As a Virginia Baptist for almost 40 years, I noted with interest the May 26 letter to the editor from Carl Douglas, in which he takes the Baptist joint Committee for Religious Liberty to task for stating that in the United States a National Day of Prayer is unwise and unnecessary.
He states that he is reminded of the old phrase, “We have met the enemy and they is us.” (I believe that phrase comes from Pogo Possum.) He then quotes President Ronald Reagan on the importance of prayer in our nation. He closes with this blast: “The BJC and its like-minded ultra-liberal probably do more damage than all atheists.”
His comments cause me to make the three following comments: One, he is of course absolutely free to make any comment he likes about any subject he chooses, as freedom of speech is as vital as freedom of religion, but he should not make-up facts.
Two, as one of those “like-minded ultra-liberals” who happens to believe that a study of Scripture, and a study of Baptist history, will both clearly show that our Savior taught the separation of church and state and our Baptists ancestors thought likewise. (John Leland and Isaac Backus are but two who would clearly disagree with him.)
And third, while I, in my 28 years in the Marine Corps, was called many things, his “like-minded ultra-liberal” may be the grandest term yet laid on me. I do thank him for his high praise. As my grandfather said when kicked by the same breed of animal upon which our Savior rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, “I’ll just consider the source.”
Edwin C. King, Ormond Beach, Fla.