Roadside Memorial Cross Removal in Austin

[PaineLover]

I've often thought that if the Jesus character had come along in a more modern age, like maybe a hundred years ago? and he had died in an electric chair, or a gas chamber, would christians be wearing little electric chairs or gas chamber replica's around their necks? he he he...couldn't you just imagine chairs with straps alongside the road? LOL

[aajoeyjo]

rogersmr5 - Surely you think there's a difference in value between a cross and a person. Right?

[YakChap]

It's worse here in the UK. Near where I work there is a flyover with no sidewalk. You'd have to be mental to walk along it. One night, some young chav, drunk and drugged up, did just that. Inevitably he was hit and killed. Now there are piles of shitty cheap fake flowers left there all the time, which cause a hazard.

Bottom line; he killed himself with his stupidity. Remember him if you want, but don't mess the place up with your stupid flowers.

[Erich745]

Yeah, memorial crosses sure make people feel safe when they're driving.

[Rereversed]

To be fair its a road side cross, not a tomb stone. The tomb stone is safe elsewheres, likely in a graveyard marking where the person is buried.

The road side cross just marks where some tanked up retard punched through the guardrail or drove into oncoming traffic or "Lost control of their car", leaving behind a roadside distraction that causes more tanked up retards to redirect their focus from the road which causes yet more road side crosses.

[Lokeyslave]

I'm an agnostic and I can see your point, to some extent - but it doesn't really bother or intimidate me to have people placing religious icons everywhere. It just typifies their frantic attempts to come to terms with the real world.

[MHoogasian]

Personally, I have to agree with you. I'm Catholic and I still think that these roadside memorials are truly a safety issue. YES it's sad that we lose people hand over fist to poor driving, accidents, murder, or complications between man and nature (ice, oil slicks, etc.) but it doesn't mean I want to see where every person has died on the street or highways. When someone dies at a hospital or home does the family set up one? No, because then it would be too much to see.

[luckystrikebrand1983]

Same here. It is a Safety issue.

[Iamajanitor01]

There is a heaven and a hell. When you die, you will have to give an account for what you have done. Repent and believe the gospel. I do not want you to be lost for eternity.

[aajoeyjo]

lamajanitor01 - A. Ouch! That's really not nice of you to threaten us like that. You don't know us personally. B. When will your murderous phantom god-idea have to give an account for his crimes against humanity and other life forms? C. Repent? We've done nothing wrong. D. The Gospel is a major inspiriation to Atheism. E. We are not lost. Disagreeing with you certainly doesn't render a person lost automatically! lol What amazing arrogance there is in Christianity!

[gusgrissomismyhero]

how is the gospel a major inspiration to atheism?!

[aajoeyjo]

How much time do you have? lol Okay.

Jesus stepped all over himself and humanity so to speak, when he preached the wild ideas he supposedly preached. Just being a human didn't entitle him to make the declarations he did, which so many Christians ignore today.

Since Christians roundly worship a pauper/socialist/attention-who­re, the very idea that they ALSO have a lock on the supernatural is hilarious. Jesus just waved the flag of illogic so much, Atheism is screamed out as the only answer.

[gusgrissomismyhero]

also, if you want to wage war against christians, have at it. IF fact, DO YOUR WORST. We will prevail!

[aajoeyjo]

gusgrissomismyhero - Why do you think there needs to be a war between us? It's that Christian warlike rhetoric. I oppose religion and all attempts to dumb down society for the sake of religion. That's not a war. War is bad. Why does religion rely on war so much? Survival.

[aajoeyjo]

Dan - Bad language. Zap!

[EJSalvanera]

I'm an aetheist and I thought I was the only one who thought the same. I will remove all roadside crosses everywhere I go from now on.

[aajoeyjo]

EJSalvanera - Cool, but be careful. By the way, it's "Atheist" not "Aetheist." :o)

[boblmc]

Roadside Memorials are silly. A memorial to the spot where a loved one was mangled and killed in a car accident is a strange way to show love for a family member. A paranoid atheist pulling them up because he thinks that they promote religion is equally strange. There are plenty of logical reasons to remove and outlaw roadside memorials. Fighting religion is not one of them.

