My Two Cents

My understanding of the meaning of the phrase, 'Separation of church and state' :

It is true that the forefathers of our great country, fled to the Americas to be free from religious persecution. England had a state religion, and if you were to live a happy life there, you had better subscribe to that religion and practice it in the state dictated way. Many folks could just not go along with that and left, to live their lives as they saw fit.



When founding this country, our forefathers wrote in plain language that there must be a separation of church and state; meaning that the government would not enforce the practice of any particular religion. That the people of this country were allowed the freedom to practice any religion, or no religion as they saw fit. It was not meant in the way that people attempt to use it in this century.

Isn't it funny how so many people are up in arms over things like public displays of religious holidays and are screaming that it is unconstitutional to allow them on public property? This is not the government trying to control the religious beliefs of others, but supporting a groups of people in their right to religious freedom.

I'll bet that these same people who attack such things as public nativity scenes and the like would riot if they were not given time off on these religious holidays, or didn't receive overtime pay for working them. 'Don't force me to look at Christian religious symbols, but you'd better give me the day off on Christmas and Easter!'

It is all about respecting one's religious beliefs, not forcing them on those who do not believe the same way.

I would never go so far as to say that the United States of America is a Christian nation, but I will say that it was founded by those of Christian beliefs. This country is now home to many of many different faiths. None have the right to say that they are the right faith; not in this country. Our employers observe employees rights to their religious holidays, regardless of what they may be, if they didn't the courts would be jammed with those types of law suits.

Why are people so in love with being offended? I am not Jewish, but I have no problem with public Menorahs's; I don't claim to be Christian, but I have no problem with a nativity scene being set up at the town hall. Next, people are going to be calling for the destruction of churches, because they display religious symbols. Where will it end?

Why can't we just let people be who they are, without trying to convert them into something else? That is the principle this country was founded on. Religious freedom is not the abolishment of religion; it is the acceptance that all people have different beliefs and that no particular one is more right than another.

I have no problem with atheists, unless they are those who would take away another person's right to believe in God. I would never tell someone that they are wrong for not believing in God, and I expect that those who do not belive would respect my right to believe.

I think it is ridiculous that in public schools Christmas break has been transformed into winter break, that Easter vacation is now spring break, and that the celebration of Valentine's Day has been transformed into Sweetheart's Day, in an effort not to offend (be politically correct.)

If you don't like the Christmas tree in your public school, don't look at it. If you don't like the nativity scene in front of the court house, look the other way. It is that simple.

No one has the right to force God into or out of the lives of others. Period.

I have never heard of a single instance where the government of the United States has ever attempted to control the religious views of the people. It is the people who are trying to control the views of others.

I don't know of any instance of people being told they cannot speak their native language in their homes and with their friends, but expecting the people born in this country to learn to speak another language, just to get a job, is insane. If you want to live here, you should learn to speak the language. Personally, I am tired of receiving government correspondence in five different languages, being that I only read one. What a waste of tax dollars.

English is the language, 'In God We Trust' is on the currency; get over it!