Mr. Jeff Ignatius, in his article "Mixed Colors, Mixed Messages" in the September 23-October 3, 2006, Reader, made the statement "in the sense that the barrier between church and state is explicitly and clearly articulated in the Constitution." I don't know what Constitution he is reading, but the one I am familiar with says in the First Amendment that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Not one word about separation of church and state.

The United States was founded by an unruly bunch of tax protesters driven by Britain's excessive taxes on the colonies to declare their independence. Today, some eight generations later, the anti-tax gene we inherited from these proud men and women finally seems to be reasserting itself, with perhaps some good news ahead.

"Neutrality and silence in the face of oppression always aid the oppressors. American pulpits must not cower from speaking truth to power."

- Reverend Ed Bacon, All Saints Episcopal Church

On October 31, 2004, just two days before the presidential election, George Regas, the retired pastor of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California, was invited to deliver a guest sermon at the church. In his sermon titled "If Jesus Debated Senator Kerry & President Bush," Regas urged the congregation to vote their conscience in the upcoming election. However, he was quick to say of the debate, "Jesus does win! And I don't intend to tell you how to vote."

Why are we not safe today?

(A) The U.S. Army was reduced in the 1990s by 500,000 active soldiers. Today we only have 417,186 active Army, 305,404 in the National Guard, and 154,047 in the Army Reserves. (These figures are from the September 15, 2006, Federal Executive magazine, page 38.)

(B) In the 1990s, the leadership of the Department of the Army reduced from 26 Army ammunition plants to only eight by 2006. (See History of Ammunition by George Nickolas, dated 2006.)

(C) The civilian production base for military ammunition and equipment reduced in the 1990s because of lack of requirements as reported to a congressional hearing in 2004. (See Federal Executive magazine pages 17 and 18 in the July 2004 issue.)