Opinion: The religiously different should remain on guard

Jeff Jacoby writes, "Like it or not, American Jews -- like American Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and atheists -- are different from their neighbors. This is a Christian country -- it was founded by Christians and built on broad Christian principles." He left out Catholics (papists) and Mormons, an oversight I'm sure. In our long history, all of these groups have faced persecution in this country.

Well I fall into one of those groups that are alleged to be "different from their neighbors." I dispute that. I am an American. I served my country during the Korean War. Jacoby may not realize it, but he and his ilk are the ones in the minority. Most Christian groups do not endorse his intolerant view.

Keep printing the work of people such as Jacoby. It serves as a warning to those of us who are "different from our neighbors" that we should be forever on our guard.
-- Robert E. Reynolds, Istachatta

Faith and democracy are ill-served

Re: The freedom not to answer "Amen," Feb. 2.

Jeff Jacoby's contention that America is a "Christian country . . . founded by Christians and built on broad Christian principles" exhibits the arrogance and obtuseness that makes thoughtful people turn away in disgust.

As a now-retired clergyman and leader in the Ethical Culture Societies, I devoted a lifetime to promoting what I believe to be authentic ethical and religious attitudes. Jacoby's ham-fisted attempt to justify the worst excesses of "Christian" triumphalism (and a bad reading of the American experience) do no credit to genuine faith or democratic principles.

Five principal objections cry out against Jacoby's presumption:

1. Religious conviction in a democracy is always individual, never collective or societal. Freedom of conscience and belief are not compatible with a "national" creed.

2. There is nothing Christlike in Jacoby's "Christian" theocracy. Jacoby in entitled to his aberrant gloss on the teachings of the Nazarene, but many of us will respect Jesus' insistence: "My kingdom is not of this world." Forget Washington, Rome, Constantinople or Moscow.

3. Let us assume Jacoby's statistic that 85 percent of Americans are of the Christian heritage. So? Can Quakers, Unitarians, Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, Methodists, Mormons, Christian Scientists and Two Seeds in the Spirit Baptists, be pressed into a common mold or a fusion prayer? Forget it, buster, it won't fly.

4. That our nation was founded by Christians on Christian principles would have been news to Madison, Jefferson, Franklin and others who had had their fill of state churches, religious tests, etc.

5. Even if America were a Christian nation, we should keep still about it. It would embarrass the saints.
-- Edward L. Ericson, Dunedin

Let us not repeat past mistakes

Jeff Jacoby's tortuous introspection on his conservative views while trying to rationalize the Jesus invocations at the inaugural is lost in illogic and historical inaccuracy.

Jacoby forgets this is a religious nation not a Christian one. This includes Americans of all religious beliefs who have fought, died and suffered horrible inequities for the right to believe this democratic government would not favor one religion over others. This is what he is unable to grasp concerning the Bush administration. It is religious payoff time, and George Bush has signed the check.

Jacoby's claim that this society is one in which Jews, Muslims and other minority faiths live and worship without fear overlooks the historical facts. Minorities were free to worship in their own way as long as their beliefs did not interfere with the dominant religion. Has he forgotten how Catholics, Jews and those of other religions faiths were discriminated against? It was only when people began to understand that government should stay out of the religious area that people of different faiths began to breathe easier. Bush has made a religion political, and it will permeate all levels of social and economic institutions.

One only needs to read the religious history of Europe to understand that religion is and should be with the individual and his or her group. George Santyana once wrote that if we do not learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it.
-- Sy Ginsburg, Hudson

An exercise in freedom of religion

Re: Bush "unity" was marred by Christian invocation, by Alan Dershowitz, Jan. 27.

Alan Dershowitz blasted the Rev. Franklin Graham's inaugural prayer for invoking "the Father, the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ" and "the Holy Spirit." He should be more concerned about what the Rev. Graham was praying for rather than to whom he was praying.

Perhaps he can explain why the theology of worshiping a Jew and following his teaching is unacceptable to a Jew. The Rev. Graham was honoring his God, which is his calling, no less than when Sen. Joseph Lieberman made known his allegiance.

