I disagree with much of what Steelfish says, but more so with how he said it. At a kids birthday party I was shocked to discover that 5th graders had no idea who Ben Franklin was. There is a culture war going on in America and the cultural history of the western world, which is more Christian, than Judeo-Christian, is under attack.
I believe that much of the rancor expressed (in general & not just this thread) is a reaction to that. No student of history can deny that America and the values that she represents have not been a powerful influence on the rest of the world. Our Constitution is the model the world uses. It was designed and implemented by white Christian men. It is a fact and there is nothing insulting or derogatory or demeaning in stating so.
At the same time there is a powerful and prevalent bias against other religions. It comes from bad doctrine, IMHO, which in part asserts that nonbelievers are doomed. This is not a unique religious experience of the American Christian Right, but is a view widely held by the religious. We would not practice or believe our faiths if we felt that it is “all good”. Sadly, one value the Founders held is a respect for conscience. This might have been easier to hold when the colonists were essentially 100% Christian.
Evangelicals have an especially bad reputation for aggressive and often negative proselytizing. They are good people who believe what they believe and try to practice it. They are bound to offend. For instance, my Mongolian friends tell me that it is illegal to proselytize in Mongolia, but Evangelicals ignore the law and do it anyway. They particularly found this offensive, even though they disagree with the law personally.
I like India and Indians and would like America to ally with India as closely as possible. India is a great counterweight to China's ambitions. The thawing in American/Indian relations started long ago and is continuing. There is a lot to dislike about the Republican party. Those frustrations get expressed on FR all the time.
I disagree, though, that the reason Hindu Americans vote Republican is because they have been offended by conservative Christians. My personal experience is that Democrats have a very effective outreach, control most local governments in my area (Obama country) and that Hindu Americans vote Democrat out of commercial convenience and not on their true beliefs.
To blame conservative Christians for how individuals vote is absurd. I vote my values and will vote for the most conservative candidate who supports those values whether Republican or Democrat (mostly Democrat by default in my area).
I do not quarrel with much of what you say. But as Pat Buchanan points out in his book “Death of the West” that when large tidal waves of immigrants who do not share our Judeo-Christian beliefs come over to the US we end up not as a melting pot but as a salad bowl. This phenomenon has caused the current drive toward multi-culturalism (that all cultures are equal) and multi-religious (all religions are true and equal) approval (as opposed to tolerance) and acceptance. If you ever have the occasion to pick up a copy of T.S, Eliot’s “Christianity & Culture” or come across his poem “Hollow Men” I urge you read it it.
SupplySider (a man, by the way)