I am writing in reference to the editorial cartoon in the Aug. 3 edition of the Redmond Reporter depicting the cartoonist’s thoughts on the separation of church and state I would like to clarify.

• The word “separation” was originally intended to imply “distinction.” To arrogate the original meaning into a marriage relationship severance is simply put, being disingenuous.

• Does the cartoonist realize that if Christians were to detach themselves from the “state,” you would be left with a totalitarian government institution. Why, the freedom afforded to the cartoonist and me in expressing our views itself will be taken away.

• May I submit the cartoonist to consider why citizens of countries where two other world religions, Hinduism and Islam, find proponents never encounter state-religion separation debates.

Richard Lewis, Redmond