[aajoeyjo]

boblmc Oh yes fighting religion is a logical reason to remove and outlaw roadside memorials. Yes sir. Are you aware of the harm that religion causes? A big fat swastika. That's what all crosses look like to me, and every cross-promoter is a Klansman, a Nazi and a pedophile priest all rolled into one. If you don't like the bad baggage, drop the religion that brings it.

[gusgrissomismyhero]

It was hinduism that gave us the "big fat swastika"! and that symbol has been around for thousands of years!!! Leve it to that satanist Hitler for ruining that symbol!! Not all priests are pedophiles. And the overwhelming majority of "cross-promoters" are NOT nazi, KKK or pedophiles. You need to stop stereotyping people. We are NOT the bad people to blame.

[aajoeyjo]

gus - Please show me where I have "stereotyped" someone, and how it was wrong, whatever I said. I know not everyone is the same, but you should understand that a stereotype is usually based in some amount of truth.

The news is reliable for judging dangerous groups, since there are so many such groups making the news. The RCC, the KKK, the K of C...all deserve sweeping judgements because they've earned them by misbehaving again and again.

[aajoeyjo]

George - Well hate-speech is really low and offensive, and I don't tolerate it on my video pages. So zap!

[aajoeyjo]

But they are removed by the state. The ones that aren't authorized are moved and disposed of by state mowing and litter crews, unless they're out of the way of their work. They've thrown away thousands over the years.

[MHoogasian]

I have to say that even though I don't agree with the issue of religion on these roadside memorials I feel that they are a complete eye sore. I bet that there have been several accidents (some fatal) that may've been brought on by these memorials. I think the Highway Patrol should removal ALL memorials before something dangerous happens. However people need to be discrete when they make them up. I've seen ones that have a 10X15 sizes picture w/ candles stuffed animals, etc. It's ridiculous!!!!!

[aajoeyjo]

digitalupstart I don't think a god would want any of those crosses there either. They're all reminders of how badly his son got treated by humanity. That's an insult to Jesus AND his father. You must have a lot of hatred for both of them. Obviously I won't remove one while someone is trying to place it, because Christians can be some downright violent people. It's still trash though.

[lisamariefan]

You've got guts to film this in such a religiously corrupt state.

[Jkief123]

I think this is a harder topic to understand than it seems on surface. On the hand, I can understand how someone in mourning would want to "go back to the scene" and leave a memorial in their remembrance. However, I don't believe it's a completely appropriate use of public property. I wouldn't see a problem if the closest of the deceased asked the nearest private property owners if they could place a memorial on their property. In the end, I do believe the practice should decease.

[jdhhdj123]

Im an athiest, but thats kind of fucked up, and his whole "driving hazard" thing was bullshit, because if that was really what he was concerned with he would have removed every sign on the side of the road.

[aajoeyjo]

jdhhdj123 - No, the signs are important. They're FOR safety, not interfering with it. The main difference is that the signs are there to make it safe, and the crosses are unnessarily making it less safe.

[JTS11d6]

What if they're not christian, who would put up a cross to remember an atheist, jewish person, hindu, buddhist.

[aajoeyjo]

JTS11d6 - Very good question. I know most Atheists wouldn't want to clutter up the highway for any reason, but if they really wanted a memorial for an Atheist, it would probably just be some flowers.

[knightofdreamz]

Gotta say. Out of all the videos i have seen from you this is the one i enjoyed the least.

Living in Florida i see these all the time on the side of the road and i can honestly say that these bother me less then the 90 year olds who refuse to wear their glasses and 16 year olds with neon Hondas supped up with fake auto parts all combined with legal U-turns on a 60 MPH 8 lane highway that is nothing but business for about 70 miles up and down the coast.

I like the rest of your stuff though!

