In his letter dated April 6, Mr. Don Peterson was critical of two state senators' decision to walk out when a Muslim prayer was offered at the opening of the state Senate session. Perhaps if we heard from Mr. Lawson and Mr. Bonini, it might serve to clarify their position.
Mr. Lawson: "We just heard from the Quran, which calls for our very demise." "I fought for this country, not to be damned by someone that comes in here and prays to their god for our demise. I think that's despicable." "You can't be a good American and a good Muslim," he said. "They don't believe in our Constitution."
Mr. Bonini: "If somebody is offended by the Hail Mary and they don't want to hear it, and they leave the chamber. I wouldn't be happy about it, but I wouldn't criticize them."
Mr. Lawson is correct. The Muslim "holy book" does call for our destruction as a civilization. Also, it does advocate that Muslim law (not the U.S. Constitution) is supreme and should be imposed world-wide. Mr. Bonini is also correct. Freedom of religion is a two-way street.
Both senators are well within their right to protest the reading from the Quran in the state Senate by walking out of the room. Indeed, one wonders why their moral outrage is not shared by all Americans.
Lawrence McSwain
Lewes