Homemade Memorial Is Stirring Passions on Iraq

[partylessinOhio]

Homemade Memorial Is Stirring Passions on Iraq



Henry Benton painting a wooden cross that is part of a hillside memorial in Lafayette, Calif., to American service members killed in Iraq.


By JESSE McKINLEY
Published: December 3, 2006

LAFAYETTE, Calif., Nov. 30 — The tranquil suburb of Lafayette hardly seems the most likely place in the Bay Area for a battle over the First Amendment and the war in Iraq. Liberal Berkeley is just over the hill, after all, and nearby San Francisco is always spoiling for a fight. But over the last few weeks, it is Lafayette — an affluent bedroom community 20 miles east of downtown San Francisco — that has become the scene of a passionate debate over the place of political speech in suburbia.

At issue is a hillside memorial, made up of some 450 small white crosses and a 5-by-16-foot sign that reads: “In Memory of 2,867 U.S. Troops Killed in Iraq.” The memorial was created by Jeff Heaton, a building contractor and antiwar activist, who said it was meant “to get people involved on a local level” and talking about Iraq.

Sure enough, people here have become involved, including more than 200 people and a half-dozen television news crews and reporters who crammed into the usually sparsely attended City Council meeting last week to voice their opinions about the memorial. And while many there said they found the crosses deeply moving, others called the memorial unpatriotic, disrespectful or just plain ugly.

That camp included Jean Bonadio, a former Marine sergeant who said she was so offended that she stopped her car and climbed the hill to dismantle the sign, which sits with the crosses on private property of a fellow advocate just north of Highway 24, a major Bay Area thoroughfare, and the Lafayette light-rail station. “My first reaction was, ‘What a disgrace to those who have sacrificed,’ ” said Ms. Bonadio, 53, a dog trainer. “I had no tools with me, so I removed it with my bare hands and feet.” ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/03/us/03crosses.html?ex=1165813200&en=d0ab8854d90430c3&ei=5053&partner=NYTHEADLINES_HP


Misplaced anger: these citizens should be angry that our troops are dying for BushLies.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. She's mad at crosses?

At soldiers who made a sacrifice? What does she think of Gettysburg, for example? Or the Viet Nam Memorial?

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Ms. Bonadio is one of the reasons why there is a "Private Property" sign on the hill now.

This is a great display, much wider than it appears in the photo. We went by it today and volunteers were adding more crosses. Couldn't ask for a more prominent location in this part of the East Bay. And it's a cross from a BART station, which is heavy rail, elevated, and everyone who travels to Lafayette and beyond sees the crosses (and other religious symbols like Stars of David, plus at least one cross painted in a rainbow.)

Feel free to send Mt. Diablo Peace Center your support at www.mtdpc.org

[xchrom]

3. musn't disturb the beautiful minds of bushco supporters.

[AtomicKitten]

4. it is a sight to behold

And I'm a bit confused about people on both sides of the issue being angered by the monument; it is the war itself that should be discussed, not the monument.

[GenDem]

5. And just maybe the monument

will make people think about the war that otherwise haven't, which could lead to a discussion. A good thing.

Has anyone noticed that people, in general (like in the workplace for instance) don't talk about the war? People are so detached from this conflict. And then to find a memorial offensive....very perplexing.

[AtomicKitten]

6. which is why I almost always

strike up conservations with strangers when I'm out and about, but I live in SF so I'm preaching to the choir ...

[TlalocW]

7. Thank you, Jean Bonadio

For admitting you committed a crime. Saves the police a lot of time and energy.

TlalocW

[Kerrytravelers]

8. Isn't it funny how it's the liberals who want to memorialize the soldiers and those who

claim to be the only ones who support the troops who continually commit acts of vandalism by tearing them up.

Funny, that. When future generations read all news reports about our time, I have no doubt that this will be noticed... and perhaps make an interesting thesis study someday.

[GenDem]

9. Yellow Support the Troop magnets on there SUV's

are all that are needed for the rethugs, I guess. They like to keep the cost down to 1.98, and not be too showy....and God forbid they see the truth......like caskets being unloaded from a transport.

Pathetic!!!! I hope they throw her ass in jail.