Monday's letters: Birthday fireworks, establishment of religion, 2020 election was fair
Celebrate our 246th Independence Day
The Fourth of July this year is America’s 246th birthday – Independence Day! We celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
On this day, delegates from the 13 colonies attended the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence, making them free and sovereign. From that day, the colonies moved into a new era of political independence with no ties to England.
I encourage you to read our historic and outstanding document, which states that all men are created equal, with certain rights of freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
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The Declaration of Independence was the promise; the Constitution was the fulfillment.
On Monday, July 4, 2022, be proud and fly the beautiful American flag. Ring the bells of freedom and attend patriotic ceremonies and parades.
God bless America, one nation under God.
Jean Maxwell Catsakis, Nokomis, Commemorative Events Committee, Sara De Soto Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution
In reversing Roe, court favors one religion
The anti-establishment clause of the First Amendment prohibits the establishment of a state religion and the favoring of one religion to the detriment of another through state laws.
Yet, in overturning Roe, the Supreme Court has violated the Establishment Clause by, in effect, enshrining a Christian belief that life begins at conception in state laws and criminalizing abortion as a form of murder.
The majority of the Supreme Court justices did this by removing protections for women to have an abortion under the near 50-year decision on Roe.
Not everyone believes as the Christian anti-abortionists do that life begins at conception and therefore abortion is murder. The Jewish religion does not define the beginning of life at conception and allows for abortions to protect the life and health of women, physically and mentally. For Jews, life begins at birth.
Abortion prohibitions under state law will codify Christian beliefs to apply to all and deny Jews their right to practice their religion according to their beliefs and values.
Jewish women and their families will be denied the right of religious freedom which is prohibited by the First Amendment to the Constitution.
The Supreme Court’s majority decision doesn’t uphold the Constitution; it has violated its fundamental tenets and provisions. Yet who can hold these lifetime justices to account?
Larry Grossman, Bradenton
Evidence at hearings confirms election fair
Witness testimonies at the House committee hearings investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol – all from Republicans – chillingly reveal how close we came to a constitutional crisis.
The congressional committee, under the leadership of Democratic Chairman Bennie Thompson and Republican Vice Chair Liz Cheney, continues to present evidence confirming the 2020 presidential election was fair and former President Donald Trump’s efforts to fire up his supporters to “stop the steal” were inconsistent with the Constitution and possibly illegal.
As the November 2022 election approaches, Florida voters must remember they will have a chance to express their frustration with Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Greg Steube, each of whom has failed to display leadership regarding the outcome of the 2020 election and the violent Jan. 6 insurrection.
DeSantis signed a law making it more difficult for citizens to vote and recently appointed an election denier as secretary of state.
Rubio voted to acquit Trump during his second impeachment trial, despite overwhelming evidence showing Trump was guilty.
Steube, of Sarasota, was one of 147 members of Congress who voted to overturn the 2020 election results, despite no evidence of election fraud.
Florida deserves better. Vote them out!
Cindy Scaruffi-Klispie, Punta Gorda
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Happy Birthday to America, Jan. 6 hearing proves election was fair
