If symbols go, so must Halloween decorations

Angry is not the best word to describe how I feel — frightened is more accurate.

Recently, Alabama Chief Justice Ray Moore was removed from his office. He refused to remove the religious monument of the Ten Commandments from state-owned property. To some, it posed a conflict of the separation of church and state. Did Justice Moore appoint an enforcer for these Ten Commandments? Was anyone even forced to read them?

In the courts is another case to take "one nation under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance. Seems to me there are those who choose not to recite the pledge at all — their choice, no enforcer.

An infamous court case removed all prayer from our schools. The woman who brought that case to court was removed from this life by her nephew. No one forced him to obey the commandments. Free will, our choice.

There is no state-enforced religion, and there is freedom to practice or not any religion we choose. This is America, one nation under God, believe in God or not — your choice.

So far, so good — now my fear. There are those who would take away my freedom to have religious symbols on public property. No Christmas trees, no Kwanzaa symbols, no menorahs, no religious symbols allowed. But, how about Halloween symbols?

Collier’s Encyclopedia states All Hallows Eve, Oct. 31, is derived from the druids celebrating the day of Saman when the lord of death called together the souls of the wicked who had died during the past year. The encyclopedia describes the druids as members of the learned and priestly class who expounded the law in the Celtic British Isles and Gaul in Caesar’s day. Many authorities have inferred the druids were an elaborate religious and political organization that wielded great political power. All who refused to obey were banished or slain.

So, OK, we cannot have our Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Islam, etc., religious symbols on public property, but it’s OK for the druids? Do we really want every sign of God out of our public eye? Some people do — we’ve already begun sacrificing our babies.

According to the encyclopedia, the druids were put an end to by the Romans and Christianity in the fifth century — but looks to me, they have made a big comeback. Check out Halloween, druid religious symbols on public property — hello! God bless the United States of America.

Kate Harvey

Kendall Park section

of South Brunswick