In his letter attacking another writer, Edward F. Murphy fails to recognize that employers do not have to offer any insurance. My son works for a small business and receives no health care benefits at all. He would be happy to to have coverage that excludes blood transfusions or even to have insurance that covered nothing but broken bones.
He is also aware that if and when health care becomes a priority to him, he is free to look for another job with a company that offers such.
At the present time, some insurance plans don’t cover organ transplants or mental health services, are these medical needs not as important as contraception? Why not have government require drug stores and convenience stores provide condoms for free? Female contraceptives don’t protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Why shouldn’t men be given a handout, too?
His letter also states what has become a common misinterpretation of the First Amendment; that freedom of religion also means freedom from religion. The actual verbiage is, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” So, while Mr. Murphy and so many others are correct in stating that our government does not have the right to require any citizen of this country to worship any form of religion, it does not imply that our government is responsible for shielding him from the fact, sights and sounds that religion exists. This country was established to escape religious persecution and to be able to openly practice the religion of your choosing. Meaning, please stop asking me to remove symbols of my religion, because I have the right to display them. Please don’t ask me to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”, because I have the right to say it. And please don’t ask a Catholic church to pay for, supply or encourage the use of that which it feels goes against it’s very teachings. Why does the separation of church and state mean that my child cannot pray in school, yet we not only allow Muslims in federal detention centers to pray, we provide prayer rugs and Korans? I’m tired of the double standard and I think that those that have faith in this country are the majority and we need to stand up and let our voices be heard before it is too late.
Michelle Dillard
Mesa
Accuracy posted at 6:27 pm on Sat, Apr 14, 2012.
Yes, Michelle Dillard…. Stand-up for the “Faith and Freedom” of this country.
Faith is critical for our daily lives – for the issues we face today, the things that occupy our minds in the present, our current challenges and problems, the issues faced by this country. But faith also applies to future events—not just for tomorrow, but for the years to come.
Cerulean posted at 6:44 pm on Sat, Apr 14, 2012.
Michelle, you said it “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,”
Is it simple enough?
Leon Ceniceros posted at 7:05 pm on Sat, Apr 14, 2012.
Thank you Ma'am for your Letter to the Editor.
We see a vast disparity in the number of "pro-American" Letters in our Media these days. Our Television Channels are completely dominated by a Left-Wing Liberal/Progressive/Democrat agenda these days and sadly, our Newspapers are following close behind. There is on a handful of Local Newspapers who don't subscribe to this Agenda of the Left.
I am Hispanic (antecedents were leaders in the Mexican Revolution and still are prominent in Mexican PRI Politics). My parents and grandparents were never on Welfare, never received Government hand-outs and never expected them. I was brought up on the Golden Rule and consequences for my actions (they believed in spankings....lol). My two brothers and myself were expected to serve in the Military just as we were expected to vote and perform our Civic duties. Women were expected to conduct themselves with modesty. If "something" happened (everybody is human afterall)...then the man was expected to do the "right thing". If anyone went on Un-Employment they were expected to be off if it in a couple of months at the very most. If we could afford to go to College or the University, we went. If we couldn't afford to go we went to work and tried to get ahead by being a good employee.
Sadly, we now see generation after generation that has no respect for their Country and worse, no respect for themselves (abortion, Welfare, disrespect for Society).
Be thankful that you had parents who raised you the Right Way, the American Way.
Dale Whiting posted at 6:07 am on Sun, Apr 15, 2012.
Michelle,
After you copy text from the Constitution and before you transfer it into your letter, go back to read 200 years of Supreme Court decisions on "original intent" and other interpretations before you reach you conclusion, here that the Constitution "does not imply that our government is responsible for shielding him from the fact, sights and sounds that religion exists." For starters, recall that copy of the Ten Commandments placed in the lobby of a court house, and that cross set atop a rock along side a highway on publically owned land.
You may believe that you intepret the Constitution correctly and others may agree with you. But the Supremes don't![wink]
sockratties posted at 9:30 am on Sun, Apr 15, 2012.
Michelle – nice letter, and you're correct in interpreting the 1st Amendment to not shield one from evidence of religion. There are some assumptions you seem to make, though, by innuendo if not statement.
Escape from religious persecution was only one reason for us to declare independence. It was the defining reason for some groups of pilgrims to emigrate, but not the reason we split from the British Empire.
You are not being asked to remove symbols of your religion and you do have the right to display them. But don't display them on property that you co-own with other citizens that may not share your beliefs.
Your child can pray in school, just not as a group that is a function of school activities (which are activities that respect the establishment of religion). If you had a class of 30 students and 29 of them prayed toward Mecca during class each day, how would that effect the minority of one? How about if the one was your kid?
You can say Merry Christmas if you wish but if you are running a high volume store would you wish to lose some customers who may not celebrate Christmas by having your clerks wish all customers a Merry Christmas? What about your clerks who may not be Christians or would you only hire Christians?
