Freedom of Religion
How do you answer the question – “What does it mean to be an American?” Most Americans would agree this is a country where every citizen has the same rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We all have these same rights without regard to the color of your skin, your sex, your age, country of origin, political philosophy or religion.
Uh, well, maybe not that last one.
In our country a battle is brewing between those who wish to destroy the wall separating church and state and those that want to protect and strengthen the wall - the same wall that has for centuries protected the rights of all Americans to have the freedom to believe as they wish. The competing sides of this debate are using a plethora of tactics to stealthily maneuver in and out of government created loopholes and gray areas.
The essence of “Freedom of Religion” becomes tainted at the moment any government entity combines the public’s business with matters of religion. There are thousands of separately identifiable religions in America and there are tens of thousands of distinguishable religions around the world. It is unacceptable for any person with power and authority over our citizenry to also promote a single religion. Some examples of this undue influence are the National day of prayer,” In God We Trust” on our currency,” Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, The “Ten Commandments” displayed on public property and prayer at public meetings. No one, including the President of the United States should be allowed to advertise their faith and particular brand of religion in a government controlled forum.
Why do some religious people have the need to erect monuments and cover the walls of public places with their particular religious displays? These people are free to place religious icons on their property, in their car, on their roof and in their private place of business. They are entitled to express their free speech rights in these places. However public property belongs to all Americans and should not be decorated with a few selected religious icons. Public and government property should only have monuments and displays that all Americans can identify with.
We will never see eye to eye when it comes to religion, whether Hindu, Protestant, Zen, Mormon, Pentecostal, Baptist, Catholic, Jews, Agnostic, Evangelical, Shinto, Methodist, Scientologist, Wicca, Atheist, Unitarian, or Sikh. Every one of these religions and hundreds of others, are practiced right here in the United States of America because we have freedom OF religion. But in spite of different religious faith we all have one thing in common; we are all AMERICANS – “One Nation, Indivisible”.
