I truly believe that what makes our country greater than any other in existence, is our acceptance — even embracing of diversity — of cultures, of colors, religions and of ideas. This makes us stronger and smarter and more capable.
With this in mind, I read how there are some in the Fayette community and in The Citizen who have given voice to an opposition to a newly appointed school board member, Leonard Presberg, because he was not truly “vetted” and won’t share his “beliefs.” Code words for not “one of us Christians.”
[Mr. Presberg] was “vetted” by the entire school board along with many other applicants who offered their services to replace a school board member who had passed.He was interviewed, his resume was viewed, discussed and he was deemed the best candidate to fit the bill.
This is a public school district and he was not asked about his religious beliefs while interviewing for the job nor should he have been.
Would there be those in the community unaware of the “wall of separation between church and state,” as written by Thomas Jefferson and placed in the Constitution?
Would there be those who would want school board members to violate laws and open themselves up for litigation in order that the one chosen be of the correct faith?
I defend Mr. Presberg’s right to be Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Moslem and, yes, even an atheist. I, along with countless others in this community, will judge him and the other school board members by how they conduct themselves, vote, budget our tax dollars, follow the law and promote educational opportunities for our children.
The community has every right to go to school board meetings to give support for ideas, challenge votes, argue issues, and to re-elect or not school board members.
The community does NOT have any right to press Mr. Presberg as to his faith, make his faith an issue or imply any malice on his part because of his religion or lack of religion.
Thankfully there are many intelligent, caring people in Fayette County who understand these issues. Most of the time, the silent majority doesn’t speak up. This time one did.
Vicki Leopold
Fayetteville, Ga.
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[Ms. Leopold served on the Half Hollow Hills school district in New York, one of the top ten in the state.] [The editor replies: In a helpful spirit, I bring your attention to your quote: “Would there be those in the community unaware of the ‘wall of separation between church and state,’ as written by Thomas Jefferson’s and placed in the Constitution?”Thomas Jefferson indeed referenced such a “wall,” but in a letter written several years after the Constitution was ratified (more below). In all available copies of the U.S. Constitution I have found, no such language exists.
The reference related to “religion” in the original Constitution is this from Article VI: “… but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
The only other reference to religion in the entire Constitution and all 27 amendments is contained within the First Amendment, which reads as follows: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”
On Jan. 1, 1802, President Thomas Jefferson wrote three short paragraphs in reply to the Danbury (Conn.) Baptist Association. Here is the first sentence of the second paragraph:
“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.”
That’s it: Jefferson’s famous “wall”: His interpretation of text written by his protégé, James Madison.
Here’s the part you likely have NOT heard: His response was to a Christian group protesting that their state passed laws that presumed “what religious privileges we enjoy (as a minor part of the state) we enjoy as favors granted, and not as inalienable rights; and these favors we receive at the expense of such degrading acknowledgements as are inconsistent with the rights of freemen.”
Translated (by me), that means, “Mr. Jefferson, what do you think about the government treating us as if we have no religious freedom of expression beyond that which the government condescends to allow to us?”
Translating Mr. Jefferson (again, by me): “The government has no legitimate business telling you or anybody what is or is not appropriate religious expression.”
Lots of otherwise intelligent people carelessly use that “wall of separation” argument and almost uniformly ignore the plain fact that Jefferson is saying exactly the opposite of what they assert. Jefferson is saying that religion — beliefs — must be protected FROM government, NOT government from religion.
And what you almost never read is this final sentence in that same letter from the “wall of separation” President: “I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association assurances of my high respect & esteem.”
My translation of Mr. Jefferson’s final sentence: “I’m praying for you, too, and I respect and esteem you.”
We all would do well to emulate Mr. Jefferson’s model in that final sentence.]
