I've written a lot of things. Some of them I don't believe anymore, some of them I didn't even believe at the time I wrote them. I definitely still believe in what I wrote in this letter, which was published in the Monterey County Herald a couple of years ago:

 

Dear Editor:

There has been abundance of letters denouncing those who would remove “Under

God” from the Pledge of Allegiance. The tone and content of these denunciations are

frightening. “Under God” was added in the pledge to set us apart from the Communists;

yet such denunciations of those who do not adhere to the ‘party line’ are precisely the sort

of thing that occurred in Mao’s China and Stalin’s Soviet Union. Deport non-believers?

Revoke their citizenship? We should recall the preceding phrase of the pledge: “…and to

the Republic for which it stands…” Our great flag stands for freedom of belief and

conscience—including freedom for those with whom we disagree.

Would Jesus take part in this verbal stoning? Not likely. To witness Christ and

follow His example, we must show love and compassion. “But to you who hear I say,

love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27)

If you don’t like what your neighbor believes, you are free to try to convince him

to believe otherwise. Your neighbor is also free to close the door. That’s how we do

things in America.

Andrew D. Kennedy

Monterey, CA