Cal Thomas (Sept. 15) wants the government to restrict the construction of mosques, prevent immigration by Muslims, and monitor Islamic religious services.

Those suggestions could not be more wrong.

This is America, the home of the free and the brave. The First Amendment to our Constitution forbids Congress to interfere with the practice of religion. Since every religion is protected equally by the laws of our nation, discrimination against any faith is distinctly un-American.

Thomas quotes Deuteronomy 22:21 out of context, suggesting that it tells us we must purge the “evil” from our midst. But that part of Deuteronomy is actually instructing that if a woman’s new husband does not find evidence of her virginity, she is to be stoned to death.

During the Inquisition, the Christian Church committed horrible atrocities; the perpetrators surely believed they were acting as their Bible instructed. But millions of Christians find peace, strength and direction from the Bible, just as Muslims do from the Quran. Both books set forth some barbaric directives which are, fortunately, ignored by most of their followers. Islam is not out to “kill the infidels” any more than Christians plan to stone non-virgin brides.

We must hold our constitutional values in spite of our fears and our anger.

Principle and reason will guide us to a safer, happier outcome than Thomas’ rabid doctrine of intolerance and subjugation.

Persecuting Muslims will save no one, and we must not compromise our American ideals of equality, justice and the rule of law.

Tina Riley, Jay