Dear editor,

Far be it for me to pile on in reaction to Mike Brust’s un-American, un-Christian, and detrimental letter to the editor, but I want to join in the chorus of voices that enthusiastically shouts down incorrect opinions like this.  His attempted doxing/shaming of elected officials voting in ways that he opposes is shameful.

Mr. Brust for all his posturing is offering up a position that is classically un-American.  The founders almost all wrote extensively regarding the separation of Church and state.

In 1803 James Madison wrote, “The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe in blood for centuries.”

John Adams wrote “The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”

James Madison also wrote in a letter to Letter to Edward Livingston, 10 July 1822 , “Every new & successful example therefore of a perfect separation between ecclesiastical and civil matters, is of importance. And I have no doubt that every new example, will succeed, as every past one has done, in shewing that religion & Govt. will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.”

Thomas Jefferson wrote in his autobiography, “Where the preamble declares that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed, by inserting the word “Jesus Christ,” so that it should read “a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion.” The insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of it’s protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo, and infidel of every denomination.”

Thomas Jefferson also wrote, “It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are 20 gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”

Clearly these patriots wrote and thought extensively about the separation of church and state.  America went so far as to make the First Amendment to the Constitution the following, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The author of this letter also seeks to violate the First Amendment by using HIS religion in place of mine or anyone else’s, breaking the separation between church and State.  In Marathon County there are many residents who are not Christians, and as such should not be coerced into allowing their laws to be driven by a theology they have no part in.

We should no more be expected to follow the rules of The Bible because this person has faith in them, than he should be forced to be governed by The Autobiography of A Yogi because I think it is an awesome bit of life teaching.

But to respond to the Biblical aspect I will simply leave it up to this smart fellow to break it down, in this video:

I am proud that the Marathon County Board voted to establish Pride Month.  This was the correct decision on many levels.  Interpersonally, it signaled to members of the LGBTQ community here that they are acknowledged and valued for their contributions.  To the outside world, we are saying to the world that Marathon County is on the right side of history in acknowledging the LGBTQ community at large, and all the positive things members of that community can bring to our community whether economically, socially or culturally.  We are made stronger and larger by this diversity, and this public acknowledgement of this diversity.

I understand and accept that there are people in this community who are homophobic and backward in their thinking like this author. This thinking is harming Central Wisconsin with its antiquated exclusion and denial of agency and position within our world.  The issue at hand is not Mr Brust and his homophobia, but his desire to make public policy based on his homophobia, and his desire to impose his faith on all of us through public policy.

Dino Corvino

Weston

Editor’s note: The views of our readers and guest columnists are independent of this newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wausau Pilot and Review. To submit a letter, email us at [email protected] or mail letters to 500 N. Third St. Suite 208-8; Wausau, WI 54403.