Wednesday, February 20, 2008

I was dismayed that a blessing given before the Daytona 500 on Sunday invoked Jesus Christ by name [Sports, Feb. 19]. While clearly not as offensive as references to Christ during President Bush's two inaugurations, it served as a reminder that this is a Christian-dominated nation.

Examples of this behavior abound. Remember the uproar when Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison used a Koran while taking his ceremonial oath of office? And even Mitt Romney met significant opposition because his particular brand of Christianity was not mainstream enough.

It is time for non-Christians to admit what we all know -- what we see happening is no battle for freedom of religion. It is a battle for the establishment of Christianity as the official religion of the United States. Clearly, that is not what the Founders had in mind.

ROBERT GELLER

Great Falls