On the proliferation of Ten Commandments signs

When I was a newspaper editor in Texas, we had a policy of not reporting phony bomb threats because it would bring more public nuisances and other nutcases out of the woodwork. I am hoping that was the thinking behind local newspapers’ not covering the Aug. 16 dedication of Philip Klevmoen’s God’s Ten Commandments Park in Columbia Heights.

While there were advance stories, my Google search did not yield coverage of the actual event by local newspapers. It was to be kicked off by a photo op of Matthew Murray carrying a 10-foot cross from Half Moon Road through Columbia Falls to the park.

In addition, according to a story in the July 16 Hungry Horse News, “[Klevmoen] said he’s had plenty of help from local businesses — Brian Peterson made the crosses, LHC Inc. provided a discount on concrete, and Midway Rental, Bighorn Development and Mel Sheeran all helped.”

I feel lucky that my routine travels do not take me past that park. Other folks, however, are not so blessed. The overwhelming majority of letters to the editor and Web-page comments about the park that I have read have been written by Christians, who characterize the park as a garish monstrosity that blocks their view of God’s creation to the point of mocking their faith.

Apparently these comments are written by folks who regard their belief in God and the comfort and fellowship it provides them as a personal matter, rather than something that has to be shoved in other people’s faces. Good for them.

This whole issue would be comical except for the fact that this park and the proliferation of Ten Commandments signs around the county create a tribal in-group/out-group mentality and an environment of fear for non-Christians.

For example, when an issue such as church-state separation is raised in the local media, supporters of this basic American concept (both religious and non-religious) tend to post anonymous comments on the newspapers’ Web pages rather than signed letters to the editor, so they don’t suffer discrimination by, or other grief from, co-workers, neighbors or classmates. On the other hand, Christianists tend to write letters to the editor just to flaunt their faith.

With the November elections coming up, those who are concerned by this state of affairs might want to ask the candidates their opinions about the park, how it and the Ten Commandment signs make a laughing stock of Flathead County to passers-through, and whether this is a “Christian county” or one that is open and welcoming to everyone.

Richard E. Wackrow, of Polebridge and Whitefish, is the administrator of the Flathead Area Secular Humanist Association.