With regard to Vince Wild's interesting letter (June 11) regarding Thomas Paine's deism and how his beliefs are misrepresented by individuals and organisations anxious to suppress the free play of ideas.
Paine, it is well to remember, always upheld open and reasoned discussion of even the most controversial ideas.
One point Mr Wild did not mention was Paine's close connection with Sussex.
He lived for several years in Lewes where he worked as an excise officer and married a local girl.
Not long after he left Lewes, he went to America where, among much else, he was the first to use the name "United States of America".
In effect, Paine can be said to have named the United States.
-R W Morrell, secretary Thomas Paine Society, Nottingham
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