Just the Facts!

In 1797 our government concluded a "Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli, or Barbary," now known simply as the Treaty of Tripoli. Article 11 of the treaty contains these words:

As the Government of the United States...is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion--as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity of Musselmen--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."

This document was endorsed by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering and President John Adams (one of the few 'founding fathers' who even claimed to be a christian). It was then sent to the Senate for ratification; the vote was unanimous (most of the Senate's members then had either signed the Declaration of Independence or were directly involved in the Revolutionary War against Britain- who we now call 'founding fathers'). It is worth pointing out that up to that time it was only the third unanimous vote in the Senate's history. There is no record of debate or dissent. The text of the treaty was printed in full in the Philadelphia Gazette and in two New York papers, but there were no screams of outrage, as one might expect today. The Founding Fathers were not religious men, and they fought hard to erect, in Thomas Jefferson's words, "a wall of separation between church and state."

When the christian fundamentalist rightwing try to rewrite history by asserting America's christian foundation, just remember just this one FACT (among many that prove the same point) of early American history- it puts everything into proper perspective. The kook fundies of today are entitled to their opinions and beliefs, but not a reality that never existed, except in their deluded minds!!!
(be sure to click on the link for other blogs commenting on this subject)

-suggested by a recent article in "The Nation"

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