In stories about the separation of church and state, supporters of prayer in public institutions are missing the point (“UT coach responds to religion complaint; Players will prepare ‘on their own,’ he says,” June 13).
The constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion is designed not to keep prayer out of public institutions, but to keep the government out of our business.
Criminal suspects also are given rights that protect them from government overreach. Those rights are for the innocent, to guard against the government — in this case, police — from abusing its power to make unfair arrests of citizens.
I practice my religion and respect the police and courts. But I’m glad there are protections for those who might have a different experience.
DONALD CARR
Maumee
Editor’s note: The writer is a former Blade editor.
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A healthier world would be peaceful
A Toledo friend called my attention to your excellent June 1 editorial “A healthier world.” Why wouldn’t any member of Congress vote for a bill that would save the lives of millions of children by supporting, as your editorial states, “vaccines, better nutrition and medical care, training for community health workers, and other life-saving initiatives”?
This bill would create more efficiency by putting reforms of the U.S. Agency for International Development into law and giving Congress the power of oversight.
People should remind members of Congress that America cares about the lives of children and mothers. The resulting stronger communities across the world would help end conflicts and give our country more dependable trade partners.
WILLIE DICKERSON
Snohomish, Wash.
Legal action on fines would work
In response to your June 9 article “Hundreds use incentive to pay tickets; Discount on camera fines helps city collect old fees”: The city of Toledo is going to file suits against people who still owe red-light and speed camera fines.
From a similar experience I had more than 10 years ago involving not paying a traffic fine in Indiana, I learned that taking legal action is an effective way to collect fines. Toledo City Council should pursue legal action to collect the $21 million owed by the deadbeats.
GENE BENEDICT
Glen Ellyn Drive
Why did city hire outside law firm?
If the city of Toledo employs a full-time law department, why was it necessary to hire an outside firm to collect traffic camera fines? Couldn’t a single city lawyer compose a legal-language letter to scare violators into paying?
The outside law firm is getting 15 percent of what is collected — not bad.
MIKE CHILDERS
Holly Glenn Drive
First Published June 16, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
