America is constantly changing and that is good. But that doesn’t mean that all change is good.
Dec 12, 2005,
America was founded by Protestants fleeing from religious persecution. They not only had an appreciation for the need for religious liberty, but also had respect for the Hebrew Bible. As a result, the Constitution of the USA reflected both. One hundred years prior to the Constitution being written, Jews and Protestants in Europe were being burned at the stake for religious heresy.
But before writing the Constitution, America’s founders had to declare their independence from the tyranny of Great Britain. In doing so, they declared,
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
What a powerful expression of the ethos of America. Jews began fleeing religious persecution and economic depravation in Europe one hundred years later. They, too, viewed America as the “promised land” and indeed, it was. They fought against antisemitism, discrimination and unbearable working conditions for the next hundred years and, in doing so, made America a better place for themselves and for everyone else. They dominated the cultural scene both on Broadway and in Hollywood; thereby, infusing Jewish values into mainstream America and, in turn, they became American. They changed America and America changed them.
My parents emigrated from Poland in the 1920s, but had to come to Canada because the doors had closed to Jewish immigration in the US. North America (America) was very antisemitic at the time, since the Christian establishment felt the Jews were a threat to them and their economic order, which they dominated. (And so they were. They lead the labour movement in the twenties and thirties, which greatly strengthened the working man in America.) This, of course, was in addition to the theologically based antisemitism.
Remember, in 1939, the US turned away the ship the St. Louis, filled with Jewish refugees, resulting in the death of most Jews on board. In the 1930s, when Canada’s immigration minister was asked how many Jewish refugees Canada would accept, he infamously said that “none was too many.”
I went to elementary school during the war years in a town of 14,000 and can remember to this day how uncomfortable I was, having to sit through the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer and the singing of Christmas carols, or to excuse myself from class. I also remember the occasional sign “No Jews or Dogs Allowed”, the restrictive quotas at universities and the restrictions on Jews joining country clubs. I remember hating such restrictions and I yearned for a world of no barriers. I was not religious, but felt my Jewish identity to the core.
As a result of all this discrimination and their own values, Jews became prominent in the civil rights movement in the 1950s and ’60s. In this way, the Jews again made America better for themselves and for everyone else. Quotas were dropped, restrictions were removed and Jews excelled in all walks of life. Truly the promised land. In time, the Christians made room for the Jews as partners and hence, the constant reference to America being founded on Judeo-Christian values, the strong support for Israel among the American people and the disproportionate representation of Jews in the government. Along with this greater acceptance came assimilation and much intermarriage.
The civil rights movement brought in its wake the liberation of women, the liberation of homosexuals, multiculturalism, relativism and secularism.
Religious prohibitions were challenged by secular liberties. First came the battle for abortion, which may or may not be over. Then came the battle over gay marriage, which is far from over. Now, there is the battle to remove God, Moses, the Ten Commandments and “in God we Trust” from the public square. There are many similar battles being fought.
In the main, these are battles between Christian Evangelicals, with some support from Orthodox Jewry, on the one side (Right) and liberal churches, Reform Judaism and secularists, both Jewish and otherwise, on the other side (Left). This same divide is reflected in such issues as Iraq, the “peace process” in Israel, the war on terror, appointments to the Supreme Court and just about everything else.
The Right is also joined by persons who are not motivated by religious values, but by patriotic values. The Left is joined by people motivated by socialism, Communism, anti-Americanism and antisemitism.
If this cultural war wasn’t enough, a new cultural war is well on its way; namely, that between an Islam lead by “radical Islamists” on the one side, and both the Right and the Left on the other.
This is a battle that the Right comes to with girded loins. The Left, on the other hand, is defenseless. Paradoxically, the same tools they used to weaken the Christian opposition to their secularism only serve to strengthen and empower the Islamists. These tools, according to Rabbi Spero, included “employing terminology they knew good-willed people ? us ? would readily accept: compassion, sensitivity, inclusion, tolerance. Especially tolerance, for who wishes to be called intolerant, the deadliest of the neo-pagan seven sins.”
