To the editor: All it takes for the writer to sound most persuasive in his full-throated, unequivocal admiration and advocacy for this nation’s “dominant public ethos” derived from our “historic Protestant majority tradition” is willful ignorance on a scale nothing wanting exceptional (“What does it imply to be an American, not only a citizen?,” Nov. 21).
In an effort to be most type to contributing author Josh Hammer’s viewpoint, let’s fake he wasn’t referencing the identical “ethical and non secular” Protestant majority that waged a genocide (“pogrom”) on Native Individuals. Or the individuals who initiated this nation’s most threatening warfare to defend slavery. Or the individuals who fashioned nationwide organizations (specifically, the KKK) with a view to normalize lynching and cross-burning with the expressed aim of denying minorities (together with Jews) equal entry to their fundamental constitutionally assured rights. Apologies for the listing being restricted attributable to area.
Fairly, in accordance with Hammer, readers ought to see the more moderen Individuals of the Muslim religion to be most worrisome to our nation’s residents.
Fortunately, even for many who discover the writer’s views agreeable, high-school degree American historical past lessons can be found on-line.
Ted Rosenblatt, Hancock Park
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To the editor: I used to be troubled by Hammer’s tendentious advocacy of white Christian nationalism. He equates American citizenship with Protestant Christianity. That is merely not correct. The founders of this nice nation have been knowledgeable by the beliefs of democracy and the spirit of the French Revolution: liberty, equality and brotherhood.
Freedom of faith is assured, and that features freedom from faith.
His assertion that “American Muslim assimilation, particularly, is just not going nicely” can be unfaithful. On Nov. 4, a Muslim was decisively elected mayor of New York Metropolis.
Richard Casey, Santa Monica
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To the editor: Hammer launches an assault in opposition to the American Islamic group as in some way not accepting America’s widespread cultural values. As proof, he cites the truth that 57.5% of American Muslims thought of the Hamas assault on Oct. 7, 2023, to be “considerably justified.” In a 2023 Harvard-Harris ballot, we discover 60% of Individuals aged 18 to 24 stated the assault “may be justified by the grievances of Palestinians.” The share falls with age, with 40% of these aged 35 to 44 sharing that view.
The 18-44 demographic is basically the very inhabitants that mans our Navy’s ships, Military and Marine Corps’ fight forces and Air Power’s plane and missile techniques. Apparently, a lot of them additionally fail Hammer’s citizenship check.
Possibly the issue is Hammer conflating a political/non secular battle within the Center East with being an American.
Norm Rodewald, Moorpark
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To the editor: Hammer states that with a view to be a real American, it’s not sufficient to belong to sure religions and to have been reared a sure method that he approves of. To him, the one method for an individual to belong to the core a part of American citizenship is to belong to the general public framework that the founders of the nation belonged to.
I match into the class outlined as American by Hammer. However I reject the concept being in that class makes me extra of an American than anybody else who’s an American citizen as outlined by the Structure.
I adhere to the ideas established by the Statue of Liberty. It’s my perception that the one individuals who need to be labeled as true Americans adhere to the ideas embodied by that statue and the poem at its toes.
Steve Wooden, Ventura
