Founding Fathers
Yes folks, its a short rant before work. I don't know why, but I just had a serious grumbling about something I have heard before. Now, I don't claim to be an expert on American History. In fact, I despise history, be it American, Canadian, European....just any history. But, I did learn a lot of it in school. In fact, I probably learned more
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The people that came to the US - the original settlers - were called Puritans. They were people whose religion was too extreme for the people of Britain. They had a version of Christianity that said that only a small, select number of people were "Elect" - in other words, you had to be Elect to have a chance to get into Heaven, and you could blow that chance if you sinned. And nobody knew whether they were Elect until they died. So you could live the most virtuous life (according to their very stern beliefs) and...whoops, you aren't Elect, here's your pitchfork.
And they happened to know...KNOW, mind you, that those red-skinned savages who were on this land were not Elect, and sending their souls to Hell was not only good for their bottom line, it was what God expected them to do.
Since I went to Catholic school, I don't know, but I believe that in many Protestant churches the Pilgrims were held up as an ideal. And still are. They don't talk up the nastier aspects of the Pilgrims, of course. (Like they didn't tell me that some of the Popes in Catholic history were real bastards, had mistresses, started wars and interfered in world politics.)
So, sad to say, you've got to be careful of the heritage you teach to school children.
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