To the editor:

I had no idea that my article, “Is it God or country you refuse to honor?” and Councilman Steve Stycos’ article, “Pledging to uphold U.S. Constitution,” would be juxtaposed in last week’s Herald.
Sometimes one just gets lucky.
Notice that he doesn’t reference God in his rebuttal. His rebuttal is both sad and something one must answer. It is sad because Mr. Stycos was on the School Committee for 10 years and by extension he was an educator, and yet he writes as though he is uneducated. Notice that he states, “I personally choose not to pledge my allegiance to the U.S. flag or any other symbol.” This is truly nonsensical! The meaning of the word symbol is: An authoritative summary of faith for doctrine (creed), “an act having cultural significance.” Any third grader understands this meaning! So, what it comes down to, unfortunately, is that he just does not believe in the flag as a symbol. Sad, but true.
Once again, you cannot say you support something and then deny it! And then to say that he supports all that his oath of office stands for – just what do you stand for, Mr. Stycos?
On the issue of the banner, here again he shows his lack of understanding and/or education. The banner was, and remains, a historic educational document. And, if presented as such to the court of appeals or the Supreme Court, case history signifies that the lower court decision would have been overturned.
My only concern is that I did not have more resources to educate the public to just what was going on with the ACLU. In short, we got taken, due to a lack of understanding how this whole case was organized against us for the benefit of money to further support court cases against our religious freedom. Think Woonsocket memorial, and dozens of other such cases around the country. And don’t forget the $63,000 Freedom From Religion (a sister organization) awarded the real “target” for all of this to succeed. That poor girl! Please, no more tears.
This is easy to sum up: Mr. Stycos is either an atheist, agnostic or comes with no regard for God. He is anti-religious and his article, however amateurish, just proves what he is all about.
I end this with a sense of sadness; this is never what we were supposed to be all about, as an individual or a group, going back to our beginning as a nation.
My God, look over all of our citizens and especially all of our students, whose very best opportunity to succeed in America requires all of us to help them learn the true meaning of God and country, from our beginning as a nation well over 200 years ago!

Richard Tomlins
Cranston