Keep religion out of public events

I am writing in support of Francine Farber’s essay (Jan. 16) about feeling left out in Fresno because she is Jewish.

I celebrate Christmas and Easter but believe religion should be left out of public events. I attend horse shows where the day is started with a prayer, inevitably ending with ‘in the name of Jesus Christ.” Many times I have asked the association to broadcast a generic prayer that includes everyone and does not exclude my Jewish client or anyone else who has a different faith than the majority.

So many conflicts are started because of people trying to force their religious beliefs on others. Everyone has a right to their belief, but no one has a right to force their religious belief on anyone else.

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 6:52 AM with the headline "Keep religion out of public events."