Talk of The Villages Florida - Small white Crosses

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- The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)

- - Small white Crosses (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/small-white-crosses-310508/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill1701 (Post 1824602)

The crosses violate the deed restrictions. Simple as that. If the people with them win the legal battle then I plan to put them up all along my property line to keep the dogs out. After all, if one is good, a hundred must be better!

...and they will likely win because it'll come under the First Amendment: free speech. Don't agree, but that's what I think will happen

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 1824610)

[snip] To complain about something that gives a bit of joy and happiness to those that display them, seems to be nasty and hurtful in nature. To go out of your way to be deliberately hurtful to seniors attempting to find peace in their twilight years is (I was about to say UN-Christian) against our concept of how real Americans care for and support each other. [snip]
Granted, there are deed restrictions in certain areas of the Villages. Not where I live, so homes are pleasantly personalized with all kinds of items, including the crosses. I did not even notice the little crosses being displayed until I read about the controversy in the local newspaper. [snip]
Someone else mentioned "would you like to see Jewish, Wicken, Buddist and Muslim symbols in yards?" I wonder why that would offend anyone. I would simply marvel at how nice it is to live in America with the Freedom of speech and religion. Atheists are offended? Yes, of course. Perhaps they should be.

That was me, with the Jewish, Wiccan, etc. comment. Religious symbols as a collective, don't bother me all that much. But when the ONLY religious symbol displayed prominently in an entire neighborhood is white crosses, it makes me uncomfortable. It makes me feel like there's some kind of club that I'm excluded from. It makes me feel like the property owner is saying, "I'm special and you're not." It is exclusionary, not inclusionary.

But like you, I don't report it, because a) I don't think it's restricted in my neighborhood and b) as I said previously, we moved into this neighborhood because creative expression is allowed, not restricted, and I accept what I like with what I don't like.

As you said - it floats their boat, and it isn't "hurting" me in any way, so hey go for it. I'd probably appreciate them more if they'd give them some funky paint job, because that stark white amidst their colorful gardens isn't very fashionable. Maybe a tie-dye, or give it the same color as the flowers on their hibiscus tree, or something to coordinate with the landscaping.

Lawn ornaments/decorations/crosses are allowed on the historical side I was told.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 1824950)

The cross is not supposed to remind you of death. Rather it is supposed to remind you of the resurrection and eternal life. Just saying.

For a pet? That is why I asked why a white cross to indicate a pet burial. Well maybe they have resurrection too.

seems like a rather small issue to have worked so manty people up and generate 11 pages on TOTV....

just saying

It’s a nice distraction from our Covid and protests topics. This is truly a Villages topic. There are absolutely no little white crosses on lawns that I have seen in my city up north.

Last year some friends from another state came to visit. They asked “what’s with all the white crosses?” I told them maybe where s pet is buried?? They thought it was a KKK cross! Just saying not everybody sees things the same way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC (Post 1824298)

Lots around here. Does not bother me at all.

Now if it was larger and say lit up all night that would be another story.

A small white cross usually symbolizes a pet’s death

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 1824881)

The whole point of Christianity is that Jesus died for the sins of man. Jesus's "way" replaced that of the Old Testament. All the laws and rules and regulations and stipulations of the Old Testament were no longer necessary, and the NEW Way was the Way.

It eliminated the laws of Kosher. You no longer had to stone your son to death in the town square if your son disrespected his mother. You no longer had to reject pork. You no longer had to isolate yourself from civilization if you were menstruating. You were no longer required to cover your hair if you were a married woman.

All of these rules - were no longer valid. And all of those rules were rules of the Old Testament. The New Testament said, basically, "hey y'know all that stuff we said you had to do before? Fuggedaboudit."

Even the term itself - "Christianity" didn't exist until after Jesus was already dead. The New Testament essentially retcons the old Testament, says "yeah that old stuff is just fairy tales - read this instead. Pretend I'm Bill Maher and these are the NEW RULES."

I am certainly no religious expert and I am just asking for reference. But, do not some strict Muslims require head covering? And do not some religions reject pork?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 1825040)

I am certainly no religious expert and I am just asking for reference. But, do not some strict Muslims require head covering? And do not some religions reject pork?

Christianity began around six centuries before Islam. Islam begun somewhere around the 7th century. Judaism predates Christianity by around 2000 years. The Christian holy texts (the New Testament) basically said "everything Jews were told they had to do, and weren't allowed to do, is hereby forgiven as long as you accept that one of those Jews is now your god-king in heaven."

It was founded on the dismissal of Judaism, for all intents and purposes. Islam didn't come til much, much later.

Some of us are so weak, myself included, that we need a lifeline in this Jewish god-king, to get over the threshold. Otherwise I’m pretty sure I probably would not make it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 1825044)

Thank you. I enjoyed processing that. That does give a nice overall timeline and perspective. Nice to have an expert historian on this forum. TV Land is full of many, many interesting and knowledgeable individuals. We are old and slow learners, but we TRY to learn new things. Sometimes even our stubborn, fixed ideas and prejudices can be made more flexible. keep up the good work.

The deed restrictions are for lawn ornaments. The little white cross falls in that category. You can place a cross next to your front door under the eave as that is no longer considered a lawn ornament

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 1825052)

I'm not an expert historian. But I enjoy studying comparative religion. I've read parts of the Quran, the old and new testaments, the Talmud, the book of Mormon, parts of the Bhagava-Ghita, and several other religious texts. Grew up Jewish with Orthodox grandparents in a Reform home, belonged to both the Jewish youth group and the Methodist youth group to hang out with a friend who was in it. Studied in college for my midterms at the Hare Krsna Society building because it was peaceful there and smelled nice, am an actual card-carrying member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and lived with Wiccans, Pagans, and other random religious folks throughout the years.

So I've had lots of opportunity to learn about religion and it became an interest.

This is the age when some folks are rip roaring ready to take offense. White crosses are fine; I suspect the owners are good, decent people ready to express their faith in a non-threatening and sincere way. If others are bothered, well that is the way of living in community: some folks are different and toleration is a virtue.