[wagglebee]

Huh? Argument for what? He was talking to non-Catholics who were planning to burn the Pope in effigy. He thought it was ridiculous and childish, which seems reasonable.

Let's look at this another way:

For several decades Islamofascists have had demonstrations where they burn the effigy of Uncle Sam. Now, let's say the one day reason overtakes an Islamic cleric and he decides to denounce the "ridiculous and childish custom" of burning effigies of Uncle Sam.

So, would a normal reaction of this be to say, “Which, presumably, must be a devastatingly persuasive argument for the American mindset"? Because this is EXACTLY the reaction that that Alex had to Washington's statement.

[I Buried My Guns]

I saw an old, old movie on the king of England that married a Catholic. As the king led his new bride on horseback to his castle and her new home, the king's religious leader, (forgot his name and title) was on a hill overlooking them. He yelled out "PAPIST WHORE!" as they passed, in disgust.

Since that was a newly discovered insult to my wife, who was not familiar with religious conflict or anti-Catholic bigotry, we I began using it in our daily interactions with each other, and have now taken to calling our cats that when they get into trouble. It's a fun insult, and since 95% of Americans have no sense of history, a good phrase to use in mixed company.