Sunday, December 19, 2004
In his latest column ("Just Leave Christmas Alone") Charles Krauthammer makes glowing reference to this quote from George Washington's 1790 letter to the Newport synagogue, the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States:
"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."
Powerline, Time Magazine's blog of the year, quotes the Newport congregation's 1790 response to Washington:
"Deprived as we heretofore have been of the invaluable rights of free Citizens, we now with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty disposer of all events behold a Government, erected by the Majesty of the People ~~ a Government, which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance ~~ but generously affording to all Liberty of conscience, and immunities of Citizenship: ~~
"deeming (sic) every one, of whatever Nation, tongue, or language equal parts of the great governmental Machine: ~~ This so ample and extensive Federal Union whose basis is Philanthropy, Mutual confidence and Public Virtue, we cannot but acknowledge to be the work of the Great God."
What a sad reflection it is on Europe that the historic experience of Jews should have been such to have given rise to the feeling conveyed here.
By the same token, what a deserving tribute to the ever-evolving engine of freedom that is the founding philosophy of the modern United States.
