DOCSLIB.ORG

Peter Stuyvesant's Culture Wars

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Peter Stuyvesant’s Culture Wars Tolera'ng the Sin of Satan in Dutch New York (1647-1644) What is “Dutch” New York? New Netherland: Circa 1650 Area Occupied by Present Day NY Director-General Peter Stuyvesant Governed New Netherland & Curacao 1647-1664 •A Conservave (Calvinist) religious Protestant •A Military “Commander in Chief” in a sensi@ve region •A Poli@cian balancing “Big Business” interests oF the West India Company, with his own principles •Known For policies oF poli@cal and religious intolerance Poli'cal and Religious Tension in the Colony Dutch ReFormed Church vs. a heterogeneous populaon Natural Rights (Burghers) vs. Divine Right (Administraon) Merchant Class (Taxaon & trade duty) vs. Dutch West India Company Emp. Case Study ExaMples for Stuyvesant’s Anger & Intolerance • The War Crime Charges oF Melyn and Kuyter, against Former Director KieT, 1647 • The Pe@@on oF the Nine Men, 1649 • Flushing Remonstrance oF 1653 • Flushing Remonstrance oF 1657 • “Private” Conven@cles: A^empts at Religious Autonomy Stuyvesant’s Furious Opposi@on to Liberty “People may think of appealing during my Cme – should any one do so, I would have him made a foot shorter, pack the pieces off to Holland and let him appeal in that way”. - Peter Stuyvesant, when Melyn and Kuyter, “Cunning” and “Malignant Subjects”, appealed his sentence oF banishment “Anyone offer objecon…He bursts inconCnentally into a rage and makes such a to-do that it is dreadful” - Adriaen Van Der Donck, on Peter Stuyvesant’s conduct in Council He’d rather “Quit his posiCon than to allow (it)…in contravenCon to the first arCcle of his commission, which was sworn to by him with an oath, not to admit any other than the true reformed faith.” - DoMinie Megapolensis, on Peter Stuyvesant’s resolve to prevent the Lutheran minority (Some who he imprisoned) From organizing a church Why are we so Angry iF We’re Right? The Culture War & Angry Polics: Escalang, Polarizing us Further Apart New Liberal ExtreMe New Conservave ExtreMe “I don’t want to be crass, "I'm thinking about killing but I just hope that Marcus Michael Moore, and I'm Bachmann takes all that, ya wondering iF I could kill him know, that rage …and brings myselF, or iF I would need to it (out against her) …. hire somebody to do it. ... angrily, because that’s how I No, I think I could. I think he would. And I’ve thought could be looking me in the about it.” eye, you know, and I could just be choking the liFe out. - Real Time with Bill Maher - Glenn Beck Where does the anger come from? Moral Judgments oF the “Other” people Fuel it, because, according to George Lakoff, Poli@cs is inherently based in cogni@ve judgments (conclusions) about morality and moral priories Poli'cal Anger is inherently Moral Outrage Our Moral Systems affect how we interpret the ac@ons oF other people and how we respond The problem is, those labels have specific cultural connotaons, leading to addi@onal conclusions Conservaves are… Liberals are… “Intolerant” becomes associated “Indulgent” is associated with laziness. with impaence, rage, a violent temper. “Self-centered” becomes selfish. “Racist” is associated with cruel. “Ignorant” is associated with “Stupid”. In the process, a measure of accuracy about the political divide is sacrificed, as the reasons for people’s choices are simplified down to their internal rottenness. Definion of Pride in 17th C. European Culture • Biblical Origin in the Fall oF LuciFer • Elevaon through Satan’s Example, as the Upmost Original Sin beFore “Original Sin”, in Medieval theology (Pope Leo the Great in 6th C, and Thomas Aquinas, 13th C) • Prominence in Post-ReFormaon theology (Calvin) + philosophy (S@ll religiously based jurisprudence) • Effect on Absolu@st Poli@cal Philosophy (Divine Right versus Natural Right) Peter Stuyvesant’s Moral Lens CalvinisM + Absolu'sM => The Sin of Pride It is a wicked decision to challenge the government, insis@ng that individuals have autonomous rights independent oF the ruling authority, or worse, insist on changing government, and seng up their own moral authority, instead oF accep@ng what God had ordained. The Repriori'za'on of Jus'ce above Authority (Moral Metaphors) is interpreted as iMMoral Examples • Stuyvesant’s Scripture quotes in his legal opinion, in counter-charge against Melyn & Kuyter : – “Be subject unto the higher powers” (…For there is no power but oF God: & the powers that be, are ordained oF God) (Rom 13:1); “Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor Curse the ruler oF thy people” (Exod. 22:28) • ReFerences to “Subjects” and Vassals” “Was it ever heard or seen in any republic that vassals and subjects did without authority From their superiors, conceive, dra and submit to their magistrates self- devised interrogaves to have them examined thereon?” – Counter Charge to Melyn & Kuyter “I shall govern you like a Father governs his children” – Director-general Stuyvesant’s 1st address to the people oF New Netherland • Stuyvesant’s rebu^al in answer to the Flushing Remonstrance oF 1653. *Divine Right overrules Natural Rights as jusCficaCon for government. Power lay not with “All men generally”, For “every one would want For Magistrate a man oF his own stamp . A thieF would choose . a thieF and a dishonest man, a drunkard, a smuggler. their likes, in order to commit Felonies and Frauds.” *3 Unexpected Research Finds $ The False Secular Divide: The nature oF the Fric@on between the Dutch West India Company and Peter Stuyvesant was fiscal, not religious. The West India Company had a Calvinist internal business culture. ⚑ Dutch “FreedoM of Conscience”: Not as liberang or as binding a tenet as assumed. It depended on the context oF “Public” or “Private” worship, to Frame the issue. = Jews, Peter Stuyvesant & Dutch “Tolerance”: Stuyvesant reFerred to them as the “Abominable Religion” and the “InFec@on” oF the colony. These “HateFul enemies…oF Christ” were rogue elements, in the prac@ce oF the state’s control oF public religion as a social tool oF shaping morality. This is 100 years prior to the precedent oF “Separaon oF Church and State” (S'll) Shaping a Moral Society 17th Century 21st Century (Post-ReFormaon) (Post-Enlightenment) Religious Wars Culture Wars (Ideologies) A Challenge to ReclaiM the Founding Fathers’ Victory for a “Free Exchange of Ideas” “Congress shall make no law respecng an establishment of religion, or prohibiCng the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to peCCon the Government for a redress of grievances.” - Amendment I The U.S. Bill of Rights .
Recommended publications
  • A Guide to Flushing in Queens

