In Defense of O’Hair

It is disturbing to see that Escondido City Councilman Doug Best has branded Madalyn Murray O’Hair a “crazy lady” simply due to the fact that she wishes to ensure a total separation of church and state (“Group to Drop Lawsuit Against Escondido on Yule Banner Slogans,” Oct. 31).

Does he think that the authors of the U.S. Constitution were also crazy for wanting this? It is because of simple-minded politicians like Doug Best that our country needs people such as Dr. O’Hair.

The U.S. Supreme Court certainly did not think that she was crazy when it decided in her favor in 1963. And millions of Americans who are Buddhist, Moslem, Hindu, Jewish and agnostic as well as atheist do not think she is crazy for not wanting Christian dogma to be pushed upon them by local government.

Dr. O’Hair has a B.A., an LL.B., a J.D. and a Ph.D., and is an accomplished author as well as an advising editor to the New York Times. To brand such a distinguished woman as a “crazy lady” is in itself crazy. Perhaps Councilman Best should listen to Escondido Mayor Jim Rady, who nicely summed up the situation of the church-made displays when he said “she’s right and she has won. For three years we have had religious banners on city property. Now they no longer will be.”

KATHLEEN REINERT

Oceanside