By ISA BELLEYou cannot miss it when you are in or around Mostar: the huge cross (33 m tall) on the Hum Hill which dominates the city. You can see the cross from most spots in Mostar because it is illuminated even at night. It seems to stand there quietly and peacefully, but nothing could be less true. This cross has been a topic for discussion ever since it was first erected in 2000.The cross is of course a religious symbol for the Catholic Croats in Mostar; it’s a part of their religion. According to Bishop of Mostar who spoke at the opening ceremonies and dedication for the cross, “its presence there is “to spread the fruit of peace to all sides of the world,”. The Muslims on the other side of the town, however, do not identify with it and are not happy about the cross being where it is. They see it as a symbol for hatred and intolerance and that it’s present worsens the division in the city. The Catholics counter-argue that the Muslims are actually no Muslims at all, but atheists. They also claim that the Old Bridge in Mostar–built by Ottoman Turks–is a Muslim symbol; therefore the Catholics should be allowed to have their own city symbol as well. Furthermore, most of the war damage in Mostar was inflicted from Hum Hill, implicating that whoever controlled the hill virtually controlled the city. The powerful presence of the cross signals the Croats’ subtle claim of authority over the hill where many atrocities were committed.For an outsider it is difficult to understand the deep feeling in this case, but I think everybody can predict the kinds of arguments arising from erecting a giant cross above Mostar, a city with a recent history of ethnic war which physically divided the Catholics and the Muslims. The argument goes even further than words. In 2006 a man was arrested for his alleged plot to blow up the cross. This shows how deep the feelings are over this cross. Fortunately, there are people who believe in more ‘peaceful’ ways on how to handle the situation. “Of course the cross is offensive to us, but we just say that the crescent moon and the star are higher still.” (The Guardian, 29 July 2004). I support freedom of religion, but I think you should keep your religion to yourself and don’t bother others too much with it.