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formed a religious government that coerced all within Afghanistan to believe as they believed or face death. This is quite similar to the practices of religious institutions in Europe, which led our founding fathers to form a government that would protect against such religious abuses.
While it is fundamental that we must observe “separation of church institutions from political institutions,” I respectfully submit that we should not pervert the valid concept of “separation” to reject all forms of religious expression in the public arena. Our founding fathers clearly did not. They expressed their reliance on God in the founding of this nation, and they thought it good to pray for God’s guidance in writing our Constitution.
Some have used the concept of “separation” to restrict any form of religious expression in a public forum. I heard recently of a local government prohibiting the display of red poinsettias because they were a “Christian symbol.” If that is what the people want, I have no problem with it; on the other hand, I don’t want that position dictated to us by the Supreme Court.
Moreover, if red poinsettias must be prohibited, where do we stop? After all, “water” is one of the principal symbols of the Christian religion (baptism). Should water fountains be banned from all government buildings? It is time we returned to a reasonable balance in interpreting the First Amendment.
Jim Oyster
Castleton
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