Other tools include the use of the law to whittle away at established norms and values. So, what’s wrong with that? We see from the battle of who gets appointed to the Supreme Court: there is law and then, there is law. It is the same legal tools the Islamists use to tear down our society to make room for them. Nothing is ours or is sacred. The Right is not permitted to prefer its own values or culture to that of Islam because everything, we are told, is relative.
By reducing the Judeo-Christian culture to one of many, through multiculturalism, the Left has opened up the door to the values and culture of Islam that are totally inimical to the established culture. And the Right has been handcuffed in their defense by the imposition of politically correct speech. The irony is that Islam is the greatest threat of all to the values of the Left, and the Left doesn’t even see this threat coming because they are too busy attacking Christians, Bush and Israel as the biggest threats.
I want to preserve America with all its movements for change. No one wants to go back to the America that existed in 1900. America is constantly changing and that is good. But that doesn’t mean that all change is good. Muslims are welcome to come to America if they accept the dominant culture in the public square as all other peoples do. In fifty years time, if they have proven themselves good Americans and not broken our china as our house guests, then they will have earned their place in our society. But first, they have to be proven worthy. If they are unwilling to accept our norms and values, then they should not be permitted in.
I don’t see eye-to-eye with the Christian Right (mostly on theological questions), nor do I with the Christian or Jewish Left (on political questions). I choose to support the Christian Right, though, because they support Israel and America, and fight Islamofascism. I oppose the Christian Left and the Jewish Left because they undermine Israel and America, and protect the Islamofascists.
While you are at it, please read two of my articles having to do with the last 100 years in America, but entirely different.
Jews, Communists and Democrats
and
The Plan to Eradicate Israel
I just reread the comments. I learn so much from them. In particular, I want to thank Sebastien for the wealth of information his comments provide. We are all here to learn and to share our knowledge with others.
As for what has happened since, the left have become more powerful due to their willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve power and the Right is finally waking up to the challenge.
What a great synopsis of American society. Great comments, too, my friends. Ted has a knack for accurately stating the facts. I’d like to see him revise this piece to bring us up to date (2005-2023). A lot of (dirty) water has passed under the bridge since this was written. Many of us are grieving the loss of the America we once knew. Is there any “balm in Gilead” for us?
America was founded on Conservative values, mainly derived from our shared religious heritage. I recently heard Dennis Prager define “conservatism” as not just wanting things to stay the same, but rather to “conserve” the best things that arise from culture, art, science, and philosophy…. things that build people up and make our lives and society better. This was the vision our founders had for America. We struggled toward that goal. Then the Left took over. A good case could be made that it was a coup. The ideology of Leftism espouses almost complete license, particularly in any area that would weaken or destroy “conservative” values. Never mind that in the end they are hurt as well. Leftism is an ideology of chaos and destruction. If this doesn’t show that ‘ha satan’ is active in our world, nothing does.
Some may find this short essay by Dennis Prager worthwhile.
https://dennisprager.com/column/leftism-is-not-liberalism
But not Jackie Mason. 😀
I had forgotten about the Masons but I just came out of a chamber music concert and one of the musicians talked about the huge Masonic influence on Haydn and listed many famous Masons including Paul Revere and other Founding Fathers as well as many famous Jazz and classical musicians. Couldn’t remember most of
Them. Both black and white, including Al Jolson.
The Masons played the same role for the rising bourgeoisie that the official churches played for the aristocracy and royalty though many belonged to both, had to.
I was just reminded of one of the hilarious Mel Brooks Carl Reiner 2 thousand year old man skits about the misunderstandings arising from thinking Paul Revere was shouting, “The Yiddish are coming, the Yiddish are coming. 😀
14 presidents have been Masons.
Paul Revere was a Masonic Grandmaster.
Also a number of the founding fathers Including Washington and Franklinand 9 off the signers of the Declaration of Independence as well as 33 generals were Freemasons though Freemasonry was officially neutral. There is Masonic symbolism on the one dolar bill.
@ Michael I notice you ignored my evidence and provided none of your own other than some vague blather about having researched your ancestors and knowledge of history beung in your blood or something – have you gone Woke? – 😀 But then evangelicals don’t beliefe in reason.
