American Family Asociation's Christmas "Ornament"

[Elphaba]

I thought this was a really bad joke when I first saw it. It's not.

Not funny.

Elphaba

[Wingnut]

I'm not sure I get it.

[DeborahC]

Me either.. it's a lighted cross for people to put in their yards, right?
So...???

[Lbybug]

i agree with them .... i don't get it.

[MarginOfError]

The lawn ornament, a cross wrapped in white christmas tree lights, bears frightening similarity to a burning cross. A burning cross was used most notably by the Ku Klux Klan as a way to intimidate non-Caucasians.

I have my doubts that the similarity was intentional, or that it was meant to send a message to a minority community. But it is an unfortunate occurrence. Apparently the AFA needs a better marketing team (not to mention better leaders, better agendas, and better thought).

[Lbybug]

ahhhh gotcha

[OtterPop]

I have to say, when I clicked and saw the picture, I thought it was intended to look like a burning cross. I don't think that is the intent, but the design is poor, with the bulbs sticking out of the sides. They could have outlined the cross in white lights, or covered it with white lights in rows and not had them sticking out. Unfortunate.

Though I'm not old enough to remember the civil rights movement as she does, I think Elphaba and I have some touchstones that others here don't have. I lived in Alabama from 1965 to 1970 and from 1977 to 1982. I remember hearing about riots at the junior high school when I was in elementary school. I remember seeing the grand imperial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan on the news when I was in high school. The image of a burning cross strikes me with gut-level disgust, fear, and shame for what humans are capable of doing to each other -- similar to the feelings I have when confronted with a swastika.

I really think our reactions here are based on our different backgrounds.

[Elgama]

I got the burning cross reference but I don't know who the American Family Association are - I do know several Church of England Ministers and other Christian Ministers have been outed as members of the BNP (British National Party).

-Charley

[DeborahC]

I think to attach negative sentiment like this to a symbol that is meaningful to another group could be a mistake.

I mean, people are always making disparaging remarks about the symbolism of the moon on the LDS Temples.

How do you draw a line ?

Even the Nazi swastika was stolen from another culture.

If I'd seen it on a lawn, I wouldn't have thought anything about it, and I grew up during the civil rights movement days. ::shrug::

[Wingnut]

Originally Posted by DeborahC

I mean, people are always making disparaging remarks about the symbolism of the moon on the LDS Temples.

They are?