Posted by
Have you seen my soapbox? on Thursday, October 11, 2007 9:24:40 PM
Recently in the news was a story about an Eagle Scout having a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol, as do many people, including myself. He requested a simple message: "In honor of my grandfather Marcel Larochelle and his dedication and love of God, country and family."
When he received the flag and read the certificate, he noticed the message he requested was edited...it omitted the word "God". The Acting Architect of the Capitol, Stephen T. Ayers, who's role is to certify that flags are appropriately flown over the U.S. Capitol, felt there was a political statement in the simple message request of the Eagle Scout and removed the reference.
At a luncheon this week, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi was asked about the architect decision to omit "God" from the message and her response was:
People were asking for statements that not only were religious, beyond using the word 'God,' but political as well," she said. "It's not about being anti-religion, it is just about what the architect thought was appropriate for him to proclaim in a certificate."
Would she stand behind the AOC if he thought the fresco by Constantino Brumidi in 1865, located on the ceiling of the Rotunda, the Apotheosis of Washington (The word "apotheosis" in the title means literally the raising of a person to the rank of a god, or the glorification of a person as an ideal; George Washington was honored as a national icon in the nineteenth century.) is inappropriate to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol and needs to be removed?...
or
that the face of Moses located in the House chamber directly across from where House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sits, is inappropriate and needs to be removed.
or
a call for the cessation of the House side opening with prayer...because of it's potential reference to God on the House floor?...
Thankfully, because of some fine Members of Congress, there is a measure to revise the flag certification policy : AOC Revises Policy
Thank you for our protection of our "freedom of speach"....