    A Guide to Flushing in Queens

    A GUIDE TO FLUSHING IN QUEENS Ethnic diversity is the hallmark of New York City, and nowhere is this diversity more evident than in Flushing, Queens. Founded in 1645, Flushing, then called Vlissingen, was granted a charter by the Dutch West India Company and became a part of New Netherlands. Subsequent periods of immigration resulted in colonization by English settlers, and more recently by settlers from Taiwan, mainland China, Japan and Korea. The result is an ethnic medley to be savored in its streets, shops, restaurants and cultural institutions. Where is Flushing? Located on western Long Island, Queens is one of the five boroughs of New York City. Established in 1683, it was named for the queen consort, Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II. The borough of Queens is divided into four “towns,” Jamaica, Long Island City, Flushing, and Far Rockaway. Unlike the other boroughs, mail in Queens is addressed to the applicable town rather than “Queens, N. Y.” About Flushing The first It’s Easy to Get to Flushing settlers in Flushing were, From either Times Square, or Grand Central Station, oddly enough, take the Number 7 train to the last stop and you will a group of be in the heart of Flushing. Englishmen who arrived in 1645 from Vlissingen in Holland under a patent from the Dutch West Indies Company. Subsequently an influx of Quakers from the English colonial settlements in Massachusetts took place in 1657. With the arrival of the Quakers, Governor Peter Stuyvesant, known as Peg Leg Pete, issued an edict banning all forms of worship other than Dutch Reformed, despite the guaranty of freedom of worship contained in the official Dutch charter.
  • New Amsterdam's Untold Story

