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would like to answer the questions from Mr. DeVaul’s letter dated August 16. His first Question, “Is Christianity a religion or the name describing several different religions?” Christianity is a religion based on the person and the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, or its belief and practices. Most Christians should understand and know this. There are several sects that claim they are based on Christianity.
“Who settled this country in 1620?” Answer is the Pilgrims, but not all who settled there on that date were Pilgrims. It is notable because it is the first English settlement not to be abandon, it is not the first settlement in the New World. It is not the oldest established settlement in the continental US that would be St. Augustine, Florida established by Spain in 1565. The Pilgrim Fathers also established the tradition of self-rule that still exists in our nation.
“Who fought in the Revolutionary War?” It would be the American colonists against the British Empire. However, the colonists had help from the New England state slaves and free Blacks and Native Americans. The British also had help from Native Americans and forced slaves to fight against the American colonies. There was also American colonists who were loyal to the crown and fought against the colonies, they were referred to as Loyalists. German mercenaries fought for the British and France sent ships to fight the British navy and the Marquis de Lafayette left France to join the American colonist in their fight and after France sent aid to the colonies Spain and the Netherlands soon followed.
Women played a role also for the American colonies, Molly Pitcher and Mercy Otis Warren and Abigail Addams are cited the most often. Diversity even existed during the Revolutionary War, not everyone fighting for The American colonies independence spoke English.
“Who signed the “Constitution of United States’?” It was 38 of the 55 delegates sent by the colonies, except for Rhode Island, to the Constitutional Convention. William Jackson, secretary of the convention, was the 39th person and the only non delegate to sign the Constitution.
Mr. DeVaul claims that answering these questions proves that the United States is a Christian nation. I fail to see how he comes to that conclusion.
To the last question, “What is “Fully American” if not wanting to advance the ideals this country was founded on?”: Not sure one can adequately answer such an open ended question. I am going to assume he is referring to immigration. The motto on the Great Seal of the United States is ‘E pluribus unum’ – “From many, one”. Historian Philip Gleason put it this way; “To be or to become an American, a person did not have to be any particular national, linguistic, religious, or ethnic background. All he had to do was to commit himself to the political ideology centered on the abstract ideals of liberty, equality, and republicanism. Thus the universalist ideological character of American nationality meant that it was open to anyone who willed to become an American.”
Charles M. Reeder
Montoursville
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom