We should not rely on religious observances as a basis for public policy or law. The Aztecs and Old Testament Christians (I wonder what they were called before Christ? Jews?) both practiced human sacrifice - the Aztecs frequently and the Christians rarely. This doesn't mean it should be allowed or protected under freedom of religion, should someone decide to revive either faith (the Aztec society was destroyed and the Jews and Christians have both moved on to other practices).
Or if you want to protect tobacco smoking as part of religious ceremony, do with it what they've done with mesciline use in Arizona and New Mexico. I believe it's legal to use so long as usage is overseen by a recognized religious leader and in a ceremonial format. Lighting up while watching the Packers in a bar doesn't qualify, no matter how much it adds to your spiritual well-being.
On a different note, Thomas Swift refers to "speck drivers" in the SUV argument. What's a speck driver? Is he saying that anyone who doesn't drive a SUV is driving a fleaspeck car? If so, I find that insulting.
Mary Baker East Side
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