Posted: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 12:00 am
Is it not yet clear to the Lompoc Record that there is an organized letter-writing campaign on the Matt Hughes/post office poster issue? Even though the Record has been criticized as “…do not tolerate belief in God…C (Susan Phillips, Oct. 6) it has been willing to print endless letters on the subject.
The Oct. 16 letter by Jay Horstmann is over the top (declaring Hughes/ need to learn about sin) and just plain obnoxious. Enough is enough 7 we all know that a poster which read “Allah Bless AmericaC or “In Buddha We TrustC would change these tunes in a hurry.
One reason separation of church and state is such a hot-button issue is that the letter writers, their ministers, and millions like them, have forgotten or never knew that there is a huge distinction between religious traditions and “rights.C There is no right to religious expression on state property, but there are rights to express whatever on one/s own time and property. Why is this so difficult to understand?
Our founding fathers had a brilliant, courageous vision 7 that no church or religion would be allowed to dictate or dominate our newly-formed democratic government. Those “fathersC had all emigrated from countries or kingdoms under church domination, and they were not about to encode similar capability for religious persecution into our U.S. Constitution.
Keeping religion separate from government was the only way to ensure that all could practice their beliefs freely, without inflicting them upon others. And religions have flourished in the U.S. because of it. In fact, any yahoo with vocal chords can start a religion of any persuasion!
Our coinage says “In God We Trust,C but it also says “E Pluribus Unum,C basically 7 of Many, one, because we are a plurality.
Tolerate our Constitution, and count your blessings. Enough is enough.
Patrick Clevenger
Lompoc
October 24, 2006