Memorial Park Bench Removed Because It is Inscribed with a Bible Verse
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
A park bench created as a memorial to a toddler killed in a hit-and-run accident back in September has been removed by municipal authorities in Elkin, North Carolina, because it features inscriptions of a bible verse and Christian crosses.
The bench was placed at Elkin Municipal Park, not far from the playground where little Mason Roten enjoyed playing. It is the creation of alumni of Elkin High, and the project was spearheaded by Ben Crosswhite, Elkin alum and a friend of the family.
The bench was installed at the park this past Saturday, but removed just two days later, on Monday. The reason for the bench���s removal is that it features religious symbols and scripture, according to town manager John Holcomb. Holcomb has said that the bench was installed without the formal approval of the town. Crosswhite disputes that approval was not given, even naming Adam McComb, the town���s parks and recreation director, as the person who gave permission.
Many are up in arms over the town���s decision to remove the bench, and I get it, of course. However, before we seek to ride Holcomb out of Elkin on a rail, let���s go ���big picture��� on this. All across America, towns and municipalities like Elkin now find themselves under the gun from anti-Christian activists of all stripes���atheists, devil-worshippers, what have you���who now wait breathlessly to see on what piece of public property will even the small reference to Christianity be permitted to stand. Once they find it, they cannot wait to sue, protest, and/or install their own contrived and insulting ���answer��� to whatever it is they supposedly find so offensive. For all the residents of Elkin know, some band of lunatic Satanists was going to be headed their way to install a giant Baphomet statue at Elkin Municipal Park, just like the one they put up in Detroit in July, right next to the bench honoring sweet, young Mason.
Yes, it would be great to see more local officials thumb their noses at the judicially-supported waves of anti-Christian sentiment that now sweep the nation, but those who do are all fighting a losing battle, as things stand right now in this country. The real answer is for us, the citizens and electorate, to apply pressure on elected officials so that laws are written that can protect at least incidental expressions of faith on government property; no reasonable thinks that Elkin allowing the presence of this memorial park bench, paid for with private funds and created to honor the memory of one person, is tantamount to Elkin saying that the town���s official religion is Christianity. However, until we, the people, work harder through our legislators to drag common sense���kicking and screaming, apparently���back into the room, then this kind of idiocy will continue.
