Thieves steal controversial Mojave cross

[unhappycamper]

An undated photo shows the memorial known as the Mojave Cross on an outcrop known as Sunrise Rock in the Mojave National Preserve, Calif. The Veterans of Foreign Wars erected the cross more than 75 years ago.


Thieves steal controversial Mojave cross
By Robert Jablon - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday May 11, 2010 14:03:44 EDT

LOS ANGELES — Thieves have stolen a cross in the Mojave Desert that was built to honor Americans who died in war, less than two weeks after the Supreme Court allowed the religious symbol to remain on federal land.

The 7-foot-high cross was stolen late Sunday or early Monday by thieves who cut the metal bolts that attached the symbol to a rock in the sprawling desert preserve, National Park Service spokeswoman Linda Slater said.

Authorities had no immediate motive for the theft but Slater said possible suspects range from scrap metal scavengers to people “with an interest in the case,” Slater said.

The Justice Department was looking into the case, and a veterans group planned to offer a $25,000 reward to help catch the thieves.

“The American Legion expects whoever is responsible for this vile act to be brought to justice,” said Clarence Hill, the group’s national commander. “While the memorial has been attacked, the fight will continue to ensure that veterans memorials will remain sacrosanct.”

[mike_c]

1. they're not thieves....

They're altruists, cleaning up religious litter on public land. Good on 'em! I likes my mojave clean, pristine, and unsullied by xtianity, thank you! I hope they extracted the bolts and took them away too!

[rpannier]

4. They're thieves

They took something off of federal land that has been determined to be legal.

Because you don't like the message doesn't mean you should be condoning criminal behavior.

If they are caught (and most likely they will be) you can donate to their defense

[KILL THE WISE ONE]

6. if this was a pagan sign it would have been gone long ago

good riddance to tis piece of crap, and I will if necessary contribute to their defense

[rpannier]

7. And if they had taken a pagan sign it would have been theft as well

Arizona displayed pagan signs all over its state for many years.
Had it not been for NAZI Germany, they would still be there

[mike_c]

8. it had not been "determined to be legal" on federal land....

Congress authorized a land swap with VFW to circumvent the constitutional issues and although that long running challenge WAS judged legal, the land is STILL Mojave NP today because the land transfer has not happened yet. That rock is still public land as I write this.

Yep, I applaud whomever took that christian death symbol off my public land!

on edit: you might be interested in this:

excerpted from the 9th Circuit opinion:
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2007/09/...

The current version of the cross was built by Henry Sandoz,
a local resident, sometime in 1998. When NPS investigated
the history of the cross, Sandoz explained that he drilled
holes into Sunrise Rock to bolt the cross in place, making it
difficult to remove. Sandoz did not receive a permit from NPS
to construct the cross.

Following Buono I’s injunction against display of the cross,
the cross has been covered by a plywood box. When uncovered,
the cross is visible from vehicles traveling on Cima
Road, which passes through the Preserve, from a distance of
approximately 100 yards away. No sign indicates that the
cross was or is intended to act as a memorial for war veterans.

III. LITIGATION OVER THE CROSS AND THE CONGRESSIONAL
RESPONSE

The current controversy surrounding the cross surfaced in
1999, when NPS received a request from an individual seeking
to build a “stupa” (a dome-shaped Buddhist shrine) on a
rock outcropping at a trailhead located near the cross. NPS
denied that request, citing 36 C.F.R. § 2.62(a)2 as prohibiting
the installation of a memorial without authorization. A handwritten
note on the denial letter warns that “any attempt to
erect a stupa will be in violation of Federal Law and subject
you to citation and/or arrest.” The letter also indicates that
“currently there is a cross on rock outcrop located on
National Park Service lands. . . . It is our intention to have the
cross removed.”

2: The regulation provides that: “The installation of a monument, memorial,
tablet, structure, or other commemorative installation in a park area
without the authorization of the Director is prohibited.” 36 C.F.R.
§ 2.62(a).

It is clear that the cross is ILLEGAL as long as it is on public land. The land swap with VFW was designed solely to circumvent this illegality, and will leave that cross on a few feet of private inholding in the middle of Mojave NP. Piss on that.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

11. their probably meth addict metal theives

oblivious to any further significance other than a big fucking piece of pipe they can take to the recyclers.

[Xipe Totec]

2. Police are interrogating Dismas and Gestas nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. It was raptured.

AZ police are on the look out for a 33 year old bearded white hispanic Jew believed to have absconded with the cross.

[LeftyMom]

5. Good.

[zbdent]

9. it's still wrong to have it stolen ...

on a side note, when it was an Eagle Scout stealing Obama signs in October 2008, his father, righteous influence he is on his son, said that he hoped this "incident" (read: boyish prank) wouldn't reflect permanently on his son's life. Um, he was an Eagle Scout ... "On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my Country and to obey the Scout Law." and "A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent."

I would presume that means honest and law-abiding ... but the Eagle Scout, 18 years old, broke the law.

And, in the above case of the cross, I also am suspicious that the "thief" might have been an inside job, which perpetrated the act to gain sympathy from the "liberal media" ...

[rpannier]

10. That's a very real possibility

I agree with you that it is still theft

Apparently there is appropriate theft here at DU

[Dogtown]

17. Xian black-op

no doubt

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

12. Police have released a picture of the suspect

See: Weeds Season 3, Episode 13.

http://www.megavideo.com/?v=UFCTKWYK

[Indenturedebtor]

13. Good

I'm sure if it had been an enormous half moon it would have been gone two days after being erected.. that's why it's unconstitutional.

[SoCalDem]

14. Spend the $25 k to help a veteran's child go to college

or to help the vet through a rough patch..

wasting $25K for this nonsense is beyond stupid..

it's gone from "something that was just there" for a long time to a political statement.. it's NOT about the original intent any longer.. time to kiss it good bye and use the funds for something worthwhile

[Ichingcarpenter]

15. Jesus came back, stole it and he doesn't like the symbol

     “A lot of Christians wear crosses around their necks. You think when Jesus comes back he ever wants to see a fucking cross? It's like going up to Jackie Onassis wearing a rifle pendant.”

Bill Hicks

[Rex]

16. Well looks like someone started a new tradition!

[The Straight Story]

18. Imagine if they had a stolen a Star of David people would be yelling anti-semitism

Steal a cross, and the hate is ok though.

Double standards, gotta love em.

[AllentownJake]

19. So someone steals a piece of history

and people celebrate. Amazing.

Veterans placed that there 75 years ago, a legal compromise was reached so it could stay, and certain people who have an issue with a particular faith in this country celebrate.

Fucking amazing.