Response Letter to Columnist Clarence Page
Chicago Tribune
Gemechis Desta Buba
September 27, 2000

Faith is a matter of the heart; nevertheless it dynamically yearns for public acknowledgment and affirmation through peaceful and legitimate appearances on the public arena.

People of diverse religious affiliations and faith orientations should keep their beliefs to themselves. Humanity is a religious being; everyone is inclined to a particular religion. Religion cannot be a public or social issue of contention or conflict as long as it is properly managed within the private realm. People should know how to respect each other’s private convictions and decline any intention of enforcing private religious orientations on each other.

Religion is dynamic, it is charged with a notion of winning more people and expanding the values. Most religions are enthusiastic about achieving public acknowledgment and affirmation. This pursuit should be handled in a peaceful and legitimate manner. Engaging the public arena to enforce ones own belief on others violate individual’s right. Practicing religious acts such as prayer, preaching and others within a public arena in a peaceful and legitimate pattern is subject to freedom of speech. Within horizons of freedom granted by the declaration of freedom of speech, people should be allowed to convey their messages and practice their religion.

Religious leaders should teach their people how to practice their rituals within the privacy of their own religious arena, moreover practicing religion within a public arena should be governed with rules and regulation of freedom of speech to maintain peace, dignity and public stability.