    New Amsterdam's Untold Story

    New Amsterdam’s untold story: The Flushing Remonstrance Integrating NYC public school curricula, neighborhood museum resources and historical fiction to create diverse learning experiences in social studies © by Katrina A. Raben Mentor Nina Jaffe Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science in Education Bank Street College of Education 2009 1 Abstract: This study focuses on experiential learning opportunities presented by integrating creative literature such as historical fiction into (NYC) social studies curricula. Providing teachers with aid in utilizing neighborhood cultural institutions for their physical and cultural history resources is paramount in creating tangible and multi-sensory learning experiences for varied learners. Such diverse modes of learning can be supported by illustrating the interface between history and comparative religions in social studies curricula, creating a foundation for socio-cultural inquiry that students today need in promoting tolerance and advocacy in their communities. 2 Table of Contents I. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….p. 4 A. Historical fiction and museum education B. Religion and diversity in the curriculum C. Curriculum supplement: 4th grade NYC social studies D. Developmental rationale II. Historical Background………………………………………………………………..p. 12 A. The Flushing Remonstrance B. Religious liberty in the colonies C. Relevance to today post 9/11 III. Literature Review………………………………………………………………………p. 18 IV. A Light In The Window (a work in progress)………………………………p. 23 V. Child’s Response & Reflection……………………………………………………..p. 39 A. Preliminary Reading B. Responses C. Reflections VI. Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………p. 45 A. References B. Resources VI. Appendices…………………………………………………………………………………p. 49 A. Timeline of historic events B. Prototypes for illustrations 3 I. Introduction 4 I. Introduction A.
  • Flushing Remonstrance Special Resource Study

    Flushing Remonstrance Special Resource Study

    National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Flushing Remonstrance Special Resource Study The United States Congress as part of Public Law 113- religious persecution of Quakers by the Governor-General 291, directed the National Park Service to conduct a of the Dutch colony in an attempt to allow free practice of special resource study to help determine whether the one’s religion in accordance with the colony’s charter. The resources related to the history of religious freedom and Flushing Remonstrance is recognized as one of the fi rst the 1657 Flushing Remonstrance would meet criteria for eff orts to secure the free exercise of religion in what would congressional designation as a unit of the national park become the United States. system. The study area will include the John Bowne House, Friends Meeting House, and “other resources in the vicinity The John Bowne House is located at 3701 Bowne of Flushing related to the history of religious freedom Street, Queens, New York. Built c. 1661 with subsequent during the era of the signing of the Flushing Remonstrance.” modifi cations, this Anglo-Dutch vernacular structure Flushing, located in the Queens Borough of New York City, was home to John Bowne, a major fi gure in the era of the New York, has a long standing tradition of ethnic diversity Flushing Remonstrance and the settlement of Flushing. and religious tolerance. Established as part the Dutch colony Listed in the National Register of Historic Places and as a of New Netherland in the early 17th century, and followed New York City Landmark, the Bowne House is operated by closely by the arrival of English settlers, Queens continues a not-for-profi t group and has been open to the public for today to serve as home to a multitude of ethnicities and educational tours since 1947.
  • The English Take Control DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION

    The English Take Control DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION

    CHAPTER 3 • SECTION 4 New Netherland As you read in Chapter 2, in the early 1600s the Dutch built the colony of New Netherland along the Hudson River in what is now New York State. The colony’s largest town, New Amsterdam, was founded on Manhattan Island in 1625. New Amsterdam was built to defend the Dutch More About . West India Company’s fur trading settlements along the Hudson River. Peter Stuyvesant, the colony’s governor, expanded New Netherland by Religious Refugees taking over the nearby colony of New Sweden in 1655. The Swedes had settled the land along the Delaware River in 1638. in Pennsylvania The Dutch West India Company set up the patroon system to attract more In England, thousands of Quakers went settlers. A patroon was a person who brought 50 settlers to New Netherland. to jail for their beliefs, especially after As a reward, a patroon received a large land grant. He also received hunting, Charles II gained the throne in 1660. fishing, and fur trading privileges. The patroon system brought great wealth Some made their way to Maryland and to the colony’s elite. Massachusetts in the 1650s, but after The social system also included many slaves. Although their lives were William Penn founded a Quaker colony in harsh, they enjoyed some rights of movement and property ownership. 1681, many more arrived. A Tolerant Society In the 17th century the Netherlands had one of the Besides Quakers, several other small religious most tolerant societies in Europe. Dutch settlers brought this religious toleration to their colony.
  • Adriaen Van Der Donck, a Description of New Netherland, 1655- 1656

