Letters: Religious symbols on government seals

Re “The cost of a cross,” Editorial, Feb. 7

From 1957 until 2004, the central figure on the Los Angeles County seal was the image of the Roman goddess Pomona, the goddess of fruit trees (which seems fitting considering the importance of the citrus industry in the history of Los Angeles County).

So my question for those who object to showing an image on the county seal of the San Gabriel Mission as it actually appears — with a cross on top — and to those who view this as somehow an endorsement of Christianity is this: Was the former seal an endorsement of Roman paganism?

Indeed, is the city of Pomona itself an endorsement of the worship of the Roman gods?

Herbert Krimmel

San Marino

Our supervisors, apparently having nothing better to do, voted to restore the cross to the county seal, knowing that their action was certain to result in litigation. The addition of the cross to the seal violates the 1st Amendment of the Constitution.

I suspect that the real intent of the misguided supervisors was anything but ensuring historical accuracy. Their action, in fact, is an assault on the principle of separation of church and state. It is an attempt to get a foot in the door in order to erode that principle.

Why fight what seems, at first glance, such a small issue? A quip comes to mind: There is no such thing as being a little bit pregnant.

Herb Weinberg

Marina del Rey

If we argue about removing the religious symbol of a cross on the historically accurate official seal of Los Angeles County, then let’s ask why small stars arranged in the shape of a Star of David are on the Great Seal of the United States. We are going to shoot our nation in the foot for eternity if we argue needlessly and try to remove symbols of God from every aspect of public life and government.

Let’s take a different approach and open the doors to all symbols of God to assure the safety of our nation and its people. That, and not constant censuring, is religious freedom.

Maureen Kris Halikis

Los Angeles

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