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Limits of Assimilation?

Reader comment on item: A French lesson for Tom Harkin

Submitted by Peter J. Herz (Taiwan), Jan 5, 2004 at 19:02

America has two unsung blessings that probably made it easier for the Jews to be accepted, even when they "stood out" as a clear minority (well, there were rough spots--Gen. Grant's initial plan to keep all non-military Jews out of the occupied southern Mississippi valley; the Frank case, etc.).

(1) The Reformed Protestant bedrock of American culture (the source of our marvelous self-critical spirit) ensured that throughout the formative period of the Republic, the Old Testament commanded incalculable respect.

(2) The Great Awakening of the mid-18th century brought about a social and political reconciliation of the major English-speaking sects of Episcopalians, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians (affecting as well the Dutch and German Reformed, who were close to the Presbyterians in theology, if not native language)--ending the sectarian strife that had destabilized Britain in the 17th century. This "made room" for other dissenters, especially if they had anything at all compatible with the dominant Evangelical consensus.

Whatever else might be said of Jewish-Christian relations, the fact that 4/5 of the Christian Bible is shared with the Jews (Hebrew Bible/Old Testament) forces a kind of mutual respect--even if it is just that of theological polemicists trying tell each other "We have the Messiah, you don't," versus "No, you're following a false one, we await the real one."

One of the problems present in a Christian-Jewish-Muslim society is that whereas there doubtlessly are many Muslims who desire social peace, Islam shares only names of persons, not an actual book, with the other Abrahamic religions.
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Reader comments (43) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Assimilation or Domination [233 words]Logical ThinkerJan 12, 2009 17:33147870
success of terrorism [75 words]donvanJan 13, 2009 12:37147870
Harken, Harkin [188 words]no dhiDec 14, 2005 13:1829952
Keep Up the Good Work [10 words]Amir StamperDec 22, 2004 11:5519110
The real new anti-Semitism [196 words]Brian LuedkeJul 31, 2004 23:2216183
USA or Israel ?? [137 words]GOLANIFeb 20, 2004 10:0613946
Islamist threat [70 words]joyce ghoshFeb 5, 2004 22:4813777
Harkin the lliberal [46 words]Ralph BalascoFeb 5, 2004 22:2513775
A French Lesson for Tom Harkin 1414#comment [256 words]S.C.PandaJan 20, 2004 05:0413416
Daniel, you are omitting important info [42 words]PadriaghJan 19, 2004 12:4913406
Reply to Sen. Harkin [41 words]Joseph SitrickJan 11, 2004 22:2913298
French exodus [60 words]SteinbergJan 11, 2004 08:0813285
How to Characterize Islam [448 words]Allen WeingartenJan 9, 2004 08:5313265
Change of E-Mail Address, and Praise for your articles/commentaries [56 words]Thomas J. Roth, Sr.Jan 7, 2004 09:2913179
Who cares! [23 words]sgreenbergJan 6, 2004 11:4613163
Islamist Leadership vs. Islamic leadership [89 words]leora levyJan 6, 2004 10:0613161
suggestion [49 words]irwan wahyudiNov 3, 2007 08:3213161
Harkin's mother very relevant [134 words]Karl EricsonJan 6, 2004 03:5913156
article on Harkin & French Jews [9 words]Eugene NarrettJan 5, 2004 23:4913153
Muslems and their islamofashist leaders. [34 words]natalieJan 5, 2004 21:4313147
Harkin & Associates [38 words]Alon ReiningerJan 5, 2004 21:3613145
as usual, you are right [205 words]Michele FineJan 5, 2004 20:5913143
Bravo Mr Pipes [63 words]Douglas Sprung MDJan 5, 2004 20:5113142
what's in it for the 'honorable' senator? [58 words]forrest shalomJan 5, 2004 20:4513141
When "moderate" becomes Islamist [173 words]Phil OrensteinJan 5, 2004 19:4513138
Muslim assimilation: our best option [111 words]Mori Krantz MDJan 5, 2004 19:1813137
Limits of Assimilation? [248 words]Peter J. HerzJan 5, 2004 19:0213135
Mr Harkin Expresses the Great Utopian Illusion [252 words]Darwin BarrettJan 5, 2004 18:5313134
Harkin "Cant stand the truth" [85 words]Joe FitzgeraldJan 5, 2004 17:4513131
Article 1414#comment [87 words]Joanne PrivesJan 5, 2004 17:1213129
Harkin is wrong on the size of the Iowa Jewish community [213 words]Janet StevensonJan 5, 2004 16:4713128
JEWS AND ARABS [454 words]Fred KellerJan 5, 2004 16:1813126
Proof of unjust treatment is not enough [635 words]A French Lesson for Tom HarkinJan 5, 2004 14:4413125
National Post piece regarding Denmark's immigration problem [134 words]John HarmanJan 5, 2004 14:2213124
That was a very nice post, I'm proud of you! [10 words]VassiliosMay 24, 2007 17:4713124
Warning on Islamist influence in the US [33 words]TreshoJan 5, 2004 14:1913122
Hypocritical Harkin [54 words]Harry MeekinsJan 5, 2004 13:5813120
Readers should email Harkin and Iowa newspapers [176 words]Gamaliel IsaacJan 5, 2004 13:5113119
Bravo ! [50 words]bunuelJan 5, 2004 13:4513117
Easier said than done! [35 words]W. WagnerJan 5, 2004 12:4113110
Islamic influence [53 words]Herb JuristJan 5, 2004 12:2513109
Thank You Daniel Pipes [69 words]saul coopermanJan 5, 2004 11:4113106
Well said daniel [111 words]John GrahamJan 5, 2004 11:1213105

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