Editor, Times-Union: It was Madalyn Murray O'Hare who said: "Separation of church and state." Yet the word separation is not in the First Amendment or the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.
After reading 68 pages of the Supreme Court documents of Murray's Case, there are some interesting decisions made by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court throughout the case used the word neutrality or neutral. Even the court states: "It must be neutral and that the church and state be neutral." Throughout the whole legal document the court used the word neutral.
The word neutral means: "Taken neither side in a quarrel or war, also not to engage on either side."
The court stated: "The state is firmly committed to a position of neutrality, also the Supreme Court above all must be neutral."
But in the long view, the independence of both church and state in their respective sphere will be better served by close adherence to the neutrality principle.
In using the word church, this word comes from the Greek language meaning assembly of people or congregation.
We sing a hymn in my church. "I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together."
Now if I am the church and also an American, where is the separation?
An example the supreme court used as neutral was the military, where there are chaplains so that the service people can have the freedom to worship, yet the service people and the chaplains wear the uniform of our country, where is the separation? There is none. "Neutrality," yes.
Here is another example of the neutrality: The church I belong to added on a new building to my church. I asked the person in charge if before they started the building if the plan was approved by the state's "state code." The reply was yes. "Neutrality," yes.
When I hear people say, "Separation of church and state," I wonder what country my church building sits in. I think it is still in the United States of America. I know the people who go to my church and the church are also American.
The Supreme Court demurred the Murray Case. They dismissed it.
How easily people get brainwashed to thinking that there is a separation of church and state when the Supreme Court says neutrality.
I want to thank my country for the freedom that I have to worship and to select the religion I want to worship in. For the freedom that our founders gave us is still here today.
This is still the greatest country in the world today and we are all free under the Constitution and laws of this country - the United States of America.
God Bless America. Joyce A. Phaneuf North Webster
Belief
Systems Editor, Times-Union: Thank you for your Dec. 3 Views column. I couldn't agree more about the ridiculousness of Judge David Hamilton's ruling against the use of the name of Christ in prayers at the Indiana legislature. I certainly hope that Indiana's elected Christian representatives will exercise their individual rights to seek divine guidance now more than ever. They'll need it before they go to work in an increasingly anti-Christian environment.
As for "prayers" offered up in the name of some mysterious albeit politically correct "higher power," those aren't prayers, just well wishes. Anyone can offer up nice words, but as a Christian, I realize that Jesus was given all power - and if I pray in His name and according to His will, I've spoken more than nice words - I've let my petition be known to the Almighty God, who is faithful to answer my prayers.
I am not the least bit offended to hear a prayer by someone of a different religious faith. I do not believe in the effectiveness of a prayer offered up to Buddha, but I believe in the right of a person to believe as he wishes. God, Himself, gave us free choice. It is a sad time when our own government becomes intolerant of the very belief systems on which this country was built.
Stephanie Overbey Silver Lake, via e-mail
Jesus Banned
Editor, Times-Union: This week the state of Indiana took a big blow.
I hung my head in shame as I received a phone call from a state representative saying, "We lost ..." Today the name of Jesus Christ was banned from the House of Representatives. The Indiana Civil Liberties Union has to actually search for people to participate in the lawsuit. They found four people, and they found a judge who listened to the mind boggling "evidence" that the name Jesus should be removed from the House. Would you like to hear some of this evidence?
I quote this from the actual 60-page ruling from the United States District Court; Southern District of Indiana; Indianapolis Division. "When a representative gives the invocation, there are no expenses for the invocation other than the normal expenses associated with operating the house. Additional modest expenses are incurred, however, when a cleric delivers the invocation. All of these costs are paid from the state taxpayer funds appropriated by the Indiana General Assembly. The cost of mailing the confirmation letter is $0.54 per mailing. After the cleric has delivered the invocation, he or she may receive a thank you letter by mail. The cost of this is also $0.54 per mailing. In addition, constituents and other persons can have their photographs taken with representatives before the meeting begins, and these photographs cost $0.68 to print. During the 2005 legislative session, the staff photographer took photographs of a number of clerics who delivered the opening prayers. The record shows that 11 photographs of clerics were taken in 2005, but it is possible that there were even more. When a photograph of a cleric has been taken, the usual practice is for the House staff to mail it with a thank you letter. If a photograph is sent along with the letter, the cost per mailing increases to $1.60. ... The amounts spent on the practice in this case are obviously very modest. They amounted to no more than several hundred dollars over the course of the 2005 session." (If you would like a copy of the entire ruling, please feel free to email me at monboy2303@gmail.com)
This is the evidence we are talking about. Four individuals had the power through the ICLU to strip us of our rights. You may think this does not affect you. It does, and it will. According to the American Family Association, "This ruling will likely have ripple effects as other legislative bodies in Indiana will now fear allowing a Christian minister or city council member to open with a prayer that mentions Jesus." If we continue to remain quiet, and let someone else speak ... How long will it be before we as citizens lose our rights to speak the name of Jesus in public?
Monica Boyer Warsaw
Holiday Vs. Christmas
Editor, Times-Union: I am an avid watcher of cable news programs (Bill O'Reilly, Hannity and Colmes, etc.) and lately every night I have been hearing about how some people are offended by the word Christmas. For example: a cashier told a customer to have a merry Christmas, which apparently offended him and now he wants that store chain to make their cashiers not wish customers a merry Christmas.
Personally, I am offended when the cashier says nothing at all (hello, how are you, have a nice day, thank you). Then, there is a father out west who wants the school system to call Christmas break, winter break, that we Christians need to stay out of his child's school. Well, if it wasn't for Christmas, his child wouldn't have two weeks off at Christmas for his child's winter break. Nor would Christmas be a federal holiday and he wouldn't have the day off. Another parent wants the school system to not allow the students to bring cookies or any Christmas-looking treats to its Christmas party, which he wants renamed holiday party. This also includes anything red or green, right down to the napkins and paper cups. Where do these people come from? First of all, if you don't want your child to participate, then don't send them to school that day. But where do they have the right to ruin it for all the other children? They don't.
Then just this morning on NBC, I heard they were going to change the name of the Federal Building's Christmas tree to the holiday tree. Give me a break, it's a Christmas tree.
On the other side, there is a pastor who is trying to get people (Christians) not to buy products that say happy holidays or season's greetings, that this is the manufacturers way of taking Christmas out of Christmas. Why can't we all just get along?
First of all, the meaning of Christmas is different for everyone. To some, it's the birth of Christ and the celebration that brings. To others, it's for the children with Santa Claus and the Christmas tree, lights, decorations, etc. There comes a time that we all should just accept each other's point of view and be happy we live in a free country where we can celebrate the way we want to. But just because one person doesn't agree doesn't mean we all have to bend over backwards to make them happy.
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and that God blesses everyone, that he brings our soldiers safety, guidance, strength and a quick return home. Plus I wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
