In 1796, President John Adams, one of our Founders, signed the Treaty of Tripoli, declaring in the very first line of that document that “the government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.” The wording is clear and the document is historical fact, written by someone who was there.
So it is distressing when others recycle the lie that the United States was founded on “God’s word and the Ten Commandments,” as in Bob Mattila’s Jan. 9 letter “Boehner’s re-election is a letdown.” It may not be the writer’s fault; he was probably taught that as a child, but it is not true and will not become true, no matter how many times it is repeated. As they say, you are allowed your own opinions and beliefs, but not your own facts.
As to the writer’s argument that progress (a woman’s right to choose, better rights for gays and lesbians, etc.) is “ignoring God,” whose God?
Does he believe ending slavery was wrong?
What about the Civil Rights Act?
Does he feel freedom of religion applies only to him?
Roy G. Wilson
Vancouver