[aajoeyjo]

knightofdreamz I guess you'd have to have the cross and the crucifix forced on you, when you don't like it. I realize some Atheists went through all that religious crap, and didn't seem to mind. Well many Christians and their churches have made that symbol into a very negative thing, even when no one's on it. lol I'm always reminded that in order to USE a cross, you'd have to seriously harm and/or kill a human. Any other use is actually a misuse of that tool. If people only enjoy a misuse, wow.

[bvak25]

you are sad

[aajoeyjo]

bvak25 - I am happy. Your turn.

[bivroyg6]

ever heard "dont mess with Texas" if the state has crosses designated for this purpose (which it shouldnt, but...) isnt anything else just littering? Furthermore, if I litter I get a fine... hense, well u get the point

[mcsdrd8]

If the Texas state legislature intended to classify all roadside memorials as litter they probably would not have included subsection (i) in legislation establishing the Memorial Sign Program.

 Texas Statute Title 6, Subchapter K, (i) This section does not authorize the department to remove an existing privately funded memorial that conforms to state law and department rules. A privately funded memorial may remain indefinitely as long as it conforms to state law and department rules.

[aajoeyjo]

mcsdrd8 - That's ok. There are other departments that take care of it, including prisoners who are sent out to pick up trash, and ordinary citizens like me. That statute you mention also doesn't seem to say that department CANNOT go and remove them. At the same time, we know there are laws against littering. This is about dumping and littering of the worst kind, and us having to go and clean it up. I'm proud and happy to take up that challenge.

[aajoeyjo]

babyrakes - It sounds like you didn't listen to me giving my reasons for doing this. Please watch and listen to this video again, and this time, pay attention.

[marklethanarkle]

you know what i think is abusive advertisement... there's this church called the Fellowship of the Woodlands, and they constantly... CONSTANTLY... run commercials for their church!! usually at times when my baby son is watching tv!! >:(

[Bluedragon094]

Hrm... i think he has a strong point. If people want to mourn the dead and want to have a memorial for that person, why does it have to be a cross? What if the deceased was Muslim? Atheist? Howabout Jewish? Also, would those interest groups bother giving a road side memorial to members of other faith if it wasn't a cross? I say, if they're going to have road side memorials, religious symbols should be coherant with the deceased's beliefs or neutral in terms of religion.

[mcsdrd8]

Hi Bluedragon094, - What interest group are you referring to? Do you mean the deceased's grieving family who probably made the crosses Joe removed? Do you think that Joe knows better than they do what the deceased's faith is?

[aajoeyjo]

mcsdrd8---That's just it, the family didn't bother to put a memorial there that reflects anything about them or the deceased. It's only a memorial for Jesus. All of those crosses are. And we KNOW which religion that stands for.

[mcsdrd8]

Oh so you think that is Jesus riding the little motorcycle? :)

Your post seems disingenuous. The reason you removed the cross is not that it doesn't memorialize the deceased enough -- rather because it is a cross. The cross surely was put in the location to memorialize a loved one who died there. It may or may not also be a verification of the deceased's religion. For many people, both believers and non believers, the cross signifies death, loss and the hope of peace for the deceased.

[aajoeyjo]

Hey, Jesus rides a motorcycle! I saw it on a figurine that some Christians were selling. Seriously, this is a case of where the deceased friends and family have tried to get the deceased to ride piggy-back on his religion. It doesn't bother them because Jesus was just doing the same thing. Using someone.

[mcsdrd8]

Also, Your belief that family memorial crosses are part of a conspiracy to advertise religion is fallacy. As NotSoOldHippy said, people put up crosses to memorialize loved ones who lost their lives even in remote locations where they would rarely be noticed if that is where the death occurred.

[aajoeyjo]

A conspiracy involves some amount of secrecy, so this is no conspiracy. Y'know some people put up memorials to the deceased too. Yes, it's possible to do that without promoting religion. You also nailed it above when you said that the cross signifies death. I just wish religion was more about life.

