To the Editor:

At first blush the idea of a 200-foot cross seemed kind of cool. It could make Maggie Valley famous for having the tallest cross. 

But I’ve been mulling it around in my head because there’s just something not right. First, having the tallest cross is a vanity thing. Vanity is a sin. You don’t have to build a bigger cross to be closer to God. Look how that Babel tower thing worked out.

Secondly, and more important to me, I absolutely do not want a 200-foot night light blocking out the sky! Nearly everyone in Maggie Valley can see the roller coaster from their front porch. It’s practically over our heads. Now imagine 200 feet up from there is a well-lit cross.

We moved to the country over 15 years ago to get away from noise and light pollution. There’s nothing more beautiful than a sky full of stars on a clear dark night. But in the city you’re likely to forget there are stars.

It’s an urban blight. Appreciate what you have and stop messing it up. Having the world’s tallest cross is a grand idea. But it’s not a good idea.

Larry Wright

Maggie Valley