Dershowitz accuses President Bush of rejecting the First Amendment and defying the Constitution. It seems to me that the Rev. Graham was exercising his right under the First Amendment. As a lawyer concerned with the Constitution, Dershowitz should know that the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were founded on Christian morality.

Dershowitz should be thankful that the Christian values that undergird our society have been responsible for the survival of the Jewish state of Israel.

Finally, why does the Times consistently use its Religion section to bash the Christian religion?
-- Jack Vanderbleek, St. Petersburg

The acts of a divisive leader

We've been bombarded in the media with exclamations of how wonderful it is that the Bush administration is reaching out to all Americans. Perhaps I'm missing something, but I've seen nothing to date but something totally opposite that. What I have seen are actions that can only bring joy and gladness to Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson's hearts.

George W. Bush's first executive action was to cut off funding for overseas abortion counseling. His Cabinet appointment of John Ashcroft could not have been more divisive and was obviously a plum for the religious right. Linda Chavez, who spared us an appointment fight by resigning, is someone I could characterize only as being extremely right wing. And the new secretary of Interior has raised the objections and concerns of most environmentalists.

In addition, the federal funding of faith-based charities is controversial at best. And then there's the across-the-board tax cut initiative, which is definitely not desired by Democrats.

And amid all of this, Bush struts around Washington like a man with the mandate he lacks. I'm puzzled.
-- Leonard J. Soman, Tampa

We can't pollute our only home

Re: Environmental excesses have us starved for power, letter, Jan. 29.

We have one Earth. It is our home. If we pollute it and make this sphere a place that is unlivable, where do we go? When the time comes that we have gone over the line of no return with our planet's environment, there will not be enough money in the world to save us. Our world will become barren and lifeless. We will have wasted 4.5-billion years of promise.

Much like a roller coaster that is chugging slowly up the first hill of the ride, we are heading for trouble. At the top there will be that last perfect day on Earth, but soon after, the descent down will prove to be much faster and more uncontrollable. The decisions being made and not made will haunt us like nothing that we have ever been up against. The survival of humans as a species is at stake. Anything we can do to stop that ride down has to be done.

I have a test for President Bush. Since he wants us to show our smarts, we should expect the same from him. What grade would we receive for our stewardship of our planet? What grade would an alien culture observing us give? I think an F. But then maybe we can get a voucher for another planet.
-- John A. Cowan, Zephyrhills

Head off our shortages now

It's most interesting to read about California's problem with electricity. For the last 10 years or so, their political leaders have listened to the environmentalists: No new power plants could be built in California; they would pollute the environment.

Then they listened to the consumer lobbyists: Control what the power companies can charge consumers. Why? Because they were making millions off the backs of the people. Guess what? The power plants were built out of state to satisfy California's electricity needs. The power companies that were there are going broke. It's going to cost the taxpayers of California billions to get themselves out of this mess.

What's this got to do with Florida. Our problem is water. Are we going to let environmentalist groups and so-called consumer lobbyists decide how we are to meet our water needs. The economics of it demands we get started on desalination plants now while the costs are still reasonable.
-- Earl Dye, Sun City Center

Reject power deregulation

Florida electric ratepayers need to say, no way to the state's attempts to deregulate wholesale power sales in our state.

The recommendations of the Energy 2020 Study Commission fail to address the problems faced in California today as a result of ill-conceived deregulation attempts. The commission cites no substantial improvements for rate and taxpayers. The plan seems to benefit only power corporations and no one else. The measure of anything must be its benefit of the residents of Florida first and foremost.

There are far more important issues facing the governor and the Legislature than to attempt to get this one past the voters. I'm telling my elected officials to leave this one alone. So should you.
-- Gene Wells, Tampa

Kindness gets deserved coverage

Re: The Limo brakes for dreams, by Jounice Nealy, Jan. 30.

What a wonderful story about the AOL executive, Jay Rappaport, who gave a father and his teenage son tickets to the Super Bowl. And the story was certainly well-placed in your paper, on the front page.

It was a good reminder for all of us to take time to look for places to "plant a seed of kindness." As Rappaport said, "If you're kind to people, it'll come back." How true.

Hooray for him!
-- Audrey Ray, St. Petersburg

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