[sherrythompson]

if memorials to deceased people, no matter what they are, can be oh so distracting, then so can road signs, red lights, other cars, what a moron. they arent asking you to believe what they do, they are paying honors to their lost loved one.

[aajoeyjo]

sherrythompson - How nice you are. See, the road signs, red lights, and other cars have to be there. They all have legitimate and necessary purposes in being there. We know what the crosses are for, and it's obviously not necessary. Now what about that hateful attitude of yours, and the name-calling? What's up with that?

[milkymike375]

I'm an athiest, but I think its really disrespectful what this guy does. I think someone dong something in honor of a deceased friend is bigger than his nit-pick with christianity. He comes off just as judgmental and obsessed as many hyper-christians, who annoy us all so very much...

[aajoeyjo]

milkymike375--Then it's a good thing I don't go around putting up symbols of MY belief system. That would be disrespectful.

[Artemis300]

I would agree with you, but he makes a decent point about how they distract people from driving. I drive on interstate highways quite a lot and you're usually driving about seventy to eight miles an hour which could be disastrous for anyone not focused on not crashing and dying a fiery death.

[aajoeyjo]

milkymike375---Something else. You don't think it's obsessive for thousands of people in America to install crosses along roadsides all over America, but you think it IS obsessive for me and a handful of other people to remove them? Doesn't obsession come with the implication that something is being done to excess? If so, the cross-pushers are obsessing, and I merely have a hobby. I could never keep up with their pace. I don't even scratch the surface!

[marklethanarkle]

hahahahha, a hobby... great job!

[c140pilot]

I pray for the atheists to someday see the Light. Just think how wonderful the world would be if everyone respected the Ten Commandments (regardless of their religion, or lack of). Mom also always said "If it's not yours, don't you dare touch it!" Your reasoning is just a ridiculous excuse to offend others in mourning. When I see a cross, either on the side of a road, or around someone's neck, or wherever, I do not stare, but am quickly reminded of how wonderful of a life God has given me.

[aajoeyjo]

c140pilot--- When you see a cross on the side of the road, you think about religion. That's one reason to remove those crosses. The government shouldn't be promoting religion, and you've just stated that it does. Also you should read the 10 Commandments, so you'll realize that other religions have no use for it. If the land isn't yours, don't put a cross there.

[flyingdrake]

I can't say I back you on this one. I respect memorials of the dead. Distractions as they may be, they just function as reminders to be careful on road the road. Your beef should be with the state that makes crosses the memorial marker.

[aajoeyjo]

If the state wants to warn people about being careful on the road, they can make a billboard with something specific and secular. A cross is obviously a religious advertisement. Only Texas and Utah make official crosses, I believe, and the homemade ones are more prevalent. But in time...

[mcsdrd8]

Joe, you are so uncaring and cruel to people mourning the loss of family members that you remind me of the nutcases from the Westboro Baptist Church who show up to protest servicemen's funerals. There are fanatics at both ends of the spectrum. If you think you are helping your cause you are delusional.

[aajoeyjo]

mcsdrd8----It's like when Christians had to cope with learning that the Earth isn't flat, and isn't the center of the universe. Sure, it pissed off quite a few old-fashioned types, but people eventually got over it. Christians just need to figure out that it's wrong to glorify torture. I'm not the bad guy, since I'm not promoting violence like that.

[codyclemmons92]

Ok this was a ignorant move ignorance killed the cat not curiosity and you my friend are very ignorant thats coming from a ireligious spiritulist and i do love being godless but im not an athiest i believe in the self i believe in reason as it is what makes the human and i also belive the spirit is what holds the mind and body together through reason so ya those are my beliefs so you wont get all you christion biggot on me.

[aajoeyjo]

codyclemmons92---"Spiritualism­" is just a euphemism for "religion." You sound like you haven't thought out your "ireligious"ness...lol, if you believe in so many god-based ideas. You sound confused.

