Civics 101.

Bravisimo to you, the publishers and editors of the Humanist! If only we could persuade creative high school civics teachers to include in their curriculum even one or two articles from your November/December 2008 issue to expand their students' understanding of history and government.

Senator Jamie Raskin's "One Nation under the Constitution" provides an unparalleled description of how the Constitution protects the rights of religious and non-religious minorities. Dannel McCollum's "The Lord Was Not on Trial" should galvanize all of us to fight for our constitutional guarantees. Stephen J. Gallagher's book review of First Freedom First should make us ever vigilant to maintain the wall of separation between church and state. And Representative Pete Stark's witty "The Accidental Atheist" should inspire us to choose our leaders for their competence and honesty--not because they pray and go to church.

And what a revelation it would be for the many young people who are convinced that the United States can do no wrong, if they were given the opportunity to read Robert B. Tapp's "The Declaration of Human Rights: Still ahead of its time?" They would learn that our country has refused to join the International Criminal Court for the reason that its leaders could be indicted for condoning torture and the killing of countless innocents.

David Quintero

Temple City, CA