Dear Mr.

/Madame President
Religious Intolerance in the United States
As you very well know, citizens of the United States are granted the freedom of expression in all
manners, including religion. The First Amendment of the Constitution is meant to protect those
rights from all and any discrimination and oppression. There are people who have made claims
of religious acts being offensive, and acts of people being offensive to religion. While the words
of the Constitution have kept true to its people since its inception, are we, the people of this great
nation, honestly free to express our faith in what we believe in? I would like to propose a new
policy in which religious tolerance to be enforced.
Although the Constitution gives protection to not just the majority, but minority groups as well,
the judicial system has not always favored against religion each time. Numerous cases have been
made for and against acts of religion. Take the Westboro Baptist Church for instance. Known for
their intolerant attitude, they have made protests against funerals for the military, concerts, and
college football games for welcoming homosexuality, and yet won the court decision to continue
on with their conduct. Another court case ruled public schools requiring prayer in the beginning
of the day unconstitutional against the Establishment Clause.
Religion has not continuously been on the side of good during the course of human history.
America has experienced religious turmoil outside and within our own borders. The Salem Witch
Trials, the Spanish Inquisition, the Colonial Period, all of which were used as a means to
conform, and to purge those that would not. In this day and age we still have hate groups and
terrorist organizations that consider themselves religious. That same misguidance of excess
religion leads to fear and discrimination of people who believe in peace, such as todays views
on Muslims since 9/11 and ongoing attacks from ISIS.
It is clear that there are people that wish for others to abide by their religion, and are willing to
use force and violence to achieve it. Even though religious actions of the past were unjustified, I
believe they wanted was to live as one community. It certainly is contradictive to send messages
of peace with engines of war, but giving citizens a sense of morality, to look past the actions of a
few radicals and welcome people with open arms can help them become open-minded. Islamic
refugees know that there are negative views on them, and should not, if at all, come to America
afraid to be looked upon with more fear and disdain.
I hope that you can understand, this letter is not intended to push for suppression of religious
expression. I am merely suggesting that a person of faith, while free to peacefully spread their
religion, must be accepting of others regardless of what they believe in.
Sincerely,
Alfredo Liggins