Editorial: Think about the effect of crosses, signs

The crosses and signs proclaiming Clarendon’s religiosity generate strong feelings among residents and travelers and even recently drew the attention of city officials. But the question remains as to what… if anything… should be done about them.

Alderman Sandy Skelton brought the subject up at the October 14 city meeting, but even he only sought a remedy for future signs and markers and did not propose doing anything about what already exists. That launched a discussion about a possible sign ordinance, which lead to the dusting off of the sign ordinance that has already been on the books for 19 years.

Interestingly, the biggest revelation at the meeting about the “end of the world” signs came from the man responsible for them. While the city ordinance requires a permit for signs and markers, Jim Griffin said he was told by former city administrator Lambert Little that he didn’t need a permit for what he was doing.

So basically, the city had an opportunity to have some modicum of regulation over the situation and didn’t do it. Now the chariots have left the coliseum, and there’s no rounding them back up.

The situation is, in part, an example of the city not properly enforcing the ordinances on its books. Why do we need all these rules and regulations? Well, in part, to keep Clarendon from looking like The New Apian Way, as Fred Gray described it last week.

Almost any eyesore in this town could be remedied by proper enforcement of the rules in place. But too often the city just looks at making new rules instead of enforcing the current ones.

A perfect example of this is the amendment passed this summer that changed the allowable weed and grass height from four feet (which does seem high) down to 18 inches. But then the city had lots of places where its own grass was over 18 inches. Maybe we should get all the properties under the four-foot level first.

As to the crosses and signs, Mr. Griffin told the city council that he sees himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and that it is his mission to make sure that every person coming through Clarendon gets witnessed to about Jesus.

The biggest problem with that is that not everyone wants to be the recipient of Mr. Griffin’s witnessing. Several travelers have even taken the time to write the Enterprise or the Chamber of Commerce to express their disgust, displeasure, or discomfort with the plethora of crosses and signs. This includes some Christians who feel the symbols are over the top.

Now in fairness, there are people who like the crosses and signs. An example is an email the Enterprise received this week and reprinted with the letters in this issue. However, it is probably safe to say that the people who are most excited about Mr. Griffin’s work and take the time to look him up and thank him or send us a comment are also probably people who are very devout and don’t need to be witnessed to. In other words, it’s preaching to the choir.

So what should be done about this issue? There probably isn’t much that can be done officially. Enforcement of the sign ordinance might have slowed the phenomenon or moved it back from the highway some, but it would not have prevented harsh messages like “9-11 Tragedy. Worse things to come!” Trying to stop that or remove it opens a whole can of constitutional questions about religious freedom, freedom of speech, and private property rights.

No, government rules are not the answer here. What Clarendon needs is for business and property owners to think about the cumulative effect these markers are having on our community as it is perceived by visitors. The cross or the sign in front of your business may be fine; but when it’s combined with dozens of others, it’s too much for some people.

As a businessman, I don’t care if you’re Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, atheist, or some worshipper of Greek gods. I just want you to come in and buy a subscription or place an ad for your garage sale. Likewise, I don’t care about the religiosity of passers-by. I just want them to stop for a bite to eat, pick up a gift at a local merchant, and possibly Stay All Night or Stay A Little Longer! And, if while you’re here, you are impressed with the good morals of our community and wish to receive some witnessing, feel free to attend one of our 18 (at last count) churches.

Goodwill is a valuable thing and one that is not easily regained once lost. Like the old shampoo commercial used to say, “You only get one chance to make a first impression.”

Literally thousands of dollars are spent each year from the city’s economic development corporation and hotel occupancy tax trying to make Clarendon a destination, an attractive place for visitors, a place you want to stop for a while, or place to relocate. Money and time are spent on marketing this community and putting our best foot forward. And then someone puts up four dozen sewer pipe crosses and starts freaking out the guests.

Thankfully, some of these signs and crosses have already come down. More need to. We want people to come here. We don’t need to give anyone an excuse to say they will never stop or shop our town.