[littleflags]

this is ridiculous. you actually went and removed memorial crosses? i hate religion as well; i also hate this type of atheism.

[dbohls]

You're ridiculous. I cringed at first, but he gave VERY good reasons for removing the crosses.

It's ridiculous to put a white cross at the spot some loved-one died. What good can come from it? It is ADVERTISING. Put the damned flowers and cross on their grave. If someone died in your house, would you let them put a cross there? We all own public lands and highways.

[illusionist1977]

I hear you Joe. I live in New York and on the freeway there is a roadside cross that has been there for over a year. it gets taken down and someone puts anouther up. My thoughts and heart gose out to the people who lost a loved one but life gose on. it has been over a year

[theburlyman]

Great work keeping your community tidy.

[hipdead]

I've done the same thing Joe...many times! I guess that I have removed more than a dozen crosses from I-40 across Tennessee.

[aajoeyjo]

hipdead--You rock! Hey when next you do that, why don't you make a video like I did here? We need to show that this is a more popular idea than Youtube videos imply. One reason why I made this video is that I couldn't find any other videos about people like us who remove that trash.

[weeeezzll]

I can help film if you would like. I'm down I-24 though, but i'm sure there are some close to the downtown area if you work in Nashville.  Let me know...

[Storkas]

I think this is where I would draw the line as an atheist. Anything that would hurt another man is wrong. You guys may have a different situation over in usa, but here in sweden where most people isnt religous at all the cross no longer fill its religous purpose, and I wouldnt say a cross at the side of the road would be christian propaganda or advertisment. However in a christian society things might be different.

[aajoeyjo]

Storkas--Yes, things are more religious in America. I'm glad it's different in Sweden, in fact, I understand that Sweden has the highest percentage of Atheists in it's population, of all nations of the world. I may move there someday...

[weeeezzll]

If a driver looks at the memorial and gets into an accident it is the drivers fault. The passengers are free to safely look at the memorial though.

If someone want to memorialize their loved one then they should do it at their burial plot, not the side of the road.

[PhosphateSugar]

What where they looking at though? If what they where looking at wasn't there would they have crashed? Would it be better for the thing they where looking at to be removed?

[aajoeyjo]

PhosphateSugar--Good question. Well if the distraction is unnecessary, I think it ought to be removed. When I was in high school, a buddy of mine wrecked his car because he stared at a woman walking down the sidewalk, and forgot to pay attention to the road. I suppose we can't remove all women from sidewalks though...Perish the thought!

[dbohls]

And aren't these crosses likely to be placed in areas that are prone to accidents? Hey, let's pile on the distractions in areas which have already shown themselves to be accident prone! Great idea!

[dbohls]

Weeeezil, it is PARTIALLY the driver's fault. Some of the blame (however small it is) goes to the provider of the distraction.

[weeeezzll]

I don't think so. It is up to the driver to maintain control of his/her vehicle. There are many distractions on the expressway. On the Grand Central Parkway in Queens NY the LaGuardia airport landing run way is right next to the Parkway, and sometimes when you are driving by a huge plane passes over you a mear 40-50 feet above. It is quite a distraction and drivers are expected to deal with it and not get into accidents.

[dbohls]

Let's say you stand on the side of the highway and act like your about to leap in front of cars. According to your logic, any accident caused is FULLY the driver's fault. Obviously, that is the extreme case, but I hope you'll at least concede that there are shades of grey regarding fault. The crosses are UNECCASARY distractions which are often placed in areas that are already accident prone, and that's the bottom line.

[weeeezzll]

That isn't even in the same realm. A better example would be. I am standing on the side walk holding a sign that says "Will work for food." or "The end is near." or "Have a nice day!".

Anyone who gets into any accident while attempting read my sign takes all of the fault on themselves. If they can not safely read the sign then they should not be trying.

I understand the "not suppose to be on public property" argument, but this accident/distraction bullshit is just that...

