What America Means

The Atlantic's Andrew Sullian flagged this item in a piece by Pete Wehner ("Bill O’Reilly Isn’t a Bigot. But He Is Wrong.") of Commentary Magazine:

To be an American means, at least in part, to avoid creating unnecessary divisions over matters of faith. This view was central to America’s founding. Comity, tolerance, and respect for people who hold views different from your own is a sign of civility, not weakness.

In his letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, President Washington wrote these beautiful words: "May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants, while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid."

Amen to that.