Letters to the Editor
Grand Haven Tribune
101 N. Third Street
Grand Haven, Michigan 49417
Isn’t the pot calling the kettle black?
Richard Kamischke stated in a Letter to the Editor on Thursday, October 29, 2009
"that there is no ‘hoax’ about the separation of church and state otherwise known as the First Amendment". Obviously, Mr. Kamischke has never read the First Amendment or the Constitution either. Nowhere in the First Amendment nor anywhere else in the Constitution do the words "separation of church and state" appear.
The First Amendment states "Congress shall make no law establishing a state religion nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The Church of England was the state religion in many colonies and your civil rights, the right to vote, the right to own property, depended on your membership status in the Church of England. Archbishops held an unelected seat in England's parliament. There isn’t and never has been a Church of the United States. No minister has an unelected seat in Congress nor is he prevented from having an elected seat. That is separation of church and state.
The last time that you ran a red light, did the cop take you to church? When you renewed your license plates, did the Secretary of State ask you what church you go to? When you submitted your tax return, did the IRS ask you your religion? When you vote, do the poll workers tell you only Christians are allowed to vote? That is separation of church and state.
Prohibiting public prayer, prohibiting Christian symbols on public land, prohibiting Christmas Carols in public schools, prohibiting Merry Christmas is "prohibiting the free exercise thereof". According to the Constitution, the courts do not have the responsibility, duty or right to write law.
From Heading: Personal Background
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info