Reckoning

The Black Americans whose names could share this space with George Floyd is dreadfully particular to their families and friends. Generation after generation, an endless roll of our Black American neighbors plucked from this life and from their lives, and from those who loved them … or might have, had we only known.

But we witnessed the killing of George Floyd with our own eyes — you and me. We don’t have to take anybody’s word for it: a smirking, flagrant, public lynching.

Which, now, makes us answerable for what we do about what we witnessed.

 

Geo. Washington’s Letter to Jews in Newport R.I.

Excerpts from President George Washington’s August 1790 letter to Jewish leaders in Newport, Rhode Island

The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy—a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.

It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

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May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants—while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.

May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy.

G. Washington