Cross at Condo Breeds Contention

Re “O.C. Homeowner’s Cross Brought to Bear,” Jan. 28:

Irvine condominium owner Jean Majzler Amato may or may not have the right to put up the cross outside her condo. Since the Orange County Superior Court refused to order her to take it down, it seems she does have the right.

But I think she should take it down anyway. Why? Because it is up for the wrong reasons. In the article, she says that she wants the world to know what a force God is in her life.

Can’t people be content to have an intimate relationship with their God and not have to be constantly proving it to others?

Amato’s cross is not about giving glory to God. Standing taller than she is, it is a big sign sitting in her garden that says, “I’m a good Catholic, really I am. Who else would go to all this trouble?”

ANDY GOLDMAN

Placentia

* The participants in this debate have lost sight of the issues concerning Amato’s 5-foot cross.

This is not a debate about individual liberties guaranteed by the constitutions of the United States or California. The issue is whether Amato is in breech of her contract with the homeowners association.

When Amato entered into her contract with the association, she gave up certain rights. One of those rights was to display any kind of sculptures, satellite dishes, large plants, etc.

I am also a resident of Irvine and when I moved into my home I was aware of these types of regulations. If she did not understand the contract that she entered into, then her only recourse is to move into another neighborhood where the association does not dictate the aesthetic appearance of your home.

This is a clear-cut debate over contracts rather than a religious freedom issue. To misinterpret this issue as a religious one is a ploy by her attorneys to mask the fact that she is contractually obligated to live up to the terms of her agreement.

JOSHUA E. PAGE

Irvine

* If a neighbor has a Buddha on her front steps, another the Jewish Star of David on her door, another a cross in her yard, and still another a sign proclaiming atheism, would I be offended? No. Would I consider the integrity of my neighborhood damaged? No. I would just see how interesting and diverse my neighbors are, perhaps learning something about them I wouldn’t have known otherwise.

We have all seen flags flying from porches with pictures of Easter bunnies, Christmas trees, Valentine hearts, four-leaf clovers, and menorahs. Are these also to be deemed possibly offensive and therefore banned? If I hang a no-smoking sign on my door, and my neighbor owns stock in a tobacco company, would I have to remove it because she might find this offensive?

These are all positive symbols of humanity and if my neighbor feels so strongly about any of these things that she wants to share it with her neighbors, good for her!

I would feel differently if I looked across the street and there was a swastika hanging from a flagpole, because this is a symbol of death, destruction and madness and would offend people from all walks of life.

It would be interesting to know about the people who make up Amato’s community and how many of them are actually offended by her cross. Aren’t there some real issues that these “offended” people could spend their time on? Aren’t there enough regulations in our lives?

JAN BLACK

Tustin