This banner hangs on Independence Mall during a time when the perceived interests of a foreign country has more influence on American policy than ever before. The building was previously occupied by CBS and became the National Museum of American Jewish History, with funding from the Smithsonian Institution. A previous banner using the quote started after 'happily.'
At first I had the obvious reaction that the banner whitewashed US funding for the IDF, or suggested that it wasn't a case of providing assistance to persecution, while, however one justifies it in their minds, the US is assisting much persecution and doing so with less and less independence. Then I began to think (I see the banner weekly, and have begun not to look at it) it has the other meaning of being an implicit critique of US assistance to Israel, or making the obvious point to informed tourists (when they appear) that the US isn't supposed to provide assistance to persecution. If the banner had the former intention, it has the effect of the latter. Thus Washington has encapsulated the message to future Americans that you don't respond to persecution by more persecution.
1 comment:
This is from Washington's “Letter to the Jews of Newport”, 18 August 1790..
http://www.tourosynagogue.org/history-learning/gw-letter
This banner hangs on Independence Mall during a time when the perceived interests of a foreign country has more influence on American policy than ever before. The building was previously occupied by CBS and became the National Museum of American Jewish History, with funding from the Smithsonian Institution. A previous banner using the quote started after 'happily.'
At first I had the obvious reaction that the banner whitewashed US funding for the IDF, or suggested that it wasn't a case of providing assistance to persecution, while, however one justifies it in their minds, the US is assisting much persecution and doing so with less and less independence. Then I began to think (I see the banner weekly, and have begun not to look at it) it has the other meaning of being an implicit critique of US assistance to Israel, or making the obvious point to informed tourists (when they appear) that the US isn't supposed to provide assistance to persecution. If the banner had the former intention, it has the effect of the latter. Thus Washington has encapsulated the message to future Americans that you don't respond to persecution by more persecution.
Post a Comment