Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 21, 1993 TAG: 9302190033
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
FREEDOM OF RELIGION BEING TAKEN AWAY
I read with disgust the petition in an advertisement in the Sunday Current. They say they wish to affirm their commitment to the richness of life and culture in Montgomery County.I also read that [former Montgomery County School] Board Chairman Daniel Schneck said, "Religion had nothing to do with the change from Easter and Christmas to spring and winter." This being true, why the change? What is wrong with Christian holiday names?
I realize we have people from many different parts of the world, with different views. Why should we conform to their views? We were here first. Should a group of Christians go to China and be offended if they didn't change their beliefs to suit ours?
The people who are so offended by Easter and Christmas being Christian holidays should put their energy and good education to eradicate the filthy programs on television that is doing much more harm to our youth than the names "Easter" and "Christmas." How those two names lack the support and respect for ethnic religious and cultural diversity in the county is a ridiculous excuse.
What was the purpose of the people who landed at Plymouth Rock?
Freedom of religion, which is being taken away from us to satisfy the minority. We can't have prayer in school or in any other public activity.
I feel the reason we have so much violence and disrespect in schools is the fact that prayer or the Bible can't be mentioned.
Our forefathers would turn over in their graves if they knew how we have let people from different parts of the world turn our country around.
I feel it is time we Christians stand up and be counted. We aren't trying to change nor force our beliefs on anyone, so why don't they stick to their beliefs and stop trying to take everything we believe in away from us? The supervisors should take a long hard look at what has worked for more than 100 years that people now think needs to be changed.\ Sallie Grogan\ Narrows