Washington's Religious Outlook Towards The Islamic Faiths A Model For Others

Submitted by Philip W. Chapman (United States), Nov 9, 2006 at 15:30

Mr. Pipes,

I humbly provide the following thoughts for your readers' consideration.

I appreciate your efforts to provide us with a tremendous volume of information. It might be interesting to note the Battle of Tripoli, memorialized in the Marine Corps Hymn and valiantly led by our troops against amazing obstacles and odds, actually occurred after the peace treaty was signed.

Washington, a Deist and a Mason, was part of an organization whose membership requires a belief in a "Supreme Being". The Mason need not necessarily be a Christian. Thus, I am not surprised by the sentiments eloquently expressed in the "Treaty of Peace and Friendship Document".

Perhaps Muslims, Christians, and Jews could benefit from President Washington's outlook which provided an expression of good will towards believers of other faiths.

Philip W. Chapman

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".