In giving his first reason for not putting up the Cross Lars said, “First…this Cross means something very important to me…and to millions in Oregon and Washington. I won’t put it up…only to be destroyed or vandalized.”

Indeed the Cross is personal to each of us, but no one of us has the power to save it. That battle has already been fought and won by God. The Cross should have been put up and the rest left up to God.

Then be prepared to deal with what anti-Christs have done to Christian soldiers for centuries. New Christian Crosses must be rebuilt every day by each generation of Christian soldiers. Refusing to put one up, to protect it from defamation, doesn't jive with understanding the war on Christianity.

Video surveillance was a good plan and it is reasonable to expect the police to do something if the film shows vandalism no matter who the videographer. If they don’t, then the law has failed again. As always, that hurts especially when so much TLC and money has been put into it.

One thing is for sure, and that is that once having announced that participating churches will exercise this right, to liberty of religious expression, they should have the courage to follow through. As you rightly point out, Gully, backing down sends a terrible message. All anti-Christians have to do is threaten terror and Christmas, and Christians, will go away?

Yes, we all know that neither we, nor Lars, is going away for good. We should only fret so much over this. Though don’t be surprised if some degree of Christian expression mysteriously shows up in Pioneer Square by Christmas.

Part of the problem was that this appeared to be Lars' project and Lars' cross. Even the decision not to put it up sounded as though it all belonged to Lars and/or the radio station. The anti-Christs may really believe that it is just Lars.

It's up to Oregon Christians to make sure the anti-Christs know better.

[DarePDX]

I don't really think there is a huge threat of violence to Christians if a cross or crosses are put on display at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Its in fact common to find sermons being given in the square as well as people aggresively witnessing.

I believe Lars made his point and putting up the cross was no longer necessary. He did what he's great at - got people thinking about the underlying issues most people miss. People throughout the state were talking about the "reason for the season."

As for those who want it to follow through. Do it yourself. You don't need to be Lars Larson to pull a permit for the square.

The first ammendment ain't just for strippers in this state you know.

Why doesn't someone organize a cross vigil on x-mas eve up till midnight? I'm not the most religous person though I am a Christian, I'd defintely take a shift.

[Libertarian Jason]

We must never, never give in to those would threaten violence in order to change our way of life.

Which is why I don't vote Republican or Democrat.... Both parties would use institutionalized violence (aka. "government") to change the way we live.

[DarePDX]

Jason-

I can't understand you when you mumble. Could you speak up I can't make out what your saying.

[Notta Libb]

Check out a funny site dedicated to the absurdity and satire nature of saying “It’s All George Bush’s Fault!”

http://www.itsallgeorgebushsfault.com

Regards,
Notta Libb

[Gullyborg]

while you are at it, be sure to "blame Bush"

http://blamebush.typepad.com