Tea at Trianon: A Jew Speaks Out

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Friday, April 22, 2016

A Jew Speaks Out

From Jason Dov Greenblatt writing for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency:

Each week I navigate the complex intersection of family, religion, community and career, each of which is extremely important to me. The most obvious tension of being a Sabbath observer and having a job with significant responsibility is the simple fact that each week, I am disconnected from work for Shabbat and typically several days at a time during certain months as a result of Jewish holidays. In all instances, Donald Trump has always been extraordinarily respectful of my religious beliefs and requirements. Because of him, my career has never been at odds with my other priorities of family, religion and community. Donald Trump allows me to live up to the values and goals that my wife and I have established for ourselves and our family.

Like so many of you, I attended the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., in late March. To me, Trump’s speech stood out more than the others for its conviction. He recognizes what Israel stands for, and why it is so important to the United States and to the world. He recognizes that the United States, a country that my wife and I are blessed to live in and raise our children, has an unbreakable friendship with Israel.

Donald Trump will work tirelessly to stem the flow of weapons and funds from Iran to its puppet states and terror organizations, and to stop payments made by Iran and others to terrorists and their families. Trump recognizes that those terror networks are problematic not just to Israel but also to the United States, and he will strive to eradicate Iran’s global terror network.

Donald Trump is deeply passionate about bringing peace to Israel. He recognizes it is one of our time’s most difficult challenges, but believes the time has come finally to achieve this goal. With his skills, talent and perseverance, and with the changing times — including Israel’s formal and informal relationships with many of its Arab neighbors – Trump has the ability and the environment to finally make it happen. (Read more.)