“Two Visions of America” – Rabbi Sherwin Wine

“There are two visions of America. One precedes our founding fathers and finds its roots in the harshness of our puritan past. It is very suspicious of freedom, uncomfortable with diversity, hostile to science, unfriendly to reason, contemptuous of personal autonomy. It sees America as a religious nation. It views patriotism as allegiance to God. It secretly adores coercion and conformity. Despite our constitution, despite the legacy of the Enlightenment, it appeals to millions of Americans and threatens our freedom.

“The other vision finds its roots in the spirit of our founding revolution and in the leaders of this nation who embraced the age of reason. It loves freedom, encourages diversity, embraces science and affirms the dignity and rights of every individual. It sees America as a moral nation, neither completely religious nor completely secular. It defines patriotism as love of country and of the people who make it strong. It defends all citizens against unjust coercion and irrational conformity.

“This second vision is our vision. It is the vision of a free society. We must be bold enough to proclaim it and strong enough to defend it against all its enemies.” – Rabbi Sherwin Wine

James Madison on Religious Freedom

“Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other sects?” – James Madison

The Lure of School Vouchers

Published in Liberty Magazine – July / August 2000

By Michael D. Peabody

There’s nothing like the excitement surrounding the first day of school-it’s an American tradition. Across the nation, millions of students enter a new season of classes, books, and exams after a long summer’s rest.

But late last August this tradition hit a speed bump for 4,000 private parochial school students in Cleveland, Ohio, when U.S. District Judge Oliver ruled that much of their tuition money, supplied through a 4-year-old voucher program, was no good. The voucher program, the judge said, “has the primary effect of advancing religion.” With that, the gavel came down and the program was blocked.
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