Sierra loses the rest of his marbles
This is absolutely hilarious.
Josue actually is trying to use George Washington's Farewell Address to put me down. First, he wants to call me a racist...again...and second, he wants to use Washington's words to imply that my patriotism is "pretended."
Let's take a look at what he wrote and his misquote (and misunderstanding) of the miniscule snippet of the speech he is trying to use to denigrate my positions on immigration. Then, let's put the portion in a broader context that shows how silly it was for Mr. Sierra to try to use this particular snippet in the first place. Finally, let's visit another section of the speech that I think is the most important part as far as immigration is concerned.
You with me? Let's begin.
Here are Josue's thoughts and his selection from Washington's address:
Now, let's extend that partial sentence to the complete paragraph so its meaning is made more clear:
How one morphs this into a tool to toss the charge of racism is truly beyond me.
Washington's Farewell is one of my favorites. I'm particularly fond of this passage:
Considering the fatherly admonitional tone of the speech as a whole, I think it reasonable to consider his words to be at least in part a request that America be kept as culturally singular as possible. It's really quite outrageous that someone who supports liberalized legal immigration from the third world and amnesty for criminal interlopers would use this speech in the manner Josue did, regardless of how feeble that attempt was.
The full text of the speech is here.
Technorati tags: racism, George Washington, immigration
Josue actually is trying to use George Washington's Farewell Address to put me down. First, he wants to call me a racist...again...and second, he wants to use Washington's words to imply that my patriotism is "pretended."
Let's take a look at what he wrote and his misquote (and misunderstanding) of the miniscule snippet of the speech he is trying to use to denigrate my positions on immigration. Then, let's put the portion in a broader context that shows how silly it was for Mr. Sierra to try to use this particular snippet in the first place. Finally, let's visit another section of the speech that I think is the most important part as far as immigration is concerned.
You with me? Let's begin.
Here are Josue's thoughts and his selection from Washington's address:
Quote of the Day: Pretended PatriotismThe word in the text of the speech is not "postures," which would mean, in the way Josue wishes it does, "a frame of mind." The actual word Washington used was "impostures," which meant "engaging in deception under an assumed name or identity." The oxymoron "Cuban American Heritage" comes to mind.
In light of the discussion on immigration, I thought this was a relevant quote. I can say that both the left and the right can be accused of pretend patriotism. We should ask ourselves what is the correct posture in regards to patriotism? As we have seen among some reader's comments here, some can take patriotism to an racist extreme. I don't think this is what George Washington would have called true patriotism.
"Guard against the postures of pretended patriotism."
George Washington, "Farewell Address," Sept. 17, 1796
Now, let's extend that partial sentence to the complete paragraph so its meaning is made more clear:
"In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and lasting impression I could wish; that they will control the usual current of the passions, or prevent our nation from running the course which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations. But, if I may even flatter myself that they may be productive of some partial benefit, some occasional good; that they may now and then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism; this hope will be a full recompense for the solicitude for your welfare, by which they have been dictated."Washington was winding down his speech and rather humbly asking Congress to remember his advice from time to time when in the midst of partisan disagreements, in dealing with alien sovereignties and in taking care that regional or state loyalties and interests not be allowed to undermine the strength of the union.
How one morphs this into a tool to toss the charge of racism is truly beyond me.
Washington's Farewell is one of my favorites. I'm particularly fond of this passage:
Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts of common dangers, sufferings, and successes.I don't think that Washington would have bought into multiculturalism or multilingualism because of their insidious power to hinder the shared understandings necessary for cultural cohesion. I know he would have fought the balkanization currently being imposed upon us via 1965's invasion-enabling legislation. It is also important to note that Washington alludes to how narrow the "diversity" of America's first citizens actually was.
Considering the fatherly admonitional tone of the speech as a whole, I think it reasonable to consider his words to be at least in part a request that America be kept as culturally singular as possible. It's really quite outrageous that someone who supports liberalized legal immigration from the third world and amnesty for criminal interlopers would use this speech in the manner Josue did, regardless of how feeble that attempt was.
The full text of the speech is here.
Technorati tags: racism, George Washington, immigration
