Though the "Roberts" Supreme Court operates on the meaty decisions largely by 5-4 votes, what great votes they are!
Our publisher made sure we reviewed the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in which the justices decided that a local Federal court sanctioned removal of an eight-foot-tall cross on a Mojave Desert hilltop as a memorial to fallen World War I service members, was probably illegal.
The case, known as Salazar v. Buono, began when a former National Park Service employee, Frank Buono, filed a lawsuit challenging the location of the cross on public land within California’s Mojave National Preserve. The suit said the presence of the cross on federal land violated the First Amendment’s prohibition on government endorsement of religion. A federal judge and federal appeals court panel agreed and ordered the cross removed. But on Wednesday, the Robert’s court, the same court that has upheld First Amendment rights against undue government control of the election process, reversed that decision and told the Federal judge to start over! Justice Kennedy wrote: “Private citizens put the cross on Sunrise Rock to commemorate American servicemen who had died in World War I,” “Although certainly a Christian symbol, the cross was not emplaced on Sunrise Rock to promote a Christian message.” Indeed, it was placed to commemorate great sacrifices of our fighting forces. State GOP Chairman Ron Nehring issued a strong statement of support for the decision.
I have been to Luxenberg, not too far from the Ardenne Forest, and have said a silent prayer at General George S. Patton’s grave. It is marked by a cross. In the near distance, other soldiers, who gave their lives to help free the world from Nazi terror, are also buried, marked by a cross, or a Star of David. Because an odd-ball might be offended, are we to tear down these symbols of remembrance and comfort for the families of those who made the supreme sacrifice for the rest of us? No way. Good job, Chief Justice Roberts!