Regarding: The Optimist, Feb. 9, “Christians should honor the first” by Jonathan Smith, editor in chief

Mr. See is right. As Christians, we should honor God’s law first. I hope he wasn’t suggesting, however, that we disregard the First Amendment, as it is one of the most precious laws we have to hang on to.

We must be careful not to confuse “God’s law” with our own religion. I admire many religious men, like my grandfather, Martin Luther, James Dobson and George Bush, but I don’t want them to dictate my religion. Grandfather wouldn’t let me attend my current church because it’s not a church of Christ. Dr. Dobson wouldn’t let me watch SpongeBob Squarepants because of possible homosexual connections. Mr. See is a good, religious man, but I strongly suspect he would not want me taking line-dancing lessons. Do we really want to live under religious laws? I don’t.

That’s why the First Amendment is so important. It protects us from religion and gives us the right to say what we believe and live how we want to. When we crush the freedom of another’s religion or speech, we damage ourselves, and the destruction of our own freedoms is inevitable.

God’s law is simply this: “… do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” and “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind’ … ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these …” (Matt. 22).

The First Amendment is one of the most practical ways that we can, through the government, “do unto others,” “love our neighbor” and so follow God’s law.

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” ~ Voltaire

Melanie Knox
Class of 2004