I read your article in March 19’s paper regarding the Veteran’s Memorial at the Leif Hanson Park. Is anyone else just plain “tired” of the twisted interpretation of the 1st Amendment regarding religion? It was created to keep the government from imposing “a specified” religion as to blanket this new nation, as was the case in England. If you did not belong to that religion you were fined and taxed, or restricted from doing business with the government. That is what was meant by the “separation of church and state.” Not to declare that there was “no religion” at all. Each was entitled to worship according to their own heart, without being penalized for it.
Therefore, we have the right to choose whatever religion we deem appropriate to worship by the conviction of our own soul and heart. That is as far as it goes. You do not have the right to tell me how to worship … and I do not have the right to tell you how to worship, nor to restrict your worship. It does not give anyone the right to tear down any religious symbols/words or objects displayed or erected just because it “offends.”
In my opinion it is an oxymoron if you will, for an atheist who declares they do not “believe” in any religion, to view any religious object as an “affront” to them. If it causes them to have objections (ie: as they are using against the 90 year old cross back East that was erected because so many from that town had fallen during WWI), then they must really not be true atheists. For if they do not believe in any religion why would that object be any more than that, an object, a structure, a piece of art or a bunch of words?
I am with Scott Hamann about “fighting” for the right of this Memorial to remain as it is, and I also believe it is time people quit cowing to the power of a few. Just as those veterans that have fallen in the line of duty for this country, we too should “Stand Our Ground” in protecting our heritage, history, and our rights as Americans.
Nice job Scott!
