to the editor: Guest contributor Alan Dershowitz says that “freedom of conscience does not mean freedom to conform” (“When do laws against abuse become weapons against faith?” October 9). Following your conscience and being autonomous is American. We cannot punish people for their belief systems. As Dershowitz points out, George Washington promised that our new nation would “give no sanction to intolerance nor aid to persecution.”
In the late 1960s, my father and I talked about religion as we drove down a rural New Mexico highway lined with poles and barbed wire fences. He turned to me and said, “See that post over there? People can pray to it if they want.” In other words, live and let live.
Tim Walz has his own famous line: “Mind your own damn business.” Religions and belief systems are protected by our Constitution; That is what makes our democracy great.
Anastacio Vigil, Santa Monica
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to the editor: I am what you would call a non-religious Jew. Or, in other words, “spiritual but not religious.” Furthermore, I must state that I have no problem with anyone's beliefs, but I can and often do have problems with some of their actions and behaviors.
That said, over the course of several decades, evangelicals who professed their beliefs with missionary zeal approached me many times, accompanied by annoying leading questions about my beliefs so that they could start a persuasive debate (emphasis on “persuasive”). He would tell them he wasn't interested, then wish them well and let them know he didn't want to continue the conversation. My complaint is that, however, they would persist, often to the point of being aggressive accompanied by threats of divine judgment.
Once again, neutrally expressing one's beliefs guarantees freedom of expression. But persistent persistence, also known as “shoving your beliefs down my throat” without my consent after being asked to leave me alone, is what I call harassment, or worse yet, stalking. And harassment is not a guaranteed constitutional right.
Alan Rosenstein, Santa Monica
