Zagmuk, Christmas, and the Whole Nine Candles
L. Neil Smith at The Libertarian Enterprise - Neil waxes eloquent on Christmas and the plethora of other solstice parties through the ages. On Friday last, my daughter's school had their yearly Revels concert, in which the choir dresses in Renaissance costumes and sings holiday songs designed to lighten the darkness of the winter. And it does.
I suppose I need to add that my correspondent is one of several who frequently send me material that is highly anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and anti-Iranian. As I've testified often, I've known many Arabs, many Muslims, and more than a few Iranians, and found most of them to be extremely likable, if not downright admirable people. What I see in my e-mail is an obvious product of ignorance and prejudice, and even worse, it fuels the evil machinations of the murderous warmongers in government.
Accordingly (with a few later additions), I wrote back to my correspondent:
We'll all do better at getting rid of the current administration, which both of us abominate, if we face the truth, even if some of us—principally you—find it unpleasant. This is not a Christian nation, nor was it ever intended to be. It was founded by a coalition of various Christians and deists (which is what 18th century atheists and agnostics called themselves to avoid getting burned at the stake). It was bankrolled to a large degree by a Jew, Haym Salomon—look him up. None of this information is a secret. It's freely available to anybody who possesses the courage and integrity to click on Google or Wikipedia.
The deal between all of them is that religion would be separate from politics; we would not make public policy on the basis of our mystical beliefs. Some Christians are trying to break that deal now, which is too bad. Historically, people of other nations have murdered each other over theological disputes. We have not. But it could start, if these Christians won't stop welching on the bargain their ancestors made.
While we're at it, let's lay off the Muslims. If we Americans were judged by the attitudes and actions of dogwhistles like Jerry Falwell or Jeremiah Wright, the rest of us would resent the hell out of it—most of us would, anyway—yet we're supposed to judge a billion and a half individuals by the attitudes and actions of the worst among them?
How Christian is that?
That was Neil's response,
That was Neil's response, not mine.
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Bravo!
Your rational response is excellent!
Bravo!
feralfae
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Thank you Bill, I figured that out after posting, and then got confused finding my way back to here. No breadcrumbs and all that. :) Good words—yours or L. Neil's
Happiest of Celebrations and all Best Wishes of the Season to you and your family.
ff
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