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I must have been absent in civics class when the requirements for becoming president of the United States were taught. I remember only two requirements in the Constitution — minimum age 35 and being a natural-born citizen.

Somehow, the new requirements include being a Christian, white, male, married and preferably with children. A Roman Catholic was allowed in in 1960 and a black man in 2008, but not yet someone of the Jewish faith. Most potential candidates, including our current president, are falling over their Bibles while kneeling in public prayer –I suppose to out-Christian each other.

The first divorced and remarried president was Ronald Reagan; widowers were acceptable (to a point) and no problem with adulterers. Why, now, are these faux requirements taking precedence over intelligence and the ability to run our nation? If this is the “pool” of prospects — Christian, white, married (and not to someone of the same sex) –we’re in trouble. Many good, smart and capable people are none of the above; following generations will show this.

The “do unto others as you would have done to you” somehow seems out of Christian thinking, since dirty air and water is OK, bad food is OK, rotting bridges are OK, guns, OK and war, OK. Taxes are bad. Let them not have health care access, nor help with food or school.

I wonder what anyone’s God would say to the current environment of angry talk spewing forth from our very Christian representatives?

Joan B. Seiler

Eden