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BY STEVEN HSIEH

You're watching multisource U.S. news analysis from Newsy.

An atheist group has filed a lawsuit to block the World Trade Center cross from going on display at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.  The group -- called American Atheists -- claims that placing the cross at ground zero represents a -- quote “impermissible mingling of church and state.”  

Organization president Dave Silverman writes… “We honor the dead and respect the families… This was an attack against America, not Christianity, and Christianity’s does not deserve special placement just because THEY think the girders look like their religious symbol.”

The suit is drawing criticism from all sides of the media.  

On Fox News -- Laura Ingraham says the religious majority in America should be able to have their symbol.

“If something even borderline related to faith emerges in the public square, you can bet your bottom dollar that a grumpy, malcontent atheist will make a complete fool out of himself or herself and follow a lawsuit.  And I think what it does, in my mind, is it should give impetus to people of faith all across the country to stand up proudly for what you believe in.”

The World Trade Center cross -- an iconic symbol for some Americans -- consists of intersecting steel girders found intact in the Ground Zero rubble. CNN anchors say the key word here is found -- not made.

Romans: “But it’s really historical artifact from the -- I mean, this is a symbol to many people of all religions who were there of the moments after the attacks.”
Chetry: “It’ll be interesting to see how the ruling comes down if it goes to court because this was not made into a cross--”
Velshi: “It was already there.”
Chetry: “It was what it was.”

But a blogger for Friendly Atheist says in order to truly represent the scope of Americans affected that day…

“…they should include symbols for all belief systems, including Islam and atheism, By cherry-picking only a few religious symbols, the meaning behind why they’re there is not-at-all clear.”

Still, a writer for the National Catholic Register says the cross has become a symbol of 9/11 -- and no one should be able to take that away.

“The horror of that day is part of the story. The sacrifice and the bravery is part of the story. And yes, the cross is part of the story of that terrible day… It was a real part of that day that shouldn’t be whitewashed because some happen to not believe in God.”

American Atheists are demanding either a secular memorial be included at their expense -- or for the cross to be removed.

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