Many presidents were not religious<

My Jan. 3 letter to the Fence Post, in which I stated that I liked Mike Huckabee but would be afraid to entrust our country's decision-making to a man who did not believe in evolution, seems to have angered my fellow Arlington Heights resident, Ed Smetana, to such an extent that he suggested I "move to a country like Communist China."

Unlike Mr. Smetana, I do not believe people who disagree with me should move out of the country. I think we can peacefully co-exist right here in Arlington Heights, even though we disagree on a few things (such as how to spell my name.)

I would also like to respond to the statement that this country could not have lasted over 200 years with atheistic or agnostic presidents, and that "if we had one of note, Mr. McDonald (sic) would of (sic) stated so."

Sorry for the oversight. I didn't think I needed to cite examples, but I am happy to oblige.

One of our most revered presidents, Abraham Lincoln, without whom this nation would probably not have lasted even 100 years, said, "The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."

And another president of note, Thomas Jefferson, said, "I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature."

Gene McDougall

Arlington Heights