Don't want to live in Cal's America

Cal Thomas' America is the kind of America I would never want to raise a child in. The America he describes is full of sweeping generalizations about religion, scathing reviews of any politician not embedded in the Republican establishment, and "dubious concerns" about the actual scientific consensus on climate change.

Given Mr. Thomas' medium, it is no surprise that he is continually allowed to spew the kind of sentiment that is dividing America.

The America Cal Thomas describes needs new direction and new politicians. Well, you're right about that Mr. Thomas, yet you mistake leadership with contempt and religious tolerance with bigotry.

In a recent column you described Republican politicians "whose budgets are working." Never mind that one of Mr. Thomas' exemplars, Chris Christie, faces a $10.5 billion budget deficit next year in the State of New Jersey. Never mind that states like Maine and Delaware who both turned rare budget surpluses last year and were both coincidentally led by Democratic politicians, and that the problem that most states face, regardless of what party is leading them, is deep budget crises for fiscal year 2011.

But this isn't about partisan politics. This is about a new direction for America. So let us not mistake leadership with rejection. Let us not mistake religious tolerance with sweeping generalizations about one particular group. America isn't home to one particular group. America is a place founded by immigrants on principles that all men were created equal. Where the right to practice religion is not within the government purview. Where city dwellers, rural farmers, and suburbanites all reside and all want to call America home.

I for one would never want to raise children, or breed generations in fear of other people, in fear of doing what is right or in fear that what they believe will be called un-American.

Drew Dantino

Geneva