Speak Out

Re "Here, Mitt: Try this speech" (Editorial, Dec. 6):

I was a junior high schooler when Sen. John F. Kennedy, the Democratic presidential candidate, spoke of his Catholic faith and how it would relate to the office of the president should he be elected. I also recall well-meaningful Christians who were urging members not to vote for Kennedy because of his faith.

Kennedy was committed to the separation of church and state despite his denominational history. He was determined to be a beacon of hope to all Americans who had questions about his religion in government. Unlike current politicians, he set the tone about the issue.

Religion matters in America at a tremendous price, and this new generation has not resolved the issue. It is a sad commentary to the Founding Fathers' legacy when Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has to answer for his Mormon faith to a conservative base of his party. Another Republican presidential hopeful, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, is advertising his Christian credentials, and Sen. John McCain speaks of supporting a Christian for president. These religious signals are political weapons aimed at one group and pander to the conservative base of the GOP.

The Constitution states the basic qualifications for the office of president as age, citizenship and being a natural-born resident. Religion has nothing to do with it. It seems that Protestantism, the bulwark of religious liberty in this nation, has become the hammer for the religious test.

Whenever religion embraces politics, the victims of religious ostracism and oppression become the instigators of the majority's will in the denial of the rights of those whose faith or lack thereof differs from the dominant religion. History repeats itself.

Isaiah J. Ashe
Huntsville

Look at the spenders

Re "Calhoun County considers plan to provide laptops to students" (News article, Dec. 15):

Calhoun County wants to spend $1,500 for each laptop computer per student, plus a maintenance cost? What am I missing here?

I just purchased a new Dell laptop for $499, and I haggled for the price. No wonder taxpayers are wary of the way their dollars are being spent. Maybe it's time to look harder at who is doing the spending.

John Risse
Jacksonville