Letter: Obama didn't delare America wasn't a Christian nation, John Adams did
In his letter to the editor, published in the December 24th Nevada Appeal, William Lepore Sr. admitted to being confused about American history, citing fake quotations from John Adams, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin to drive home his point. Go to http://tinyurl.com/Leporequotes for details on these "quotes," or Google "The Right’s Library of Fake Quotes" for the rest of the story on the fictionalization of American history.
Mr. Lepore goes on to aver that President Obama, in a speech before the Turkish parliament, denied that America is a Christian nation. Had he actually read the speech, he'd know that the president made no such denial. Mr. Lepore may be confusing that speech with the Treaty of Tripoli, ratified unanimously by the Senate and signed by President John Adams on June 7, 1797. This treaty includes the following declaration:
"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
Rich Dunn
Carson City