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

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