The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1960-10-27
From The SideIines
by Tiff Mckay

Before We start this week.,
column. let me thank Milo Fields
editor Of the Glacier Reporter
for giving me this CpPOrtunil,
TO sound eff in his wiIely-rea
pu. lica;ion- l do net iHtend I.
compete with John Tatsey. b.
cause / know such competit.o
would be strictly mo contest
and just a waste Of time.
In this column, my primary ain
will not be TO try 10 inform you
What ! will try TO 90 is to arous,
your curiosity 50 you will fee
compelled to inform yourself. /
I can do this on just one subiec
then will have accomplished my
purpose.
OF course the views put forth
here do not necessarily reflect
the views OF this newspaper. Still
! invite comments on these views
and | am sure comments which
are considered worthwhile will
be published So il you feel
prompted to express yourself or
any subject which appears in this
column. send them TO Dept. l,
Glacier Reporter, Browning, Mon
tana So, with this little ponder,
let's go.
Nothing has made Americans
prOuder, nor has anything i'm
pressed the rest of the world
more. in the history of the Unit
ed States than the vast freedom
which the citizens of this great
country enjoy. When discussing
government of countries, even
the youngest school boy will ask,
Where else in the world can
anyone rise TO the post of Presi-
dent?" Or, in what other coun-
try can a man worship as he
chOOSes?"
Certainly. that part of our con-
stitutiOn which says that Con
gress shall make no laws restrict
ing the freedom of religion of
the people, and the part which
declares that religion shall be
no test Of a mans qualifications
for public office are a very clear
reflection of the fundamental mo-
tives for founding our govern
ment-
But twice in the past hall-cen-
tury, the question has been rails
ed in a curious sort Of way. Since
il is impossible TO accurately mea-
sure the influence which the re-
ligiOus issue will have upon the
coming presidential election, let
US discuss the fundamental ques
ton: Is religion a valid issue in
politics? / contend IL is.
Now wait a minute; ! make this
statement for two reasons: First,
man does not, and will not, love
anything he fears, and second,
man cannot and will not under
stand anything he ignores.
Because Of ignorance, We make
such statements as IF Kennedy
is elected, he will have to take
orders from the Pope in Rome"
and Because Nixon is a Quaker
he believes in peace at any price,
even If il means surrender" Such
statements not only arise from
ignorance. but worse, / believe,
they show a disregard Of another
.reedOm-freedom Of informa-
ton.
The question Of religion in poll
tics is not one which should be
left % ferment on the battlefield
of bigotry. Rather, il should be
taken by everyone TO the light Of
inquiry.
My point is simply this: If the
question of religion concerns
you. inform yourself. Study the
subject. discuss il with members
of the clergy. then make up
your own mind.
But we know land perhaps we
sometimes too readily accept the
obvious. In this case, we know
that one OF the two candidates
is going to be the next President.
Perhaps the loser will be re
corded in history as a martyr TO
education and religious freedom
Certainly, neither Of them should
be placed on the sacrificial altar
of ignorance while We burn an
incense we falsely label patrio-
tism. - Tiff Mckay