[dbohls]

I remember riding in the car with my mother and we we're going through this intersection that is obviously a trouble spot; it ALWAYS crosses there. As my mom is driving, she counts the crosses and remarks that there is a new 5th one, and I'm thinking that she better pay attention or we might end up being the 6th and 7th.

[dbohls]

If crosses even contributes to ONE accident, that is too many. Yes, driver's SHOULD be paying better attention, but there are lots of idiots out there. Let's not make it any harder on them.

[dbohls]

Oh and yes, my mother is a ditz and they should fix that intersection. In the mean time, the crosses DON'T help.

[weeeezzll]

That to me sounds like a bunch of PC bullshit to me. That is like putting blame on a gun of knife manufacturer for every person that is illegally killed by one. Or blaming a pharmaceutical company for the illegal sales and use of the drugs they manufacture. It is not logical or rational in any way shape or form.

I've already agreed that the memorials should not be there, whether they are religious or secular in nature. But not for the reason you gave.

[dbohls]

If that sounds PC to you, then you must not understand what PC means. How in the world does calling crosses an uneccasary discraction have anything to do with being politically correct?

And it's not at all the same thing as blaming manufacturers of knifes and pharmaceuticals. Those things can be useful whereas a cross on the highway never is. Your comparison is not "logical or rational."

Anyways, we disagree on that point so let's just leave it there. Cheers.

[weeeezzll]

I suppose I should have been more clear. I didn't mean to imply that what you were saying *was* PC, just that it had the same rotten smell. What I meant to say was that the logic you were using to argue against road side memorials wreaked of the same poor logic that the gun control and PC crowd uses in their arguments. Guns kill so get rid of guns, words hurt so stop using them...

I hope that makes adds some clarity to my previous comment.

[dbohls]

Okay, I understand. I agree that it is overwhelmingly the driver's fault. Gun manufacturer's don't build guns intending the guns to be used in a murder. The memorial maker's do intend highway patrons to look, and if a driver wrecks while reading a memorial, I think the memorial maker gets some of the blame. We're beating this to death, sorry.

[weeeezzll]

Again poor analogy. Memorial makers don't build their memorials with the intention of causing accidents. If a person uses a gun illegally the fault lies entirely with them. If a person gets into an accident because they allowed themselves to get distracted the fault lies entirely with them.

[dbohls]

The gun has other purposes, and only results in accidents when misused. The memorial has one purpose; to get people driving by to look, and this looking increases the probability of accidents. When the memorial maker has succeeded in their goal of getting people to look, they have also increased the likelyhood of an accident.

[weeeezzll]

The same could be said of the memorial. It only results in an accident when an irresponsible driver looks at it. The memorial has many purposes such as vehicle passenger viewing, but primarily as a subtle reminder to people who knew the person.

Also, you are arguing based on the assumption that looking at one actually increases the risk of an accident. We could also assume that these would stand as warnings of dangerous roads and reduce accidents, but that would just be an assumption too....

[weeeezzll]

BTW, safety is cited by several states that have made them illegal, but again there is no evidence supporting that claim, just good old fashion assumption.

[dbohls]

The grave is their reminder, not some spot on the side of the road. The spot on the side of the road is intended for public consumption by people driving by.

You are also arguing based only on assumptions. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[weeeezzll]

Your preaching to the choir. I couldn't agree more. The memorial does not belong on the side of the road. Period.

I was under the impression that we were debating whether or not the blame and responsibility for an accident lay solely with the driver or if it was shared with the memorial builder. Am I wrong?

There is no assumption in my argument that the driver is responsible for his actions regardless of what is on the side of the road.

[aajoeyjo]

weeeezzll---I understand that now, Arizona is removing them, not because they're outlawed, but because they're a trashy distraction that wasn't authorized in the first place. I read that in a news article recently, so I'll probably dig a bit deeper on that. This idea is catching on.

[aajoeyjo]

weeezzll--I would tend to agree, until people are allowed to drive up to 70 miles an hour, and talk on a cell phone at the same time. Driving has gotten to be just entirely too irresponsibly dangerous, especially where huge crowds of people drive together, in their social pods, free to ignore the reality around them.

