RobertSRQ rated the quotation from Isaiah one star too high. This is the kind of hypocritical presumptuousness, unmitigated effrontery, audacity and just plain gall, or chutzpa, that has defined Judaism, and later, Christianity, for thousands of years and still does. The Jews anointed themselves "God's chosen people", and evidently God is the only one who would, as they have fought with all their neighbors since Abraham.

I will believe America has religious freedom when I see an acknowledged atheist elected to anything. Listening to the Republican candidates for president, it is not enough that they claim a belief in a Supreme Being, but it must be according to particular persuasions -- not some "cult", like Mormonism. If Mother Teresa were running here, she probably would not be acceptable for any office, having expressed her own doubts as to the very existence of God at times in some of her letters

Very little correlation. Both education and freedom are relative terms

At least America is

Does the quote say anything but ..ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country? Somehow, it sounds better when someone other than Hitler says it

I must agree with Mike on this one. The quote does not warrant five stars because it simply is not true. A person does not always follow the path in which he was first indoctrinated. Although that may be a powerful influence, and may apply in more cases than not, it is definitely not an absolute fact. It is certainly not in my own case.

I am not interested in slavery under ANY circumstances -- not even if everyone else were equally enslaved. I can't speak for ALL Americans, but none of the ones I know would be either..

As Yogi Berra said: "You can see a lot just by observing"

Excellent examples of this can often be found in this blog

My mother taught me, early on, the more you know the less you think you know.

We should hold the Native Americans in admiration for their understanding of life. I believe, had the Europeans dealt with them more charitably, this continent might be populated by people who respected treaties.

A natural law is simply a phenomenon of nature that has been proven to invariably occur whenever certain conditions exis, otherwise it is not a law of nature. We do not choose to follow the Law od Gravity, or Newton's Laws of Motion, for example. The quote is meaningless.

OK, then what is the Truth?

Not necessarily first Without good judgement, courage may be foolhardy. Of what value is it then? All virtues are relative.

Isn't a milder way of saying you hate something to say you don't care for it? How can that be interpreted as you care for it? I never heard the word caring used that way.

I wonder if Elie Wiesel is truly the author of the quote. I am older than he is and it seems I have known it most of my life. I have no idea where I first heard it but I have always liked it After all, to love someone is simply to care deeply about him or her Not caring is the opposite of caring and not necessarilly hating as most people would assume

Defend your shores, yes; but don't invade a country because you don't like the way it is being run or it MGHT do something you don't like.

Shoot first, ask questions later. Don't worry that you may have guessed wrong, or you give your adversary justification for what he may do in retaliation

And this from a man who avoided serving in a war by a preferential deferment in the reserves, then deserting before he even completed his enlistment. A C-student, who was a failure at everything he ever did. How did he ever become 'the Decider"?

Revolutionary is not a bad word. One man's revolutionary is another man's traitor. Americans were born of revolution

A formula for anarchy

Franklin recognized that great weath is the product of society, not just the individual. I recall hearing Bill Gates' father express the same idea about his son's fortune. He said he could never have made it truly on his own. It derived from the effort of many others and should be shared. It was in regard to the estate tax which some people like to call a "death" tax.

I am curious what these insidious 20th century, atheistic writings are, Mike. Atheist simply do not believe in superstitions, the supernatural, Santa Claus or other fairy stories. Is that so insidious? Others can believe whatever they wish

Madison says "religion...can be directed only by reason and convictions" It may be anyone's prerogative to practice it as he sees fit, but so much religion of all stripes uses very little reason and so much conviction

As a prominent gays and lesbians advocate the author should be familiar with all the verbal barbs and abuses, and know whereof he speaks. Words can easily incite the violence he deplores, however, and that's where the right to them ceases to exist.