As a Bible-beating, religious right, MAGA Republican, I’m not supposed to say this, but I am getting a little tired of hearing (or reading) people say “
America was founded by men and women fleeing religious persecution.”
It may be a true statement, but it tends to mislead. One could likewise say, truthfully, that America was founded by slave-owners, but that also tends to mislead. Both claims exclude more truth than they include. “Slave-owner” describes many, but not all, of those who drafted our founding documents, and built our early government. “Religious refugee” describes many, but not all, of those who came to the 13 colonies, or immigrated to early America.
Some religious people I know seem to believe that the American founding went like this:
Columbus brings the Pilgrims across in the Mayflower
The Pilgrims found 13 colonies
Icky taxes
Independence!
Minutemen snipers shoot the British soldiers as they mill around, drinking tea with extended pinky fingers.
As the British retreat across the Red Sea, God smites them with a great wave.
Yay!
What are your peeves?