Bret Bushaw’s letter on Jan. 2, “Nativity scene should have been removed,” is wrong on every point he makes, not because of his opinion, but because of the supposed facts he bases it on.

Bushaw’s main point is that the First Amendment prohibits the Nativity from being displayed on the courthouse lawn. His extreme view is based not on the First Amendment, but on the 1947 Supreme Court Everson decision, which itself broke with all previous court precedent and the intent of the Founders on this matter, clearly seen from their writings and actions.

Stated another way, the First Amendment was for encouraging religion and keeping the government out of the churches, but to prohibit the government from favoring one particular denomination (“an establishment of religion”).