Sunday, September 05, 2010

Jefferson, Adams, and Islam


Thomas Jefferson and John Adams dealt with Islamic fanatics in 1785:

But one cannot get around what Jefferson heard when he went with John Adams to wait upon Tripoli’s ambassador to London in March 1785. When they inquired by what right the Barbary states preyed upon American shipping, enslaving both crews and passengers, America’s two foremost envoys were informed that “it was written in the Koran, that all Nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon whoever they could find and to make Slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise.”
(Jefferson Versus the Muslim Pirates, Christopher Hitchens)

When Jefferson became president fifteen years later, he sent the US Navy to attack the pirates in Tripoli, sending many of them to paradise.

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10 Comments:

At 11:15 AM, Blogger Historyscoper said...

If you want to really master the 1400-year history of Islam along with its ideology and terminology from a Western and American perspective, the best place is the Historyscoper's free online Islam history course. To get started just click http://go.to/islamhistory

 
At 12:17 PM, Blogger Rob Anderson said...

Winslow is an anti-Obama fanatic and a "birther" who challenges the fact that Obama was born in the US, though there's ample evidence that he was.

 
At 7:53 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Choke on $52k. Serves you right. Maybe you'll shut your mouth next time.

 
At 9:07 PM, Blogger rocky's dad said...

So, let me get this right. By "shutting one's mouth"..that allows our unintelligent city leaders to just move ahead, without question and correct process on every issue that comes before them.

Yea, right.

 
At 12:04 AM, Blogger Doug Diboll said...

Well, since Rocky's Dad is such a coward that he wont even use his own name (has to hide behind his son)......... that's right! I use my OWN name.

 
At 11:57 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Doug - minor nit - he's not hiding behind his son - he's hiding behind his *cat*

 
At 2:46 PM, Blogger Doug Diboll said...

Well, I find the moniker of Anonymous to be even MORE cowardly. You can just make your hit out of the blue and run.

 
At 3:40 PM, Blogger rocky's dad said...

LOL...I've never hidden at all here. I speak thru and, at times, for my adorable boycat Rocky.

Don't like it? Don't read my comments.

 
At 8:44 PM, Blogger Doug Diboll said...

Since I'm allergic to feline dander, maybe I shouldn't post on this Blog. Seems like a BIG waste of time.

 
At 12:38 PM, Blogger rocky's dad said...

Good point, Doug. maybe you shouldn't be posting here..and wasting time complaining about someone being "anonymous" or not.

why does that matter so much to you?

And, oh, btw: I love how your "name" on blogger tells us exactly who you are..

yea, right.

 

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