We also welcome your comments on twitter. Tweet us cspanwj. Down thursday, one of a number of final rulings for the court as they wrap up their current term. This is from the wall street journal on that case, the headline, justices let cross stay on public land. Int is the piece cross maryland, dedicated to 49 servicemen who died during world war i. The wall street journal writes that the Supreme Court voted 72 ,o allow a cross to remain claiming that it holds a secular meaning that comports with the constitutional separation of church and state. Justices in the majority issued six separate opinions, offering different views on the intersection of government and religion following an impassioned dissent from the courts two most liberal members been it drove home the divide between conservatives and liberals and within the courts ideological wings. The point of our question this morning, whether you support or oppose the decision, here is what the usa today writes. They are saying the question before the court was simple, does the 93yearold piece cross violet the First Amendment, which prohibits government establishment of religion. Even if the answer is yes, few of the justices who heard the case in february wanted to see it moved, altered, or demolished, conceived in 1919 and established six years later, it has become part of the towns landscape. We will get to the words of the justices in the decision. Your thoughts on the piece cross decision and religious freedom. If you support that decision, 202 7488000. If you oppose, 202 7488001. Here are some of the reactions from both sides. Reporting from baltimore, maryland. [video clip] the military is made up of diverse faith groups. Favors one faith over another diminishes the sacrifices made by people from all faiths. The Supreme Court has made religious items constitutional. People who object have to prove they are not constitutional. Host here is part of the ruling written by Justice Samuel alito in that case. Therote in the decision, image of a simple wooden cross that originally marked the graves of american soldiers alled in world war i became symbol of their sacrifice, and the design of the cross must be understood in light of that background. That the cross originated as a christian symbol does not change the fact that this symbol took on an added secular meaning when used in world war i memorials. To hear your thoughts, we hear from clarissa from minneapolis. Good morning. Jack in virginia. Hello there. Caller good morning. Host you are on the air. Go ahead. Caller how are you . Host im doing fine. Thank you. By there have passed ago, ands a few years i do not see it really is a aligious symbol as religious symbol. For that reason i support the thing. Symbolsre looking for that is going to affect people, if you look on the congresss eagle, thep of the configuration of the stars is the star of david. Why dont you remove that one . Robert, hear from kentucky, who opposes the decision. Caller good morning. It isason i oppose because it caters to one type of religion. If it does not limit it to the opposed tould not be it. Since it does, i would limit it. Host do you think Justice Alito was correct when he said the cross has taken on a secular meaning since it was erected in 1925 . Caller my great uncle served in world war i. He was over in france. They erected across in central park in kentucky every year to the veterans. You cannot say the cross itself because that points to christianity. I could understand what he is saying, but i would not limit it to that. Host one of the justices in the minority in this decision, ruth Bader Ginsburg, wrote in her decision that by maintaining the Peace Process on a public highway, the commission elevates christianity over other faiths and religion over nonreligion. Memorializing the service of u. S. Soldiers is an admirable and unfortunately secular objective, but the commission bys not serve that objective choosing a symbol that serves a starkly sectarian message. Here is gary, indiana. Caller hello. I support that decision because let me tell you something, man. This crapnited uses that money is speech. They get away with it. Why cant these people use the same thing to support their cause . The cross was a symbol of where christ died. I am not the most religious guy in the world, but i respect that. Alito guy had a really good point in terms of what he said. The ones that got voted down, too bad for you, chumps. Host you support the decision. Tell us why. Caller i do, indeed. I support the decision on a very specific reason. This cap clause is very specific the establishment clause is very specific. The Congress Shall make no law establishing religion. I do not believe where that is making amaryland lot. No law was made. The establishment clause is very specific. Unless those who oppose that cross, who do not want it there, they have to prove, show where congress is making a law. , theey cannot do that com establishment clause is not being violated. Richard, whoo to opposes the decision. Tell us why. Because ioppose it think you have to look at what it would look like if you had a star of david or muslim crescent in the same position. Would people take issue with that . By having a cross there, you are imposing your philosophy on somebody else. It overlooks the other people who may have been another persuasion. We just watched the ceremony in normandy, recognizing the dday invasion. The cemetery in normandy are individual. The stars of david and crosses over individual gravesites. That is appropriate. To have one symbol that speaks to all the people that died i think is an injustice. 