In response to the July 10 letter to the editor ("We shouldn't
promote a gay lifestyle.") The writer asserts several incorrect
notions as romanticized narratives regarding the founding of our
nation as opposed to documented facts. One assertion is our
nation was founded on Christian principles, ignoring the fact
that only six of the original colonies were founded for
religious freedom. The others were for business ventures.
Secondly stated, "Our currency claims that it is, 'In God We
Trust.'" There was no mention of God on any United States
coinage until 1864, or about 100 years after our nation's
founding. Thirdly, the writer states, "This is a Christian
country -- one country under God." Correct. The U.S. is a
country where the majority is Christian, but our government was
designed to be secular. It is true that religion helped shape
political ideas, but made no mention of the church as the
founding fathers were aware of what calamity could occur when
the line between church and state becomes murky. The doc