Dear Editor:
Let me get this straight. On Sept. 11th, nearly 3,000 lives were lost in the attacks on the World Trade Center. The diversities of religious beliefs, and the ethnicities of the victims were immensely varied. During this carnage no one stopped to ask each other “do you believe in God?” or “what god do you worship?” Nor, did they ask, “What language do you speak?” At this time of terror, human beings extended his or her hand to help their fellow fallen victims. Human response is not to think or judge, but to react. And react they did! It did not matter their race, color, or creed. In these horrific minutes of obvious death, all lives were equal. It is incomprehensible for me to believe that all were not praying to God, any god, to spare their lives. This word, “God”, had to have been murmured by all of these poor souls as the reality of death grew closer, as it was by all of us who watched in the safety of our homes.
Let’s now discuss the “cross-shaped” beams that so many of us wished to keep as a memorial to the lives lost. Though, because of some agnostics, atheists, and those who respectfully believe in their own gods, this idea was not to be. Out of respect to all religious sects, it was decided that it would be best removed intact to be displayed at another location.
Now we should talk about “The Pledge of Allegiance” issue. To satisfy the Constitution’s separation laws of Church and State, we’re prohibited from using the words “under God”. These words were instituted in 1954 and have not caused a problem for 48 years. Do not the majority of us believe in God or some other Supreme Being? And those of the minority who do not, can’t they refrain from reciting these two small words? What’s next? Should we remove “In God we trust” from our currency? Do we discontinue swearing on the Bible in court?
Let’s not forget, finally, the recent Federal Appeals Court ruling to remove the two religious ceramic tiles painted and installed by families of two slain students of Columbine High School. What about the First Amendment rights of the families of these victims?
With all that is going on today in this country, these matters seem ludicrous and inane to this reader. Loss of religion means loss of values. Loss of values means loss of a decent society. In my God I trust. In others’, I respect.
Elaine Flood