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I wonder if the president’s recent military foray into Nigeria didn’t have more to do with his
need to justify his assumption that Christianity is our national religion, than it did with the
threat to a group of Christians.

The Muslims and Christians have been warring in Nigeria since the 1950s. The president rather
suddenly entered the complex situation — on Christmas, no less — under pressure from U.S.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and other American evangelical leaders, because a local Islamic terrorist
group allegedly killed a group of Christians.

Hopefully, Trump’s prejudice against non-Christian groups does not mean that other non-
Christian religious groups will now be considered national enemies and be ripe for military
attack when there is no excuse. Indeed, how many American individuals already feel like they
are the enemy because they are Muslim or Jewish, or Hindu, or Unitarian Universalists, or part
of the 28% of the population who do not claim any religious affiliation?

Are all of them in danger now of Trump’s lethal wrath because they don’t follow his version of
Jesus? He has certainly shown his prejudicial intentions towards anyone who is not part of his
presumed sacred fold. Are they all now on notice of what he could do to them as well?

It should not be forgotten, however, that it is almost universally acknowledged that religious
freedom is a basic American right provided by the First Amendment of our national
Constitution. And, the Establishment clause, prohibits in that same amendment, that the
government shall not establish a national religion. It has also been enshrined in numerous
international covenants and declarations.

I don’t like the president of our country giving in to pressure from the religious right just to
polish his conservative image by over-simplifying a complex situation in another country,
especially under the guise of Christianity, as if it is the undisputed national religion. We do not
have a national religion in this country!

I am a life-long Christian, but I still respect people who approach God in other ways than
through Jesus of Nazareth. I also respect people who have no faith in any ultimate being. I don’t
believe that the president of the United States of America can arbitrarily choose who is our
enemy and who can be killed in the name of his religion.

Rev. Tom Steensma
rural Defiance