1925 the cross erected in by the mothers of 45 Fallen Soldiers in world war i. One of the organizations that brought the case is the American Humanist Association, a nonreligious organization. Just some background from the wall street journal, this was not about a single cross. About the right of a community to honor its fallen heroes, in the face of todays decision, we must all pursue new avenues to bolster the First Amendment. The American Humanist Association challenged the crosss placement on public land. He said the organization would seek legislation to strengthen the wall of separation between church and state. If that twitter saying, cross was a statue of mohammed, you would bet religious freedom fanatics would be singing a different team. This matter is indicative of a problem in our society. Tople need to stop blaming be offended by everything. Just because you do not like something, does not mean it is bad. Religions have no place in politics or government structures. The establishment of religion only applies to write to practice. Lets hear from luther. He is in massachusetts. Caller good morning. Thank you for taking my call. I am a christian. Been a practicing christian since i was five years old. I objected to the decision because what the leader does is remove the religious significance from the item. He refers to it as having secular meaning. Once you say that, and no longer becomes a Christian Cross. It becomes a cross. It is dishonest to say that. Represents cross what we all understand should be a symbol of christianity. If the cross was standing on private land and being maintained by a private group, then, of course, it should stand. The people who object because it was standing on public land have a point. It is time for us to be adults about these things, to recognize the true meaning, and to be honest with ourselves. We have trouble doing that because we are not very honest about anything. Have a monument to someone who fought a war, you might want to look for a monument that celebrated what they are fighting for, to maintain peace and justice. Justice. Scales of the Christian Cross means something. Host let me ask you since you brought up Justice Alitos comments regarding the secular meaning of that cross, would you agree that some Christian Christmas hasas taken on, in many ways, a secular element recognized by all of society . Caller i do agree with that. I find that somewhat objectionable. Christmas is a christian holiday. It means something in terms of the birth of christ and god coming to us as a way of redeeming us. If you make it into a celebration of the winter solstice, it dilutes that christian meaning. Some Christian Churches that celebrate christmas in july because they do not want to be part of that madness of greed that goes on at the end of december. Host i appreciate you weighing in. Next we go to gary in springfield. Caller i think people ought to grow up. People died to protect this country, and in god we trust. Leave the cross alone. If you dont like it, leave. Next, supporting the decision. Either. Hi there. Caller good morning. I support the decision to leave the cross alone because it is not necessarily a religious symbol. Is in medical shortcut language the symbol for death, just like a circle with an arrow is a symbol for maile. Deathoss is a symbol for and medical shortcut language. Furthermore, i believe a lot of people in this country dont erstand the check version the separation of church and state. In great britain, the church of england could dictate to the king what was acceptable and what was not acceptable. Ifngs soul was at stake he defied the church. In the u. S. , we have freedom of religion. The government doesnt tell the church up to run their business, and the church does not tell the government how to run their business. That is how it works. Host we are talking about the piece cross case decided by the court on thursday. Hi there. Caller hi. Where should we start . 1920s, we had people coming from other countries. In order for the people to they said it was their country. Youaid, we will have pledged allegiance to the flag. Somebody decided to add under god. Oppose the movement of anything that has no real relevance to somebodys religion. As aion is always used weapon against other people. When you say religion, what you are saying is not what you believe in. What should we do . Start removing everything that has got god on it. Go in your pocket and get your money out. Host on this particular one, regarding the establishment of religion, do you think this the state of maryland, the establishment of or favorsian faith the christian view by allowing the cross to remain . Caller no. It is what a few people put up. They wanted something to support en thatpinion about the m died. Just because it is out there on a highway. You go to georgia, youll see a big peanut over 95. When you have any kind of symbol that means nothing. When you get into the subject of religion, you had better know what you are talking about actually at religion favors god. Host let me get into one view of the decision in particular from the wall street journal and their lead editorial yesterday, justices liberate the public cross. A right to the original meaning of the First Amendment is making a comeback in the Supreme Court. The latest evidence is onrsdays 72 ruling religious pluralism in the public square. Crossurt held that the erected in 1925 to commemorate soldiers who died in world war i can continue to stand. All justices except Sonia Sotomayor andriy Bader Ginsburg agreed. Ginsburgth bader agreed. The controlling plurality opinion, Justice Samuel alito noted that crosses appear in many secular contexts, including the red cross and blue shield trademark. Even if the original purpose of the monument was infused with religion, the passage of time may obscure that sentiment. Some similar thoughts on twitter tweets this,ho at do we do about the red cross . What about the federal cemeteries . Jodi says it is a christian symbol. What if it was a satanic statue . Would it get the same respect . Robert says that cross has been there over 100 years, get a life. To wisconsin, supporting the decision is june. Caller good morning. I would like to say that we as americans need to stop being so afraid of symbols. It around people wear neck. R it was good that it was used to honor the