Freedom from religion or freedom of religion?

As a non-Christian Santa Fe resident, I find the tone of indifference toward Ashbaugh Park’s monument to the Ten Commandments and the constitutional violation it creates extremely vexing (“In Santa Fe, monument barely registers,” Oct. 27). I have long wondered why in the world public land in our city otherwise welcoming of diversity is dedicated to trumpeting Christianity, as though it’s not already omnipresent. By endorsing the monument through its inaction and indifference, Santa Fe is saying “We’re a Christian city. If you’re not, you’re less important, and you’ll have to defer to Christians here.”

The final quote in The New Mexican’s story, “Honestly, I wasn’t even aware it was there,” sums up Christian America’s harmful and willful blindspot to norms that ostracize and minimize others’ views. What’s the point of the monument anyway? I say put up Muslim, Jewish, Satanic, Wiccan and other monuments or get rid of this lone Christian one.

Freedom from religion is crucial to freedom of religion. Brian Sweeney Santa Fe

Revolution upon us

If anything could possibly be more disgusting than the current administration, it would have to be the people who fund the GOP and to whom the Republicans answer. That would be the top 1 percent, with the Koch brothers right on the top.

The Republicans would love to have the “little people” think it is they who count, but it’s the Koch brothers, and their kind, who want their tax cuts and want them now.

The poor and uneducated are prime prey for the GOP, unless one is out for publicity, like conservative commentator Ann Coulter, or money, like Donald Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. Any thinking person already knows this. So, are you in the thinking and knowing group, in the stupid and love-to-be-a-victim group or the just loveto-hate group? The revolution is upon us already, America. Randolph Nason Santa Fe

Serving the community

We appreciate Robert Nott’s efforts to explore the varied landscape of local independent schools in his article (“Private schools under pressure,” Oct. 22). As he noted, tuition assistance is a critical element for every independent school. However, his characterization that at Santa Fe Prep, “School leaders would like to cut in half the number of students receiving the help [tuition assistance]” is factually incorrect. At Santa Fe Prep, the board of trustees has set a goal of providing 40 percent of our families, now and in the future, with needbased tuition assistance. All of that tuition assistance — roughly $1.5 million this year — is fully funded through gifts, grants, and an annual draw from our $17 million endowment; we do not “discount” seats to boost enrollment. We are grateful to be in a position to serve the community of Santa Fe at such a high level and will sustain this commitment moving forward. Jim Leonard head of school Santa Fe Prep Christine Lehman board chairwoman Santa Fe Prep