Religious freedom First Amendment guarantee

Religious freedom First Amendment guarantee
EDITOR:
A recent Vindicator letter would have this multireligious democratic Republic be a "Christian" theocracy. Its writer alleges that the concept of separation of church and state first surfaced in the 1950s. How about what Jesus said about that subject in Bible teachings? That His kingdom was not of this world.
Roger Williams, who founded Rhode Island, used the words "separation of Church and State" when he was banished from Massachusetts because of his conception of Christianity.
The letter writer alleges that "people of all faiths could have freedom to worship as they chose." This was not true. Nine of the original 13 colonies had state religions, and those who did not conform were second-class citizens. Religious persecution was the law of the land.
How about the burning of "witches?" Each colony had its own version of Christianity and penalties for violation of its church laws.
The Mormons were persecuted all the way on their westward trek.
Catholics and Jews did not have religious freedom. The reason for the rapid rise of Roman Catholic parochial schools in the 1800s was the required religious rites in the Protestant-oriented public schools. Read what Jesus said about the chanting of prayers in public places, Matthew, 6:5-7.
Just because something was done for hundreds of years does not make it right: for example, slavery. In 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in the Dred Scott case upholding the constitutionality of slavery. Christian slave owners "used" the Bible to justify this inhuman criminal practice.
The First Amendment prevents our republic from being a "Christian" theocracy. Not all the Founders were Christians, and those who were had different applications of the Christian religion. The First Amendment ensures that we have freedom of religion, but more important it guarantees that we will have freedom from religion: yours, mine and especially the letter writer's.
MELVIN S. FRANK
Poland
Give tax break to those who buy U.S.-made cars
EDITOR:
American taxpayers can forget about financial expert Alan Greenspan putting the entire nation back on a robust financial track. The man for the job is the valley's congressman, Jim Traficant. How could Mr. Traficant accomplish such a feat? Simply by introducing and pushing a bill through Congress that allows American consumers to deduct the interest paid annually on "American-made" cars and trucks.
Home mortgage interest deductions were put in place years ago as an incentive for families to own their own homes. The costs of homes and long-term mortgages were the single highest lifetime purchases most people would ever make. However, no one ever imagined that both men and women of the new millennium families would have to work full time to make ends meet. Or that multiple family transportation would be a necessity, even though vehicle costs have soared into the $20,000 and $30,000 price range, with five and six years of payments.
Foreign or domestic car makers focused on lower sticker prices couldn't complain, nor should any consumers who wanted to purchase the less costly vehicles made with cheaper foreign products. They would save thousands initially, but forgo the annual deductions. By buying "totally" American, the initial costs would be greater, but the long-term deductions would mean tremendous savings overall. The end results of such legislation would actually increase the government's share because of more employment and income taxes from domestic steel, auto and truck production.
DAVID METZLER
North Jackson