Bush Edits Out Jefferson's Criticism of Religion
Thomas Jefferson understood that these rights do not belong to Americans alone. They belong to all mankind. And he looked to the day when all people could secure them. On the 50th anniversary of America's independence, Thomas Jefferson passed away. But before leaving this world, he explained that the principles of the Declaration of Independence were universal. In one of the final letters of his life, he wrote, "May it be to the world, what I believe it will be -- to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all -- the Signal of arousing men to burst the chains, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government."
Source: The White House
The quote comes from a letter Jefferson wrote to Roger Weightman in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and in its original form it appears like this:
May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. [emphasis added]
Notice that the "chains" which men are to burst are laid upon men through "monkish ignorance and superstition." As much as the Christian Right likes to claim that the Declaration of Indepdendence is a "Christian" document and proof that American was founded on "Christian principles," here Thomas Jefferson makes it clear that it was in fact supposed to a signal to all to throw off the chains imposed upon them by religions like Christianity.
Of course, if President Bush actually admitted publicly that Thomas Jefferson's politics were deeply anti-clerical, he might cause problems with his Christian Nationalist supporters. What's ironic is how often these same Christian Nationalists will complain whenever they perceive that something religious or Christian is left out of quotes, speeches, displays, and documents. Could there be a double-standard at work? How many students are taught in school about the anti-clerical, deistic beliefs of founders like Thomas Jefferson?
It's arguable that Bush was at least somewhat consistent. In addition to leaving out a critical passage in his quote of Thomas Jefferson, didn't he leave out a critical passage from his own words? When he said "Thomas Jefferson understood that these rights do not belong to Americans alone. They belong to all mankind," he failed to add that those rights don't apply to anyone — citizen or non-citizen — whom he declares to be an enemy combatant.
Here are some more of Thomas Jefferson's anti-clerical and anti-religious sentiments:
Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity.
- Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782
Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear.
- Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787
The whole history of these books [the Gospels] is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry into it: and such tricks have been played with their text, and with the texts of other books relating to them, that we have a right, from that cause, to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine. In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills.
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Adams, January 24, 1814
Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814
It is between fifty and sixty years since I read it [the Apocalypse], and I then considered it merely the ravings of a maniac, no more worthy nor capable of explanation than the incoherences of our own nightly dreams.
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to General Alexander Smyth, Jan. 17, 1825
I wonder if any future president will ever have the guts to positively and respectfully use such quotes in a speech?
Comments
I’m sure that passage was removed because President Bush couldn’t say monkish without laughing.
“I am a real Christian”
—– To C. Thompson, 1816
“I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus, very different from the Platonists, who call me infidel and themselves Christians and preachers of the gospel, while they draw all their characteristic dogmas from what its author never said nor saw. They have compounded from the heathen mysteries a system beyond the comprehension of man, of which the great reformer of the vicious ethics of deism of the Jews, were he to return on earth, would not recognize one feature.” — Thomas Jefferson
Neither Jefferson nor Jesus would recognize a lot of what tries to pass it’s self off as Christianity these days.
Christianity can take Jefferson. It may not be able to survive Bush. Bush lies the effortless and mindless ability of a true sociopath.
I’d have to strongly agree with John Hanks on that one. A lot of people say Bush is just an idiot, but I think its far worse. I’d say the evidence implies, just as John Hanks says, that he’s a sociopath.
I suppose it’s possible he could be both.I find it hard to believe that all his gaffes are deliberate designs to give the impression of a folksy good-old boy.But he is an accomplished liar.And as some people have pointed out,given his highly privileged upbring and education,that Texan accent is likely to be a fake.i still say,though,that if you want to see a really accomplished sociopath at work-one that leaves him standing-watch his mass-murdering Catholic comrade-in-arms,Blair.