Mixing Politics, Religion

Re “Is Bush the Holiest of Them All? Verily, No,” Commentary, March 29: Should religion enter into politics? Verily, no. No politician should foist his/her religious beliefs on the citizens of the United States, who are not only Christian but Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, etc. In the 1600s we had a theocracy in Salem, and the witch hunts followed.

In 2004, we have three trustees of the Westminster elementary school district voting not to abide by a new state standard on anti-discrimination because it goes against their personal beliefs.

We have separation of church and state for good reason. We are a country devoted to liberty and justice for all. Without understanding this principle, we will be unable to coexist.

Charlene Elgart

Los Angeles

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Amity Shlaes’ opinion of President Bush’s piousness may be correct. George W. Bush may not be the most devout of past American leaders. However, the opinion fails to point out the backdrop of modern times and the slow permeation of scientific discovery into our cultural consciousness. Our devout forefathers were not leading during discoveries of Leaky’s skull, carbon dating and the new galaxy of Andromeda VIII.

We will most likely have religion for 1,000 years to come, and there will always be zealots on both sides, but the more edified and pragmatic general public will look hard at any modern-day leader’s faith-based decisions, actions and communications.

Dan Forster

Trabuco Canyon

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Shlaes should read the Bible before bandying terms like “pious.” There are very few people I can think of whose actions deviate further from the teachings of Jesus than Bush. You may agree with his administration’s policies and practices, but they are not based on concepts such as loving thy neighbor, turning the other cheek, allowing the meek to inherit the Earth, or adherence to the Ten Commandments.

If he was lying about Saddam Hussein buying uranium from Niger (he admitted that one) and knowing where Saddam’s WMD were (he jokes about that one!), what makes you think he wouldn’t lie about other statements used to manipulate people?

“Thou shalt not kill” and “Thou shalt not use the Lord’s name in vain” are laws that are supposed to be followed in practice, not used against people of faith for political aims.

Edwin Letcher

Los Angeles