Below we post a selection of recent letters about “US attorney general invokes God in “war on terrorism” by Shannon Jones
Shannon Jones ... another great article. It is uncommon to find someone so conversant with both religion and early American politics as you possess. It is the unusual American who understands that the American Revolution was against Church and Crown. Article VI expressly states “... no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” Absolutely first rate.
RB
15 May 2002
Dear Mr. Jones,
All I can say is how wrong you are. This country, the greatest nation on earth, the United States of America, is indeed at war with militant Islam. Islam is a violent religion. Even though Christianity has sometimes had a violent past, it has recognized its shortcomings, and even made amends. In conclusion, God bless John Ashcroft, God bless President Bush, and God bless AMERICA. If you don’t like it, move to one of these Islamic countries.
Former soldier and proud American!
JK
15 May 2002
Editors at WSWS:
The US is supposed to be the land of the free but there have been some very closed-minded, condemning remarks of religious freedom and basic democratic rights coming from the US hierarchy.
The one thing that really burns me about Ashcroft is how he can call himself a Christian when he is basically saying that Islam is evil. If you are supposed to be Christian why would you spread lies about other religions? (“Islam is a religion that requires you to send your son to die for him. Christianity is a faith in which god sends his son to do for you”) Even though I do not practice Christianity, I was always brought up to accept others, even when their beliefs may not be the same as mine, and to not condemn them for their different beliefs.
It appalls me even more to read Pat Robertson saying, “Islam is not a peaceful religion that wants to co-exist, etc.” A good friend of mine who is Islamic moved to the US about a month before September 11 and now he wants to go home. He is afraid what the US government is going to do next. He is afraid to live in the United States of America, which to me is really sad, considering he came here to get away from a lot of the prejudices of his own country. I believe that US citizens should be demanding an apology from Ashcroft for his remarks. I believe somewhere in their constitution it protects people from prejudice because of their religion.
MG
British Columbia
15 May 2002
Superb article. I emailed this essay to some friends. Keep combating religious intolerance.
S
15 May 2002