fallen in war so we would have the right to have religious freedom that we have. They did not establish a religion. It was a memorial. America have so much freedom to do pretty much anything, people have started objecting to everything. A y open the congress with prayer. They say the pledge of allegiance. The children cannot even pray in school. Ouy open up sessions of r congress with a prayer. I am glad the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land said it is ok. Host here is how marilyn governor larry hogan reacted, this is a great victory after we fought to keep the Peace Process standing in recognition of the valor and devotion of our world war i veterans. Carl is next in illinois, opposing the decision. Hi there. Caller good morning. Vietnamvout atheist and vet. Actually, i could not care less about this. Ist sets my hair on fire politicians when they want more sinners. Ey always tax taxes on to raise alcohol and tobacco well these megachurches dont pay taxes at all. I think they should start taxing churches. That would be a more important discussion for you people at cspan to have. In new jersey. Hi there. Caller hi. This is barbara. Briefly ised to say if we go back to the days of the omans, the crosses were planted outside the city, and people saw all the dead hanging on them. There was not any kind of christian symbol. It was a reminder of death. I think we should remember that. Born, wemoment we are are on a slow march towards death. The cross reminds us to live our life in service of others. I think it is a beautiful symbol. It represents all of mankind in that sense, that we are on the road to death. We live that way. Honor others who have given and the wayor us, way. Ould live crickethat matt, as a bladensburg resident, you support the decision. Tell us your thoughts. I have beene, and here about three years now, but house, and ihite protest every weekend. About sixdown there, blocks or the equivalent, there was a bunch of people, religious people i am a christian myself. It is not my issue with it. My grandfather lost his leg in world war i. I had an interest in it. Noticedame time i also it is very relevant for 1920. It is not a grave, and the soldiers are not buried there. If you look at the cross, there is no reference to religion on it. In thethe names of th bottom in bronze. It is not a grave site. It is a memorial. It is not religious. 1920,nt about that is in that is a very early point in time. The soldiers that are buried there, there are five africanamerican soldiers buried there. Families are still alive. Unfairlyt has been construed as a religious group. You, you livesk in bladensburg. A sight of protest in recent years . Caller from what i read, it goes back at least 50 years on and off. Forink it is very relevant a few reasons. I cannot tell you for sure. Some of the families are still here. The what i heard, this is project of a protest group out of town. Taken a poll on this before. This is a very diverse area. People in the area agree this marks a different point in time. It was there to honor people who gave their lives. In that sense, i think it is important. Host do you think your neighbors are happy that the whole thing is settled . Caller from what i had read, it sounds like the people, there is probably more other ethnic whitehere than citizens. That whole protest group was white citizens. Host if you support the decision, 202 7488000. If you oppose that Supreme Court decision, 202 7488001. We will get to your tweets as well. Keeping an eye on the story on iran. We will look into this more at 8 00 with our guest. The front page of the Financial Times this morning, trump insists u. S. Still ready to go on iran. A u. K. Defense official told the Financial Times the decision to abort was communicated to British Defense officials at 3 00 a. M. British time. Haverumps comments exacerbated a feeling of chaotic decisionmaking in the white house. Times, at the new york the front page, their headline, trump confirms aborting plan for airstrikes on iran. Byut from all over, going instinct. He heard from his generals and diplomats. Lawmakers weighed in. So did his advisors. Among the voices that way powerfully for President Trump was tucker carlson. National Security Advisors were urging him alter strike against iran. Mr. Carlson in recent days have told mr. Trump that responding to tehrans provocations with force was crazy. The hawks did not have the president s best interests at heart. However much weight that advice may or may not have had, the sentiment certainly reinforced the doubts mr. Trump himself harbored as he navigated himself through one of the most controversial foreignpolicy decisions of his presidency. He called off the strike with only 10 minutes to spare to avoid the estimated deaths of as many as 150 people. Lets hear from kay next. Hi there. Go ahead. Caller i hope i will be able to complete my call because the last three or four times i have called, i have been cut off in midcomment. Things toew different say. With many ofally the previous colors. Ers,e not completely call maybe not completely. Cross i want to say the is a torture device that was used by the romans. Little disc tasteful istasteful actually to see this used and worn. The u. S. In many ways does subsidize christianity. The way we have churches be tax exempt. Has just posted a republican get together. I dont know the last time that church paid to support Road Construction or bridge reconstruction or anything else for this society. I also feel that the abortion issue is a religious issue affects when the opinion of life and whether humans have souls. Just an to think we are further evolved species along line. Olutionary i am supposed to be free to think that. I do believe that the United Country in the world at this time has any time or money to be concerning , butelves with anything becoming selfsufficient and dry,g plans for safe, sustainable places for everyone to live. Host we will let you go. We will hear from steph