Its no different than crosses and stars outlined in lights on the front range of the Rockies that appear to float in the air at night. Its done on private property so its their right to display these signs. Its no different than the huge cross at the church at I-35 and Edmond Rd. or the cross out in the Texas Panhandle on I-40.

Oh yeah man, don't get me started on the giant cross on the high way, geeze...

This is about how I feel. They're allowed to do it, so I won't criticize too harshly....but I still think it's too Bible Beltish.

So is downtown OKC the only city that does this? What about Dallas and Chicago and others? They sure have a lot more skyscrapers to light crosses on.

Oh yeah man, don't get me started on the giant cross on the high way, geeze...

Why not? I still miss how the outline of the cross changed colors while you drove past it, and I hate the rumor the church stopped it because it was too gay. It never once occured to me it was gay every time I watched the lights change.

So is downtown OKC the only city that does this? What about Dallas and Chicago and others? They sure have a lot more skyscrapers to light crosses on.

I was in Dallas last year around Christmas time and nothing on any of the buildings except the standard neon and lighting they always have.

Chicago does red and green lighting on top of some of the buildings.

If my feeble mind serves me correctly the 1st cross was in the old Liberty Bank Tower later followed by KM. Since the 1st cross has been around since the late 70's it's like the BC Clark commercial; it's the beginning of the holiday season in OKC. I can agree the cross is more of an Easter symbol and a reflection of the resurrection of Christ. A star would be appropriate since the wise men followed a star. My gut tells me that it originally was something cheap and easy that building management threw together at the last minute. How easy are hanging up florescent tubes in windows. Viola an instant Christmas decoration.

I would not be offended to see Muslim symbols on buildings in the Muslim world

Would you be offended if a Muslim owner put Muslim symbols on a building in Oklahoma City?

So is downtown OKC the only city that does this? What about Dallas and Chicago and others? They sure have a lot more skyscrapers to light crosses on.

How and why the hell would I know?
:doh:

Would you be offended if a Muslim owner put Muslim symbols on a building in Oklahoma City?

Nopers. Why would such a decision be even remotely offensive?

Granted... it is easy to say something wouldn't be offensive if it has basically ZERO chance of happening.

Can you imagine if a Muslim owned Chase tower and put up a star & crescent for Ashura in December?

The Oklahoma legislature would call an emergency session to outlaw such a thing, the OKC news channels would have around the clock coverage of the "controversy," and there'd be demonstrations and probably riots in the streets.

Granted... it is easy to say something wouldn't be offensive if it has basically ZERO chance of happening.

Not following. If memory serves, we have followers of Islam throughout the greater metro area. Beyond folks personally known, no clue whatsoever as to the overall numbers of the faith, nor who is and who is not Muslim in the metro. For all I know a follower or three of Islam control buildings and could add such a symbol to one or more of them.

In the same light, no pun intended, if one of the existing lit buildings becomes a Cross on one side, a Star of David on another, with the other two sides going to Islam and Buddhism, no problem with this either.

Not my building, not my airspace, not my worry.

one wonders how the lights might impact on someones religion or marriage. <eg>

I'm not big on the crosses, but I would be ok with one, 2 just seems a bit excessive. I'm very tolerant of christian displays during the holidays (I myself am one of those aforementioned non existent jews, and a non practicing one). However, while I don't so much see it as pushing religion on me (although I do find it funny, that the only people who think that it isn't pushing religion on people are devout Christians) I do see it as a marker of territory. I don't mean to sound angry or anything, but when I'm driving home from Edmond and I see those two crosses down 235, I feel about the same as when I see the gang markers on my neighborhood buildings. The crosses, just like the gang markers, come across as a visable sign of someones "turf". As if to imply, "this land is for Christians", and not being one myself, also, "this land is not for you". Now, I'm not saying that they should be outlawed, as previous posters have said, "their buildings, their choice". But I just wanted to say, as a religious minority in this town, it DOES have an effect on me.

EBAH, you hit it on the nail. The main people who don't find it somewhat pushy or offensive are those who see it as their symbol. I personally think they should just light the tops of the buildings (like FNC) instead of having a "specific religion's" symbol on skyscrapers.

Here in Seattle, we have one skyscraper do red/green lights on top and we used to have christmas trees in SeaTac airport but they were removed and banned a few years ago because it is not inclusive of the populous.

America was founded on freedom, NOT JUST CHRISTIAN FREEDOM! I think until there are other symbols shown in downtown the cross(es) should come down and we just have red/green lighting on the tops.

After all, we are becoming a much more progressive and dare I say cosmopolitan city - therefore we need to be much more sensitive and INCLUSIVE, and recognize that American Freedom means Christianity PLUS other religions (and even non-religious people) can co-exist without having territoritial markers!

Also, I DO believe the city can mandate that the crosses come down since they dictate all signage and lighting allowed on any building in the city. It will be a very interesting day once that debate is had in city hall. ....

I personally, wouldn't mind seeing ONE Cross and maybe a Christmas tree outline and some red/green lights (shoot, we have 5 major towers now with room for lights, 6 if you include BOK), I think we should be more creative and inclusive and not just THUMP Christianity. This coming from a Christian, btw.

Let me preface by saying that I am not a religious person, and when I first moved here in 2002, I thought the crosses were a bit strange.

With that said, while the crosses still stand out to me every time I drive by (and I see them morning and night, driving to and from work, and every time I go to a Thunder game), they don't bother me to any significant extent.