You should form an ad hominem insult club with Felix and Reader and I have some Stalinist friends who would love to join I’m sure.
😀
@ Miichael
When I first read through this article, I missed the date it was written. After reading the comments and seeing Polini pointing it out,I reread the article. I completely agree, this is as relevant today as it was when written. I have had many of the same thoughts. I let a friend read this article, they completely agreed with it and point out the one thing, Ted left out was what is being done to the education of children. As they say nature abhors a vacuum. The evil people destroying our world, will not like nor be able to thrive and survival in the world they are creating for themselves in the future.
Another interesting point, during the exile of the Jews for the last 2500 years, they have suffered in every country they have fled into, but they have also, in the mist of their suffering brought light and change to each of the nations where they have been exiled. When all the tribes of Israel are regathered and working as one unity, can you imagine the light they will bring to the world. If we can only live long enough to see that time.
Yes, Sebastian, really! Pontius Pilate thought it was a futile exercise, and most people are like him (you too?). As the scriptures say, “only a remnant will be saved.”
Those who honestly seek the truth will find it; and they will find abundant life. The others end up in God’s garbage heap. 🙁 Pity.
@Michael
Really? Thanks pal, you made my day.
https://www.ushistory.org › …
3e. Dissent in Massachusetts Bay – USHistory.org
This is where America began as the land of religious liberty and tolerance:
Source: Michael Feldberg, PhD.
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/ldquo-to-bigotry-no-sanction-to-persecution-no-assistance-rdquo
https://yalebooks.yale.edu › reconci…
Reconciling Deism and Puritanism in Benjamin Franklin – Yale University Press
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Bible
THE FIRST AMENDMENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
PRESENTED BY THE JOHN SEIGENTHALER CHAIR OF EXCELLENCE IN FIRST AMENDMENT STUDIES
“But the Puritan fathers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony did not countenance tolerance of opposing religious views. Their “city upon a hill” was a theocracy …”
https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1372/puritans#:~:text=The%20fact%20that%20the%20Puritans,every%20aspect%20of%20their%20lives.
“The American tradition of religious freedom was not always a feature of early colonial life. Quakers, Lutherans, Catholics and Jews were vigorously expelled from the Puritan colonies in New England. Until 1759, Jews and Protestants were barred from French North America. Throughout the Spanish colonies, the Inquisition actively persecuted (and even executed) neo-Christians, converted Jews who proclaimed Catholicism but were suspected of secretly continuing the practice of their Judaism.
Even the generally tolerant Dutch tried to exclude all but members of the Dutch Reformed Church from their American colonies. But the first Dutch Jews who settled in the capital, New Amsterdam, had much to do with altering the policy of intolerance.
In 1654, 23 refugee men, women and children fleeing from the former Dutch colony of Recife, Brazil, landed in New Amsterdam. These Brazilian Jews were the descendants of perhaps 5,000 Jews who had been living in Recife, most of them secretly, since the mid-1500s. The Dutch captured portions of Brazil from the Portuguese in 1624, and some neo-Christians openly returned to the practice of their Jewish faith. When Portugal recaptured Brazil in 1654, these Jews feared the introduction of the Inquisition and fled. They were probably on their way back to Amsterdam after a stop in Jamaica when their ship was attacked by a Spanish privateer who stripped them of their valuables. A return to Europe was now out of the question. The refugees then made a deal with the ship’s captain, Jacques de la Mothe, to take them to New Amsterdam, which they thought would be a hospitable destination.
This was a one-sided bargain, struck in distress, and when the ship landed in New Amsterdam, De la Mothe filed suit against his passengers for failure to pay the balance of their passage. Peter Stuyvesant (1592-1672), the Dutch colonial governor with an anti-Semitic reputation, seized the Jews’ meager possessions and ordered them sold at auction. When this failed to raise enough to meet their debts, he jailed two members of the group and wrote to the Dutch West India Company in Amsterdam, asking permission to expel the Jews. Stuyvesant noted that the Jews’ indigence might make them a burden on the community and told the company that he “deemed it useful to require them in a friendly way to depart.”
