Readers React: Make space for L.A.’s Christian history on the county seal

To the editor: In reference to the concern former L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky says he felt as a child seeing City Hall lit up as a cross during the Christian feast of Nativity, I understand: The complexities of living in a multi-cultural, multi-religious society can be very confusing for children. (“Keep a cross off the L.A. County seal,” Op-Ed, Nov. 20)

Now as an adult and experiencing the same confusion as to the inclusion of a cross in the public seal of the County of Los Angeles, I am concerned: Is there no place in the history of Southern California to recognize the primary role of Christianity in the founding of the Spanish missions?

Like it or not, the role of a particular religion in the development of a county — or civilization, for that matter — is critical to its existence.

Maybe what we should really be concerned about is the loss of the values that religion engendered in the people of the county: love, faith, hope. The very reason we have a large and visible cross is to remind us of these values.

Anna Yelland, Upland

..

To the editor: Plaudits to Yaroslavsky for his well-considered take on the county seal brouhaha, especially given the thousands of vitriolic messages he’s received from pious protesters. That so many would object so vehemently to the omission of the Christian cross on the county’s seal speaks to the theological insecurities of religious zealots.

After the “godless Commies” scare of the 1950s prompted peak religious affiliation and constitutionally dubious government nods to religion, the population of nonbelievers has steadily increased, and the courts have nixed most government attempts to endorse religion.

Given such daunting trends for the devout, look for them to become ever more desperate and contentious in their quest to have government favor what they tout as the one true religion. For them, the guarantee of freedom of religion means they should be free to impose their beliefs on everyone else.

Gary Dolgin, Santa Monica

..

To the editor: In case anybody cares, the cross on the previous county seal, which is depicted above the Hollywood Bowl band shell, could be seen from the higher-up seats at the Bowl resplendent in all its artificially lit glory.

The cross is now Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 617 and is known as the Hollywood Pilgrimage Memorial Monument. It was erected in 1923 in the hills above what was then known as the Pilgrimage Theatre and is now known as the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre.

It was dedicated to the memory of Christine Wetherill Stevenson, a founder of the Hollywood Bowl and the Ford Amphitheatre.

Ray Sherman, Duarte

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook