Thank you for the excellent series illuminating the efforts to remove all references to God and religious values from the public square. (“Faithless” April 13-15).
Ironically, these organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), attack the very foundation of American rights and liberties. Contrary to their claims, religious belief was vital to the founding of our system of government.
Ignoring an array of public declarations and actions, these groups would have us believe a few words in a letter from President Jefferson to leaders of a particular religion summed up the thinking of all Founding Fathers on the place of religion in public life. They claim this letter is grounds enough for separating religious values from government. They consider it superior to public documents such as the Declaration of Independence that clearly says human rights and liberties derive from God.
None of those interviewed in the articles offered a source for the belief in human rights and liberties. If not from God, then from where? These rights and liberties certainly did not come from King George. What man grants, man can take away. They did not come from government.
The Soviet Union was based on the conceit that rights come from government, and its last constitution listed an array of illusionary rights. However, it decreed that only citizens who support the state had any rights.
Also, the religious belief that human rights and liberties come from God was vital for developing tolerance of others, particularly religious tolerance, and the anti-slavery movement.
Emblazoned on the walls of the Jefferson Memorial is an excerpt from the writings by Thomas Jefferson decrying slavery: “God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever. Commerce between master and slave is despotism.” Later-day pro-slavery revisionists all too successfully declared the concept of God-given human rights and liberties does not apply to blacks.
If all reference to religious values and God are removed from the public square, what type of society will America become? It may become intolerant of those who think or believe differently than what is publicly acceptable as defined by the courts. Or it may become a cold, brutal killing machine such as the Soviet Union some of the ACLU’s founders so cherished.
KENNETH A. HAAPALA
Fairfax, Va.
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