Page 201 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers

A Patriot’s view of the history and direction of our Country

First, this is not equivalent to freedom from religion. Each of the

ten enumerated sacred and unalienable birthrights also provides for
the choice, or not, to exercise. Just as we can stand silent, we can

choose our faith and level of belief and involvement. To assert that
the practice and celebration of Judeo-Christian traditions is an

encroachment is false, and further misdirected nonsense when
groups encroach by seeking court injunctions or ‘equal time’ with

their own displays that are not based on tradition, but opinion. My
family celebrates and enjoys Easter and Christmas; some of our

friends do so with Passover and Hanukkah. We have a Christmas
tree and they have a Menorah. Not a holiday tree and not a holiday

candelabra. Both of these are insulting to their meaning. Our
country was founded by settlers and traditions of Judeo-Christian

faiths, predominantly Christian. Their level of spirituality and how it
governed their daily lives was a choice of the settlers – they were

free to participate or form their own collective; religion evolved. It
is our individual right to have the level of participation we wish.

Second, this is not equivalent to only one religion, or exclusion
of others. Just as the first settlers came to the new land to freely

practice their religion, and flee persecution, we are free to protect
our Country from persecution and dangers of religion. Religions

that endanger people; limit, ban or control freedoms; limit ban or
control equality; or encroach on the freedoms of others – is not a

religion, it is a dangerous cult. My statement should not be read as

referring to any specific religion – it should be read as a testament to
the reality that not all religions – or more specifically sects of

-- 201 --