Oct. 9, 2025 Editor, The News-Gazette: I would define American as more than simply being born here. American is a set of hallowed beliefs, adhered to and defended.
America has been violated by attacks on the Bill of Rights, which protects our “unalienable rights,” government being “instituted” to “secure” these rights, not violate them. The Fifth Amendment reads “no person,” not “no citizen,” can be denied due process: such as the right to be informed of charges during arrest, the right to an attorney, the right to a trial where actual evidence is presented. Tolerating the denial of due process is profoundly unAmerican. Participating in that denial is criminal. The Eighth Amendment forbids “cruel and unusual” punishment, like sending people to Africa after kidnapping them.
The First Amendment guarantees free speech, democracy’s heart. Government interference with protected speech; the right to political affiliation; the right to petition the government through the right of assembly — is unAmerican. Threatening government employees who do not blame a political party for the government shutdown is a nightmare from science fiction.
Christians are supposed to value life and protect the welfare of children. Can we call Christian those who stayed silent when our government purposely destroyed paid-for food meant for starving children in Africa, which resulted in the deaths of thousands? Is that “pro-life”? Didn’t those children have souls? Call Christian those who turn a blind eye to child hunger here?
What is one’s Christian —and one’s American duty - when faced with government officials who foster hate and division, who delight in dreaming up endless ways to be mindlessly cruel to fellow citizens?
Is it not a sin of omission not to hold one’s representatives responsible for acquiescence in unAmerican acts?
The definitions of American and Christian impose specific obligations.
Some have gifted themselves honorific titles without living up to their duty. JOE PETITE Rockbridge County
