I hope that in her "12 years of full-day schooling" she might have glanced once or twice at the actual text of the Constitution and its Bill of Rights. The relevant clause in the First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...." It means exactly what it says: The United States does not legislate or mandate religion. The phrase certainly does not mean that one cannot express his or her religious beliefs. While those who do believe in God cannot force Cohen to pray or to worship, she too has no right to force others to not pray or to not worship.
It would be perhaps useful for Cohen to continue reading from the First Amendment: "... or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." An inauguration is not a service, not a federal ceremony and not an official endorsement of religion. An inauguration is a fluffy, symbolic event that incoming presidents plan because they like to have some type of celebration to mark the changing of the guard. The program at an inauguration is entirely at the discretion of the participants. No one forces Americans to watch it or participate in it.
If the incoming president preferred, he or she could have gongs played, dancing bears perform and someone lead the audience in the Wave instead of a prayer. Would that have offended the consciences of America? Would that have violated the Constitution? Of course not, although it might have offended our aesthetic sensibilities. Presidents choose to take oaths on a Bible, but it is certainly not mandated or official. Presidents choose prayers because they feel it is appropriate, or perhaps because the public expects them to.
Religion is only one of the many differences of opinions that people in this nation have, and I have no right to dictate to others what is an acceptable display of their own religion. A "secular government" means that religion should play no part in decisions of government, not that all participants in government must have no religion. True freedom of religion and freedom from state religion requires both those who are religious and those who are not to respect the practices and choices of others.
Jai L. Nair '99-'01
Feb. 9, 2001