History shows U.S. deceived Muslims on being Christian nation

David Gurowsky's Feb. 6 letter attempts to reinforce the theory that America was not founded on Christian principles by reciting the terms of a treaty between Muslim pirate leaders and America at the end of the Barbary wars.

That war was actually declared on us by the Pasha of Tripoli when President Thomas Jefferson refused to pay the ransom demanded to let our ships go unmolested. The treaty's reference to religion was more in deference to the religion of other nations than a statement of founding principles.

The nations of the Barbary Coast were founded on the religion of Islam, which could not be reconciled with America's recognition of the freedom of religion.

When asked why the Muslims held such animosity toward America, the ambassador from Tripoli, Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja, replied, "Islam was founded on the Laws of the Prophet, that it was written in their Qur'an, that all nations should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Muslim who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise."

Congress authorized Jefferson to seize all vessels and goods belonging to the Pasha and anything else deemed necessary. Algiers and Tunis quickly abandoned the war and allegiance to Tripoli. The result was the U.S. won the war and added the line, "to the shores of Tripoli" in the Marine Corps Hymn.

We are repeating history by Obama's courting favor with the nation of Islam.

D. Merrill Adams

Palmetto

This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "History shows U.S. deceived Muslims on being Christian nation ."