Separate church and state is the American way

Like many American children, I once wanted to be President. My motivation, though, was not power. And as a 10-year-old, I did not have aspirations to change America. No, only one reason sustained my desire to be leader of the free world. It involved an image I had in my head of me standing outside the White House on a cold but clear December night, a crowd gathered around to celebrate the holiday season. I would make some brief remarks and then flip the switch. There, in the middle of the National Mall, I would light the National Hanukkah Menorah.

COURTESY CNN.COM President George W. Bush, DC '68, and Republicans are seeking a revival of public prayer.

When Joe Lieberman, JE '67, was nominated, Jews celebrated across the country—I could not wait to travel to Washington to see the Menorah on the Mall. "Look how far we've come," we exclaimed. "Now I know how Catholics felt in 1960," my boss said to me on the day of the announcement. My grandmother's generation had not expected ever to see a Jew, let alone an orthodox one, in the White House. Now, it looks like they still won't. But Lieberman's religion did not become a divisive issue in the campaign. This proves that America is willing to consider a non-Christian for the highest office in the land, which was still deeply doubtful before last fall.

But have we really come that far? At the inauguration, I stood on the Mall surrounded by supporters and protesters of George W. Bush, DC '68, listening to the ceremonies. Before the oaths were administered, Reverend Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, took the podium for the invocation. After Bush's inaugural address, Reverend Kirbyjon H. Caldwell gave the benediction. Both men spoke of bringing the nation together, helping the less fortunate, and other ideals against which no American could argue.

Each reverend also thanked the Lord and prayed to the Holy Trinity. I turned to the protesters next to me and asked them how these men could pray to bring people together under a God that many Americans do not believe in. I heard another man behind me, obviously not a Bush supporter, ask his friend, "I wonder if Jews are offended by that?" I answered his question (yes) and told him I would imagine people of other faiths were even more offended. At least Judaism and Christianity share some sort of common heritage; when Graham and Caldwell mentioned the Trinity, I could take comfort in knowing I had one-third of it on my side.

A prayer at an inauguration is not in itself of great importance. I, like most American non-Christians, am so used to living in a Christian nation that it does not bother me so much any more. But perhaps it should. This country suffers from a lack of separation of church and state—demonstrated at the inauguration, in the Pledge of Allegiance, the nomination of John Ashcroft, and the recently created White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Americans should be able to honor their nation, enforce the law, and help people in need without invoking religious ideologies that may alienate people who hold differing beliefs.

John Kennedy and Lieberman represented first steps toward tolerating religious diversity, but they were only able to break boundaries because they were still "God-fearing Americans." When are we going to elect an atheist? It's hard to imagine that ever happening, especially when every politician still must end a speech with "God bless you all, and God bless America," as Bush did on Inauguration Day. And it's not just Bush, or Republicans, or even Christians. Political institutions and documents are infused with religious language and thought. Do we really still believe that without public prayer Americans will grow up without values?

I no longer want to light a National Menorah on the Mall. I prefer lighting the candles in my home, where religion belongs. So far, Bush has done little to give me hope he will acknowledge the fact that America's diversity means more than the "Church...synagogue and mosque" he mentioned in his first speech as president. He'll have an opportunity, though, in December, when it comes time to light the National Christmas Tree, a tradition that dates back to 1913. If Bush really wants to repeal some of Clinton's environmental programs, I'll show him the first tree that should be cut down. It would be the first step toward the atmosphere of unity and civility that he hopes to create as president.

Michael Gerber is a senior in Ezra Stiles.

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