Ooooo... spooky

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

So Obama is getting wing-nutted for saying America is not a Christian nation.

The definitive statement of that was made by George Washington (IIRC) in a letter to Barbary States Muslim sponsors of pirates during a fruitless effort to negotiate peace and free passage for American ships, assuring them that we have nothing against Muslims. (Referred to at the time as Musselman which always makes me smile. I am a child.)

ON EDIT: I did not recall correctly at all. It's from the Adams treaty with the Barbary States, as pointed out in the first post below. D'oh!

And then, Bam! Next day we are at war with Muslim pirates.

[yellerpup]

1. Obama is not the first American President to say so....

"As the government of the United States of America is not on any sense founded on the Christian Religion, - as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of of Musselmen (Muslims), - and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
-Treaty of Tripoli, signed into law by John Adams

[laconicsax]

3. Ratified by unanimous vote by the Senate.

[yellerpup]

4. Thanks.

I did not know that. :hi:

[Bad Thoughts]

2. How about Washington to the Newport Jewish Community

"It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were 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."

link: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=21