Federal detention centers provide amenities for prisoners of all faiths to prevent “prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Just as in school, individuals can practice their religions but are not required to. The guard towers are not shaped like minarets and no one is calling inmates to prayer.
If you wish to stand up and let your voice be heard that's your right. You may believe that the majority of citizens in this country have faith but remember the reason those pilgrims had to leave their homes was because of the very conditions you advocate. The “new world” is all used up. Where would you choose to send those of whom you disapprove?
Cerulean posted at 12:14 pm on Sun, Apr 15, 2012.
Michelle,
To add, you might also try to understand the Healthcare Act better. Today, all new insurance plans must cover certain preventive services such as mammograms and prostate cancer screenings. Contraception is low cost preventative care provided to women because of her reproductive uniqueness. (I’m surprised that you don’t know that.) Women who PURCHASE insurance pay for the preventative care that she can choose to use or not! If your Pope and/or Bishop, Priest or Minister asks you not to use birth control, you are free to abstain.
Beginning in 2014 Affordable Health Act will prohibit all plans from imposing limits on coverage that may include an expensive organ transplant and mental health will be part of the ‘essential benefits package’ that all insurers will offer.
gilbertgrandma posted at 9:53 pm on Sun, Apr 15, 2012.
Dale, do you agree that there are Bible verses etched in buildings all over Washington, D.C., that Moses and the 10 Commandments are on the U.S. Capitol Building (although you will probably argue that the tablets represent the first 10 ammendments to the Constitution), that every session of Congress begins with a prayer by a Christian pastor, that our national motto is "In God We Trust", and that motto is on our currency as well as on the Capitol Visitor's Center? If all of this is true, why do you think we cannot have any reference to the Bible or Christianity on federal property?
Dale Whiting posted at 6:41 am on Mon, Apr 16, 2012.
Yes, 'gilbertgrandma' I do agree.
And I ask you this. "Do you want to know why? And have you studied those numerous Supreme Court cases to which I refer in directly? Or are you another Michelle?"
By concluding that the constitution "does not imply that our government is responsible for shielding [the original writer] from the fact, sights and sounds that religion exists" Michelle chooses to either ignor or take on the Supreme Court's rulings, or more likely is ignorant of them. And by your concluding that I "think we cannot have any reference to the Bible or Christianity on federal property," you assume that I am not well acquainted with the instances you mention. Both you and Michelle are profoundly wrong. [And by the way, that Court house lobby was on State property!]
k33j88 posted at 7:29 am on Mon, Apr 16, 2012.
Will the libs on this site please take their logic and reason to a muslim, sharia compliant, nation. How long would it take for the locals to see it your way? My guess is you will go into hiding.
gilbertgrandma posted at 8:29 am on Mon, Apr 16, 2012.
Gosh, Dale, you are always so defensive about everything - always have to have the last word. I was just stating a few facts, that's all, but you tell people they're wrong or ignorant of all the things you know. Makes it pretty hard to have a reasonable discussion.
VofReason posted at 12:37 pm on Mon, Apr 16, 2012.
That's just "our" Dale. Yes what does this Michelle lady know anyway, I mean she quotes the constitution. Everyone knows that different iterations of the Supreme Court were much smarter then to follow that old trite. And ask someone to use a condom, yah right. Everyone know that people are way to dumb to think ahead. Thank goodness that Obamacare will make thinking people have to pay for non thinking people's bad decisions. I mean, that is the "New" American Way- no?
Dale Whiting posted at 6:38 am on Tue, Apr 17, 2012.
Ok, Granny, you asked for it.
In your comment addressing mine you asked me a question. Let me remind you of it.
"If all of this [the instances you cite to question my assertion and over the course of 200 years, the Supreme Court's view of what seperation of church and state means, thereby explaining why your facts seem to contradict] is true, why do you think we cannot have any reference to the Bible or Christianity on federal property?
If you had read that history, you'd have your answer! And I did not and do not insist on having the last word. I have been critisized for not responding when challenged. I neither ask you a question herein, nor do I question your responses to me. You are the one asking the questions and complaining about the response.
VofReason, you're in granny's boat, too.
gilbertgrandma posted at 7:18 am on Tue, Apr 17, 2012.
Thanks for proving my point, Dale.........
Dale Whiting posted at 8:29 am on Tue, Apr 17, 2012.
Ditto, Granny
VofReason posted at 1:20 pm on Tue, Apr 17, 2012.
Dale read the book The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle That Changed the World [Book] by W. Cleon Skousen. Will leave you with very little doubt of what the founders felt about religon (Christianity) and the United States of America. You will note that they never had any controversies of pulling down the 10 commandments or got wobbly over God on anything. Go on down to Washington DC in the monuments and writings they left for proof. Enough said
Dale Whiting posted at 7:02 pm on Tue, Apr 17, 2012.
No thank you. I've had my fill of Cleon.
fae4now posted at 1:08 am on Thu, Apr 19, 2012.
Recognition to Leon for writing in complete sentences! Did you have help?
Cerulean posted at 9:16 am on Thu, Apr 19, 2012.
Moses was neither Christian or Jew.