While religious tolerance is more of theory than a true reality in this country (let alone this state), that theory should work both ways. I have no major issue with building owners displaying the crosses, whether they do so out of religious conviction, or in the spirit of downtown tradition, or as blatant pandering to the local population. That's their right of expression, and while I see the point of the poster above above who characterized them as "turf" signs (and tend to agree), that's the building owners' prerogotive.

This is not a display sponsored by the city or the state, and while I know from firsthand experience the crosses come across as bizarre to OKC newbies (like I was in 2002), folks should be free to display (or conceal) their faith as they see fit.

It's a little like my stance on prostelytizers (I am too lazy to spell-check that word). While I find prostelytizing offensive personally, I would never want to deny someone the right to spread the word of their faith. So while I find skyscraper-crosses to be a little over-the-top and pushy (just my personal opinion), I can't see a reason why the building owners should feel compelled to take them down, or why anyone should be offended to the point of demanding it.

Can you imagine if a Muslim owned Chase tower and put up a star & crescent for Ashura in December?

The Oklahoma legislature would call an emergency session to outlaw such a thing, the OKC news channels would have around the clock coverage of the "controversy," and there'd be demonstrations and probably riots in the streets.

Oh really? How do you know this? I don't recall it ever happening. I think you're just looking to start a fight.

Again, as with Judaism and Hannukah, Ashura isn't that big a holiday to Muslims. It's certainly not a Christmas equivalent. Ramadan would probably be closer, as far as it's importance to their faith. If a Muslim wanted to light up his tower during the month of August (which is when Ramadan began this year), I wouldn't have a problem with it. I would prefer if our local Muslim community would do something visible so that we'd actually know what was going on (most Oklahomans, I believe, would stare in puzzlement and wonder why the building was lit that way).

I've lived in other places. I've lived on the east coast in supposedly "enlightened" liberal areas, and I've found Oklahomans are as tolerant and understanding a group of people as you'll find anywhere. That doesn't mean we don't have our own judgmental types, but everywhere else does too. I was in DC during 9/11, and I had a conversation that night with a very liberal New Yorker who kept staring at every middle easterner who walked by. "I can't help thinking they're all plotting against us" she said. And here I was, the good old boy Republican from the Bible Belt, telling the die hard Democrat from the northeast not to judge people based on their religion.

I was in school with people who were raised in Boston and went to Harvard, who grew up in Long Island and had degrees from Yale, and I saw these same people cross to the other side of the street if they saw a black man approaching. A lot of Oklahomans wear their religion on their sleeve, but that doesn't make them backwards.

I just noticed this thread. I was driving up I44 towards my brother-in-law's house and glanced over and saw the crosses. It actually brought tears to my eyes they were so familiar. Haven't seen them in ten years. I'm no Thumper (snarky people!) but that is such a strong tradition and tradition is important.

I am about 90% sure that the crosses are not office lights. pretty sure they are separate lights on the buildings

Chase's fluorescent lights are removed each year, although they
were upgraded last year. Sandridge built theirs in permanently
to the interior window trim so the office worker's never ever see them....
they are quite a bit brighter than Chase's also.....

I wonder if Devon has anything planned for their new tower.

I hope it is something different. All we need is 3 major skyscrapers with crosses. OMG

I like the idea of a giant candy cane for the new Devon tower.

But then someone would whine that it promote a nefarious tooth decay agenda for a cabal of unscrupulous dentists.

Nopers. Why would such a decision be even remotely offensive?

You'd be surprised.


I've found Oklahomans are as tolerant and understanding a group of people as you'll find anywhere.

I wish I met more of them. At least, I wish we elected more of them.

At the risk of a hijack re: tolerant people - I was out in Christmas traffic, today, and saw three fistfights nearly break out because everyone wanted to be the one who was polite. The clerks smiled. People smiled and waved. They let you in when you needed a break in traffic.

People, until you have lived elsewhere, you have no idea how lovely and tolerant Oklahoman's are. I have been living for ten years at a place where people would stab you if you said you thought the tea partiers had a point. Or put down the redskins.

But back to topic...

I'll admit, I'll be the first Oklahoman to stab someone if you put down the Redskins! I also fear I'm the only one...

Even as an agnostic, on average, I'm fine with the crosses. Sometimes I admire them, sometimes I find them offensive. But, I guess like most Oklahomans, I'm pretty tolerant, so I'm not gonna raise a ruckus about it.

People, until you have lived elsewhere, you have no idea how lovely and tolerant Oklahoman's are

I have lived elsewhere. I'd say maybe we're "folksier", but tolerant is not the first word that would come to mind.

if any1 has pics of DT OKC w/ the crosses in it please post it!Thanx!

Here's a pic....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2595/4198411368_2201c4aff9_b.jpg

^^^I love that picture (with or without the silly crosses.)

^^^^ Thanx soonerfever!

DANG that is pretty!

Yes I also like the FNC green and red...also like it when they light it all in blue for thunder games! I like ONE CROSS ....two just doesn't look right. I LOVE the CROSS, I am catholic, HOWEVER..... I wonder to the day what this christian open minded city(LOL) will do when there is a building light up IN YOUR FACE as a menroah or some OTHER religious view, buddha, etc...lots of asians here now. (I know many are Catholic) just trying to make a point. What will OKC do then?.....other than have a HISSY FIT!!! Buildings are not really the appropriate place to show your beliefs, etc.!!! Keep the decor general...I, too, like the Christmas tree building in South Tulsa!!

Here's a pic....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2595/4198411368_2201c4aff9_b.jpg

Is it just me or does it look like the Oklahoma Tower has a cross on it as well (in addition to the BankOne and Sandridge buildings)? That's the first time I've seen that...