[weeeezzll]

I agree but with this small modification to your statement.

"Driving has" = "Drivers have"

[aajoeyjo]

dbohls--Bad analogy, because guns are made with ONE purpose, and that is to kill people. ANY other use for them is either just practice for killing people, or a misuse of that product. Just like crosses! A roadside memorial is not only a mere representation of torturous execution, it's also a misuse of a torture device, that wasn't meant to be just a symbol.

[lazerflesh]

I don't think i have the balls for this.

I think I'll stick to putting bibles into the christian fiction section. :P

[aajoeyjo]

lazerflesh--It's true, this sort of thing does take balls, and the first few times I did it, it was a bit scary. But after a few more, it became easy. Plus I spend a lot of time doing volunteer clean up work in my town that it all blends together. It's all clean up work, really. It's all good.

[dbohls]

HAHA! Putting the bibles into the fiction section. It's funny AND it's true :)

[lazerflesh]

I totally changed the sign where the bibles were sold at a store once to christian fiction.

[dbohls]

Is there any other type of christian literature? It's all fiction.

Another thing that stikes me as funny is how few Christians have actually read the bible. Given that they believe it's the word of God, you'd think they give it a read :/

[lazerflesh]

I read some verses to my mom awhile ago and she denied that they were in there. ... I want to see if I can get away with some things on thanks giving. I want to say grace, and quote something wicked. xD

[geyser]

Don't you just hate it when people shove their grief in your face? What irks me is that the excessive and expensive roadside shrines which people build for their 17 year old kid costs more than a driver's instruction class would have cost.

[Bekll]

I'm proud of you and the others who take away those crosses. :)

[NotSoOldHippy]

Let me clairify what I posted. I DO NOT remove crosses from where people have died. I remove the other litter -- the signs and other litter, all of it commercial (which includes Christian extremists' litter.) But I always leave shrines alone. There is a shrine up along Sunset Ridge that's been there like 15 years -- I leave such things alone.

[aajoeyjo]

Not--Why? People die everyday, and people have died on just about every square inch of land in America. What's special about people dying? Besides, these crosses about to memorialize Jesus, not the person who died at that particular location. Otherwise it wouldn't include religious advertising.

[NotSoOldHippy]

"Not--Why?"

I believe that removing such things where people have died is mean. Fellow students, parents, or lovers usually put these things up, and to remove them is a smack in their faces. Placed as advertizements and attempts to violate people's rights, that's a whole different animal, in my opinion. I have had a lot of people die around me in the mountains over the years, and I know why people place these things.

[lazerflesh]

If the religious realized how much they are CHAINED by religion, than that ideal would not be a social norm. Religion by nature demands that we put all things sacred and emotional below religion. Weddings are often nothing but a sermon- and same for funerals. When I die I would like people to know who I *was* and when I get married I want them to know *why* and *what* unites us.

[CrucieFiction]

If these people don't want to get "smacked in their faces", then they ought not put crosses on PUBLIC LAND! And they are indeed advertisements, intended for public consumption of their religion. These people can make shrines/whatever on their own property, or on other private property with permission. They have no right to force their expression of grief on the rest of us and planting a public hazard by doing so.

[lazerflesh]

I think a small bouquet with a picture would be ideal.

[dbohls]

Well said, CrucieFiction.

[weeeezzll]

I agree, they are advertisements, but I don't think the people putting them up even realize what they are doing. To them, it is just a way to memorialize their loved one. Ignorance of the law isn't an excuse though. They are lucky that these are only being removed, and they they are not fined for putting it there.

[NotSoOldHippy]

I remove it all from public lands as well.  There's a Christian cult in my town which posts litter on City property and I remove it, shred it, and I take it to the locak police department's trash bin for disposal. Christian extremists also post their litter along highways and I remove all of it, every time.

[YOURGOD78]

Right on brother.

[jeremebp]

Keep up the good work.