Then comes the "nation of origin" classification. There are religions to take into account as well. Then there are the classifications of cohabitation status: single, married, significant other, or same-sex contracts.

When it comes to politics, it gets worse. Democrats, Republicans and independents are recorded in the voter registrations. But then there are the subclassifications of liberal and conservative, right wing and left wing, radical and mainstream.

I'd like to respond to the letter, Profits shouldn't trump patriotism, Oct. 17, but the truth is that letter is born of such ignorance and bigotry, I don't know where to begin!

Nonetheless, I would like to thank letter writer C.J. Bjornberg, who opposes Frenchy's proposed Hispanic bar in Clearwater because it will cater to "those who broke our laws to enter our country illegally," for pointing out the "fact" that everyone of Hispanic or Latino origin in our area is in the United States illegally.

She argues that spending the money for buying the electrical utility and putting the system underground to prevent hurricane damage is money ill spent.

She also is against the fact that the business projections indicate the town can put its system underground out of earnings from owning the utility - in contrast to Progress Energy wanting to charge $1,200 a year extra per home.

She also states that the wastewater plant could not be operated by the town - completely untrue, since I personally spent some months on the Finance Committee trying to find a more efficient way to treat and dispose of wastewater.

I fear that readers of the referenced letter may draw an incomplete picture of John Adams, James Madison, Thomas Paine, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Not being favored with the sources of the quotes cited, we cannot verify their context to gain a complete picture.

I submit there is a difference between what these great gentlemen thought about religion as an institution and their thoughts about religious beliefs and morality. There is also a difference between how they lived their personal lives and what those early leaders, especially the first presidents, did as leaders of a nation.

Washington issued a religiously inspired declaration for a day of thanksgiving on Nov. 26, 1789. And John Adams called for a day of fasting, prayer and humiliation before God in 1798 (see James D. Richardson, ed. A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789-1987 [Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office, 1896-99] vol I, p 64, 268-70).

While Jefferson had deep disdain for organized religion, he was a champion of religious freedom and the need for religious beliefs to be inculcated in the young so as to teach moral behavior. He was the author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom for the express purpose of protecting the church from any form of government-forced orthodoxy. He thought this was one of his most important accomplishments and ordered it mentioned on his tombstone along with the authorship of the Declaration of Independence and founding of the University of Virginia. Even after he had been heavily influenced by the French Enlightenment anticlericalism while living abroad, Jefferson always wanted to protect each individual's liberty of conscience.

Madison is widely recognized as the father of religious liberty in America. His low regard for organized religion did not mean he did not have a high regard for religious beliefs and practices. Quite the contrary. It was he who drafted what we know as the religious clauses of the First Amendment, stating "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Rather than trying to stomp out any and all religion, as believed by some, this amendment was to protect any one religion from being forced on those who preferred another or none at all.

We would like to thank the St. Petersburg Times for publishing our letter requesting bikes to be sent to the victims of Hurricane Katrina who, having little or no mode of transportation, will be able to use bicycles to get around.

We immediately put a team of Clearwater East Rotarians to work calling for directions to pick up the bikes or asking if the person was able to deliver the bike to the Countryside Recreation Center. To those who did deliver, we give double thanks.

After 18 years as a Rotarian, I am always surprised at the way our citizens respond to those in dire need. Again, we thank those who donated to Project Pedal Power knowing that your bicycle will make a big difference in someone's life in New Orleans.

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