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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOakland Zoo removes Ten Commandments monument
(07-25) 16:58 PDT Oakland -- Oakland Zoo officials on Wednesday removed a monument from zoo property that a group of atheists objected to because it featured the Ten Commandments.
Joel Parrott, the zoo's executive director, said that the stone plaque marking Christian tradition was at odds with a zoo - and a diverse region.
"We try to be very sensitive to the community, so that we can be inclusive," said Parrott. "This wasn't the right location for that type of thing."
The plaque would not have been seen by most patrons of the zoo, which is owned by the city but is run by the nonprofit East Bay Zoological Society. It was behind the Snow Building, which is used by a variety of people for special events, particularly weddings.
That's how Joey Piscitelli came to see it. He rented the building for his daughter's wedding in 2008. The self-described atheist found out too late that the best shot for a photo looking over the bay also had the 6-foot tall Ten Commandments plaque.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Oakland-Zoo-removes-Ten-Commandments-monument-3735555.php
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)Sounds like that zoo was really proselytizing!
meow2u3
(24,772 posts)The Ten Commandments do not belong in a zoo. If I were one (or more) of those animals (a tiger, for instance), I'd have fundies for lunch--literally--even if I get indigestion afterwards.
There's no point in preaching to them, unless your name is Saint Francis.