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Capitol flag under fire over cross
Capitol flag under fire over cross
S.V. DçTE Friday, July 23, 2004 Walk into the Capitol offices of Gov. Jeb Bush's top lawyer, and one of the first things you'll see is a small American flag with one significant difference: Instead of just stars and stripes, there's a bright white cross emblazoned over the blue field. To critics, the message is simple: America is a Christian nation. "To me, it's offensive and hurtful," said state Sen. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston. The image is on a greeting card and is posted on a bulletin board among personal family photos of the receptionist, and does not appear to imply official state policy. Nonetheless, its prominence and visibility to members of the public entering the suite have concerned lawmakers and activist groups. "This appears to be a promotion of a particular religious viewpoint," said Barry Lynn, executive director of the Americans United for Separation of Church and State and a minister in the United Church of Christ. "In a government building, it's inappropriate." The receptionist in the general counsel's office, Heidemarie Smith, declined to discuss the matter, and an aide to General Counsel Raquel Rodriguez referred all questions to Bush's press office. Bush spokesman Jacob DiPietre said the card has been posted for more than a year and the office has not received any complaints about it. He said it was created by a Tallahassee photographer in remembrance of the Sept. 11 victims. "The card is a tribute to those brave souls who were lost in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11," DiPietre said. "It is unfortunate certain elected representatives and advocacy groups find it offensive. They certainly have the right to their opinion. However, the governor does not share their sentiments." Judith Schaeffer, deputy legal director of the People for the American Way Foundation, said the image was not only inappropriate, but divisive. If a lawyer who is Muslim, Jewish, some other religion or non-religious came in to do business with Rodriguez, "he or she might well feel like a second-class citizen," she said. Wasserman Schultz, who is Jewish, said she appreciates that employees have a right to their own personal icons in their own workspaces. But she said work areas that are open to public view should be treated more delicately. The flag issue is not the first controversy regarding the separation of church and state for Bush, who is Catholic and speaks frequently about the importance of faith. Three months ago, the state Web site for the Department of Juvenile Justice linked to a Christian group that encouraged people to profess their faith in Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to control their lives. Additionally, since Bush appointed Jerry Regier as his Department of Children and Families secretary, Regier has implemented prayer programs that critics have said inappropriately blur the line between church and state. And in 1999, Bush's then-assistant general counsel wrote an e-mail advising Bush to create unofficial advisory groups to forward him judicial candidates who were "ideologically compatible." The St. Petersburg Times reported that Bush's office solicited names of potential judges from the Christian Coalition. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/co...2a1b30084.html Defend your civil liberties! Get information at http://www.aclu.org, become a member at http://www.aclu.org/join and get active at http://www.aclu.org/action. |
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