Letters to the editor, Oct. 21, 2023

It made me wonder, would this be a Hindu prayer, Buddhist prayer, Jewish prayer, Muslim prayer, native tribal prayer; a Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, or another of the many different Christian prayers? Would the participants stand, sit, kneel, dance or prostrate on rugs? Would they speak the prayer out loud, or chant or sing?

How would those who claim no organized religion feel about this? In the United States, we are free to believe, or not, and all faiths are welcome. So, choosing just one would exclude all others in a discriminatory way. Communing with God is a very personal, mindful activity and for some, an integral part of their daily lives and not something to be forced on others.

Unless all faiths are included or the prayer is a moment of silence for individual reflection, the council should deny this request with the same wisdom that gave us the idea of separation of church and state.

Let us be governed by our laws and the Constitution when it comes to civic matters. Prayers should be left to churches and individuals who are free to believe and pray as they choose; one of the many blessings of living in America.

Diana Kopulos

Laramie

Editor's note: The resolution to implement prayer during City Council meetings was not advanced with a 9-1 vote on Tuesday as reported by the Boomerang's coverage of this week's meeting in Friday's edition.

Response to Lummis column

The op-ed column by U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., published in the Boomerang on Oct. 13 addressed her concerns about being pro-gun and anti-marijuana.

As usual, she asserted that the Second Amendment assured the rights of Americans to bear arms. And, as usual, she neglected to state that it did so in the context of the need, at the time of its formulation (and in the Articles of Confederation), for a well-regulated militia, not individuals. She also neglected to mention that rights are not absolute and can be tempered by reasonable concerns for safety.

Republicans promote the idea that the problem is mental health. Remember the first act of the Trump administration? It was to make it easier for those with serious mental illnesses to obtain guns.

Gun violence is the leading cause of death in American children, and we’re supposed to wait to achieve perfect mental health? That’s tough when the party actively promotes poor mental health through such mixed messages, lies, conspiracy theories, promotion of political polarization, attacks on anyone with whom they disagree, support of violence and continued support of officials and candidates lacking in honesty, dedication to service and integrity.

Lummis is proud of a great rating from major donors tied to the gun industry, not for basing decisions on facts, practical solutions to the killing of American children and others or putting people over corporations.

Lummis says that she wants decisions on marijuana to be made at the state level, but then states that she “wants to make sure the American people, through their elected representatives in the Senate and House of Representatives, have the final say …”

You can’t have it both ways. Polls have shown for years that most Americans favor the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana. How about letting the people of each state vote on it? Lummis, however, appears to rely on her “personal (opposition),” not the will of the people.

Instead of “fighting,” how about working for the benefit of all Americans? And doing so without misrepresenting the “guidance of our founding documents.” Protect us from the heavy hand of divisive, self-serving, authoritarian officials.

Carol Smith

Laramie