In a letter now in the archives of the American Jewish Historical Society, the Jews of New Amsterdam wrote to their fellow Jews in Holland asking for help. The latter petitioned the company on behalf of the New Amsterdam Jews, noting that Jews were allowed to reside in Holland and even to invest in the company. In April 1655, the company granted Jews permission to emigrate to and live in the colony, “so long as they do not become a burden to the company or the community.” Stuyvesant then tried another tack to discourage Jewish settlement.
Stuyvesant importuned the colonial council to bar Jews from serving in the volunteer home guards. The council levied a special tax on Jews to pay for others to serve in their place. On November 5, 1655, Asser Levy and Joseph Barsimon filed petitions with the colonial court asking that they either be allowed to stand watch with the other citizens or relieved of the tax. After an initial rejection and a two-year fight, Levy won the right to stand watch. Levy, who had been one of the 23 refugees from Recife, would emerge as the champion of Jewish rights in New Amsterdam.
When, in December 1655, Dutch troops captured the Swedish territory along the Delaware River, Stuyvesant refused to issue trade permits to Jewish settlers in the new territory. Levy and others wrote to their associates in Holland protesting this discrimination, and the company disciplined Stuyvesant for his actions. The company specified that, from then on, Jews in the colony were allowed to trade and own real estate, but not hold public office, open a retail shop, or establish a synagogue. In 1656, Levy was granted one of the first trading permits. In 1657, he was denied the right to practice a trade but petitioned this injustice and won. When he received his butchers license in 1661, it explicitly exempted him from having to slaughter pigs.
When the English captured New Amsterdam in 1664 and renamed it New York, Levy swore an oath of allegiance to the British crown. All the rights he had under the Dutch were conferred to him under the new regime. In 1671, Levy was the first Jew to serve on a jury in North America.
Asser Levy lies buried in an unknown grave. In tribute, a public school and a Brooklyn park bear his name. From his humble beginnings as a penniless refugee from Recife, Asser Levy became a prominent businessman, a crusader for religious equality and a defender of Jewish rights in New Amsterdam.”
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/new-amsterdam-s-jewish-crusader
THE FIRST AMENDMENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
PRESENTED BY THE JOHN SEIGENTHALER CHAIR OF EXCELLENCE IN FIRST AMENDMENT STUDIES
“But the Puritan fathers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony did not countenance tolerance of opposing religious views. Their “city upon a hill” was a theocracy …”
https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1372/puritans#:~:text=The%20fact%20that%20the%20Puritans,every%20aspect%20of%20their%20lives.
“The American tradition of religious freedom was not always a feature of early colonial life. Quakers, Lutherans, Catholics and Jews were vigorously expelled from the Puritan colonies in New England. Until 1759, Jews and Protestants were barred from French North America. Throughout the Spanish colonies, the Inquisition actively persecuted (and even executed) neo-Christians, converted Jews who proclaimed Catholicism but were suspected of secretly continuing the practice of their Judaism.
Even the generally tolerant Dutch tried to exclude all but members of the Dutch Reformed Church from their American colonies. But the first Dutch Jews who settled in the capital, New Amsterdam, had much to do with altering the policy of intolerance.
In 1654, 23 refugee men, women and children fleeing from the former Dutch colony of Recife, Brazil, landed in New Amsterdam. These Brazilian Jews were the descendants of perhaps 5,000 Jews who had been living in Recife, most of them secretly, since the mid-1500s. The Dutch captured portions of Brazil from the Portuguese in 1624, and some neo-Christians openly returned to the practice of their Jewish faith. When Portugal recaptured Brazil in 1654, these Jews feared the introduction of the Inquisition and fled. They were probably on their way back to Amsterdam after a stop in Jamaica when their ship was attacked by a Spanish privateer who stripped them of their valuables. A return to Europe was now out of the question. The refugees then made a deal with the ship’s captain, Jacques de la Mothe, to take them to New Amsterdam, which they thought would be a hospitable destination.
