in a perfect world of yancies: Sigh

24 August 2010

Sigh

At first I was compiling a long list of articles and articulate thoughts about this issue, but how about I narrow it down to two?

This clip brought some much-needed laughter to our couch:
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And this passage from the New Yorker pretty much does the rest:

In a famous letter—the one that holds that the United States “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens”—George Washington offered a benediction:

"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 fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid."

Lower Manhattan is a little short on vines and fig trees nowadays, though there are some excellent wine bars. Washington’s point remains. His letter was addressed to the Jews of Newport, Rhode Island. But, as he knew, Muslims are Abraham’s children, too. By the McCain standard, George Washington was a three-time loser: as President, he lived in New York City; the nation’s capital bears his name; and, even by the standards of his time, he was an élitist. Nevertheless: he was right.

3 comments:

  1. Hilarious clip! I have enjoyed listening to some of John Oliver's broadcasts (unfortunately, I can't think of the other fellow's name or the name of the program) while driving with Merrica.

    Mom D.

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  2. Salzburg? Something like that. Yeah, that Bugle podcast is pretty good.
    I used to listen regularly, but lately I'm out of the habit... maybe I'll download a few for our upcoming plane rides...

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  3. Zaltzman!
    I was sort of close--has a 'z' in it...

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