George Washington takes on Ann Coulter's latest outrage ('perfecting' the Jews)

[Richardo]

There are a few sentences here from President Washington that the Great Pretender currently in the White House - and his attack dogs in the media - could certainly take to heart. Not that they ever would.)

http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/hebrew/reply.html

To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, R.I., 18 August 1790

Gentlemen.

While I receive, with much satisfaction, your Address replete with expressions of affection and esteem; I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you, that I shall always retain a grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced in my visit to Newport, from all classes of Citizens.

The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet, from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security. If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good Government, to become a great and a happy people.

The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my Administration, and fervent wishes for my felicity. May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy.

Go. Washington

How far we have descended when more people know of Coulter's latest outrage than this eloquent statement of American values.

[papau]

1. I thought you meant George Will :-)

[crim son]

2. I don't know why, despite your disclaimer, that I believed I was reading

GWB's words & I confess I was astonished at his literacy. :rofl:

[Richardo]

3. What color is the sky on THAT planet?

:D

I think I'd better change the title - I may have been trying too hard for cleverness.

[rockymountaindem]

4. That has always been a favorite document of mine

We should also note how the first bolded paragraph can be applied to the gay rights debate as well.

[Richardo]

8. Indeed it can.

A universal statement of principles, really. :thumbsup:

[Fridays Child]

5. If Washington were alive and speaking these words today...

...Ann Coulter would call him treasonous. The only conclusion any reasonable person could possibly come to about Coulter is that she despises this country, its Constitution, and every single thing it stands for.

[Richardo]

6. She is truly a woman without a country

Nazi Germany, Pol Pot's Cambodia, Stalin's USSR, Apartheit South Africa, Franco, Mussolini, Tito. All gone. Poor thing.

[terrya]

7. Recommended

You can't get more of a impressive denunciation of the hateful bile coming from that hateful witch than George Washington himself.

Thanks for posting this, Richardo. :thumbsup:

[Richardo]

11. thanks, terrya

:pals:

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

9. Why are Coulter's remarks even controversial?

It is basic Christian doctrine. What's the alternative? That Jews are just fine the way they are, despite being hell-bound and having no chance of ever existing in God's grace?

I'm an atheist, so I don't have a dog in this fight. I prefer Jews to Christians on average precisely because Judaism is not a proselytizing faith.

But I am awfully tired of ginned up outrage over people being so rude as to say out loud what everyone already knows they think.

Christianity is a proselytizing religion. Accepting Christ as your savior is the only path to salvation. Without that, being a good person is a ticket to Hell.

One goal of Christianity is to bring salvation to as many people as possible. That's why Christ sent out the apostles as missionaries. To spread the good word. One of the four gospels was devised to facilitate proselytizing to the Jews.

If you believe Jews are going to Hell (which any real Christian should) then why not hope they will go to heaven instead? Seems the decent thing to do.

This is all so sickening... we accept that 90% of Americans are Christians and that's so wonderful. Obama is informed by his faith. Clinton is so devout. And on and on and on. It's all so warm and fuzzy.

And we make up utter bullshit to cover religion's ass. Oh no, the bible doesn't really condemn homosexuals. Come on, of course it does. Not a lot, but it does. Why rationalize what the Bible says instead of just saying, "It's an ancient book somebody wrote." Does the Song of Gilgamesh condemn homosexuality? I have no idea and I don't care. Why would I? It's some shit some human beings wrote thousands of years ago.

Religion is not all warm and fuzzy. It has obligations and consequences. I pay religious people the compliment of pretending they actually believe the things they claim to believe. (A compliment they often do not pay themselves) And that includes the belief that those who are not saved in Christ are most likely going to Hell to be tortured forever.

Christians are supposed to believe Jews (and me) would be a lot better off if they found Christ. It's disgusting, sure, but that's the deal. Christianity is, in fact, disgusting. That's part of why I'm not a Christian.

I know a lot of people consider themselves Christians without believing in Hell, or without believing in the physical resurrection, or without believing that other religions are ultimately variants of satan worship. And those beliefs are their business... anyone can make up whatever religion they want.

But it's not Christianity. (In the sense that words mean what the dictionary says they mean.)

[rasputin1952]

10. I have to note the irony that this post is #666 for you...

:D

Jews do not believe in the same kind of hell as some Christians do. To them, hell is a place where you are permanently separated from God. None of the sulfur, none of the tridents going into orifices, none of the eternal physical pain. The wailing and gnashing of teeth is because you cannot get to the perfect love and calm that is God.

A fiery hell is something that came along much later, and is really based on the outskirts of Jerusalem when garbage, bodies, and other things were routinely burned. The stench must have been horrendous.

I condemn nor condone anyone's religion or lack thereof. Religion is a personal thing, and should remain so, people should be comfortable practicing their religion without fear of condemnation or ridicule, just as non-believers should be left to their own devices, unhindered, nor condemned by man to a hell that might not exist as described by some who use fear rather than understanding and love to put out their message.

[Faryn Balyncd]

12. It would be interesting to hear what George Washington would have to say today about Muslims........

Somehow I don't believe the folks at Fox News, Clear Channel, and the American Enterprise Institute would be pleased.

[Richardo]

13. Especially since he uses 'liberal' in a non-perjorative way

[Bunny]

14. Washington's gracious and eloquent words would be lost on that

hateful creature, wouldn't they? Nice post, Richardo. :thumbsup: