This letter is in response to "Keep it out" (SN 8/8).

Contrary to The State News' assertion, President Bush's statement was not an attempt to indoctrinate the youth of our country with religious beliefs. He simply said that the other side should be exposed and explained.

What is wrong with offering two sides of an issue?

If students are supposed to be learning how to think for themselves and to create informed opinions, they should be offered all the tools necessary to come up with an informed opinion.

Any statement Bush makes about religion, conservatism, the war and so on is instantly misconstrued as "fanaticism."

Bush stated he thought intelligent design should be mentioned in schools so "people can understand what the debate is about."

However, Knight Ridder reporter Ron Hutcheson said, "Bush essentially endorsed efforts by Christian conservatives to give intelligent design equal standing with the theory of evolution in the nation's schools."

Clearly, Bush was not stating American schools should start teaching intelligent design as the sole theory.

All he said was that it should be given mention in conjunction with the theory of evolution.

Unfortunately, liberal reporters, like the editorial board at The State News, continue to misconstrue the facts to make Bush look like a religious fanatic.

Allison Thompson
2005 graduate