Atheists, others ignore Constitution

To the editor:

George W. Bush has been elected and inaugurated to his second term as president. He laid one hand on an open Bible, raised the other and took the oath of office. As he finished, he said, "So help me God." He also had two ministers pray to God. This must surely have made the blood of some atheists boil, especially Michael Newdow. You know him. His infamous case against the Pledge of Allegiance made people mad, and he lost anyway.

This past December, Newdow struck again, suing to stop President Bush from having prayer and the Bible in the inauguration ceremony. He lost again.

Some atheists and other secularists want us Christians to keep our faith private. Newdow is not content with that. He wants no religious belief at all. At least it looks that way.

Perhaps Newdow, other atheists and secularists need to take a better look at the U.S. Constitution, especially the First Amendment's freedom-of-religion segment. It clearly says, "Congress shall enact no law respecting an establishment of religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof." They tend to ignore, not overlook, that second clause regarding free exercise. They should also look better at the freedom-of-speech segment.

As an American citizen, President Bush has the right to exercise both. I'd like to know, though, who Michael Newdow thinks he is that his right not to believe supersedes the rights of others who do believe? Is he God?

TONY REDDICK, Cape Girardeau