Part of it is because the people who founded this country worked so hard and well to prevent the nation from being torn apart by the kind of religious hatreds that once tore Europe apart. This came to mind anew the other day while your reporter rented the video of the film Elizabeth . It vividly depicts 16th-century England, a country racked by political power intrigues between Protestants and Roman Catholics. It's a reminder of what can happen. But diversity of religion is wide and deep in this country, which makes the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of religion and traditional American tolerance all the more to be treasured.
Intolerance is an insidious enemy of freedom.
Yours, mine and the couple next-door's. And taking freedom for granted won't do. Copyright 2000, CBS Worldwide Inc., All Rights Reserved.