This was a one-sided bargain, struck in distress, and when the ship landed in New Amsterdam, De la Mothe filed suit against his passengers for failure to pay the balance of their passage. Peter Stuyvesant (1592-1672), the Dutch colonial governor with an anti-Semitic reputation, seized the Jews’ meager possessions and ordered them sold at auction. When this failed to raise enough to meet their debts, he jailed two members of the group and wrote to the Dutch West India Company in Amsterdam, asking permission to expel the Jews. Stuyvesant noted that the Jews’ indigence might make them a burden on the community and told the company that he “deemed it useful to require them in a friendly way to depart.”
In a letter now in the archives of the American Jewish Historical Society, the Jews of New Amsterdam wrote to their fellow Jews in Holland asking for help. The latter petitioned the company on behalf of the New Amsterdam Jews, noting that Jews were allowed to reside in Holland and even to invest in the company. In April 1655, the company granted Jews permission to emigrate to and live in the colony, “so long as they do not become a burden to the company or the community.” Stuyvesant then tried another tack to discourage Jewish settlement.
Stuyvesant importuned the colonial council to bar Jews from serving in the volunteer home guards. The council levied a special tax on Jews to pay for others to serve in their place. On November 5, 1655, Asser Levy and Joseph Barsimon filed petitions with the colonial court asking that they either be allowed to stand watch with the other citizens or relieved of the tax. After an initial rejection and a two-year fight, Levy won the right to stand watch. Levy, who had been one of the 23 refugees from Recife, would emerge as the champion of Jewish rights in New Amsterdam.
When, in December 1655, Dutch troops captured the Swedish territory along the Delaware River, Stuyvesant refused to issue trade permits to Jewish settlers in the new territory. Levy and others wrote to their associates in Holland protesting this discrimination, and the company disciplined Stuyvesant for his actions. The company specified that, from then on, Jews in the colony were allowed to trade and own real estate, but not hold public office, open a retail shop, or establish a synagogue. In 1656, Levy was granted one of the first trading permits. In 1657, he was denied the right to practice a trade but petitioned this injustice and won. When he received his butchers license in 1661, it explicitly exempted him from having to slaughter pigs.
When the English captured New Amsterdam in 1664 and renamed it New York, Levy swore an oath of allegiance to the British crown. All the rights he had under the Dutch were conferred to him under the new regime. In 1671, Levy was the first Jew to serve on a jury in North America.
Asser Levy lies buried in an unknown grave. In tribute, a public school and a Brooklyn park bear his name. From his humble beginnings as a penniless refugee from Recife, Asser Levy became a prominent businessman, a crusader for religious equality and a defender of Jewish rights in New Amsterdam.”
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/new-amsterdam-s-jewish-crusader
Sebastien, some people are convinced when you tell them the truth. You have to be told over and over and over again, and end up believing your lies more than you did at the start.
Hopeless.
PS I hope you understand that you are talking about my blood ancestors, whom I have individually researched for over ten generations. But never mind… you are omniscient.
@Ted
Excellent article! Again, it is probably more relevant and more true today than it was nearly twenty years ago when you wrote it.
@Michael
Seriously? Tell that to Iran and the Perpestinians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOrgLj9lOwk
Tell that to the maniacs running Iran and proxies, or the Perpestinians. I prefer:
https://youtu.be/xOrgLj9lOwk
or
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/02/18/barrel-of-whiskey/
However it is true that little George Washington confessed to his father that he chopped down the cherry tree because he could not tell a lie. Proven six ways to Sunday.
Not really. The early colonists were themselves intolerant and the Founders were mostly Deists influenced by the Enlightenment. It would be accurate to describe the abolitionists that way, however, later on.
That sounds exactly like your position, Ted. There is certainly a political battle going on, somewhat along these lines. You also mention a “theological conflict”, which some have tried to frame along similar lines. That doesn’t fit exactly. Zechariah the Prophet seemed to be speaking of these times:
Zech.4
[1] And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
[2] And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
[3] And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
[4] So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
[5] Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
[6] Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
[7] Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
There are many people — actually demons, not people — who want us to take up arms against one another: in Israel, in Ukraine, in the US: Jew against Jew, Christian against Christian, father against son, mother against daughter, husband against wife. This is no great wonder, seeing that our adversary the devil, wants only to kill, to steal and to destroy. Those are the devil’s goals, and this is the devil’s war. HE’s the one I’m looking to destroy; and war itself will be destroyed with him.