    Adriaen Van Der Donck, a Description of New Netherland, 1655- 1656

    Adriaen van der Donck, A Description of New Netherland, 1655- 1656. All American Indian treaties, accords, peace negotiations, agreements, atonements, proposals, requests, contracts, and pledges are sealed with gifts. Without these, their promises are not worth much, but with presents, agreements are binding. That is why an offering is commonly made with each point requested or agreed. The points are represented and remembered by means of wooden tallies. The person making the request has the offering nearby. When he finishes each point, he places an offering before the one for whom it is intended. Matters thus concluded with among them, they will exactly remember and perform to the utmost by all possible means. The offerings usually consist of wampum, pelts, duffel cloth, and weapons. American Indians are ever ready to exchange gifts among themselves and with the Dutch, who are not keen on it. The Indians tend to demand too much and to take what the Dutch do not willingly give. When making a request to the Indians, one sends an offering to them. The offering is hung up, and the request is stated, and those to whom it is addressed examine and deliberate the proposition seriously. If they take the offerings, the request is accepted and consented to. If the offering remains where it hangs for over three days, the petitioner must alter the request or increase the offering or both. Adapted from Charles T. Gehring and William A. Starna, eds. A Description of New Netherland, trans. Diederik Willem Goedhuys (2008). Biography: Adriaen van der Donck was a Dutch lawyer.
  • History and Genealogy of the Vreeland Family

    History and Genealogy of the Vreeland Family

    .0^ . ^ovV : ^^^* • .rC^^'^.t.'^ . O .V . 4:^ "^^ o.* "^ v° *^' %- 'd- m^ ^^^ \ a/ "O* - '^^ .^'-^ "<*>. n"^ ,o«<.- -^^ ^ Vol •.°' ^^ aO ^ './ >:^^:- >. aV .^j^^^. Nicholas Garretson \'reeland. THHR BOOK: Wriltenarranged ^adaptgd BY ON E OF THEM WWW OIMT^oN VREELSIND Title parte and ofcher* di-awing/s by FR.flNCI5 WILLIAM Vl^EELflND^ Printed by CHflUNCELY H O L T- NOa7V^NDEPy%'" 3TIIEE.T • NEW YORK: HISTORY GENEALOGY of the VREELAND FAMILY Edited by NICHOLAS GARRETSON VREELAND HISTORICAL PUBLISHING CO. Jersey City, Nert) Jersey MDCCCCIX sT 1'^ \(\ •2> (At Copyright 1909 BY Nicholas G. Vrekland Cla.A,a3<* 112 JUL 28 1909 1 : table:contentsof CHAPTER. TITLE. PAGE. Foreword. 9 Preface. 10 PART FIRST — THE STORY OF HOLLAND. 1 In Day.s of Caesar 17 2 Fifteen Centuries of Struggle 20 3 The Dutch take Holland 21 4 Chaos leads to System 23 5 Dutch War Songs 24 Beggars of the Sea 24 Moeder Holland 29 Oranje Boven 30 6 Independence at Last 31 7 Holland and its People 33 8 Holland of To-day 41 PART SECOND — THE STORY OF AMERICA. 9 The American Birthright (Poem)... 49 10 In the New World, 1609-38 53 1 On Communipaw's Shore, 1646 57 12 Settlement of Bergen, 1660 59 13 Religion and Education 61 14 Battledore and Shuttlecock, 1664-74 63 15 Paulus Hook, 1800 66 16 From Youth to Manhood, 1840- 1909 69 17 Manners and Customs 73 18 Nomenclature 76 19 The True Dutch Influence 83 20 Land Titles 90 PART THIRD — THE STORY OF THE VREELANDS. 2 An Old Vreeland Family 99 22 The Town Vreeland, in Holland 104 CONTENTS—Continued.
  • Dutch Influences on Law and Governance in New York

    Dutch Influences on Law and Governance in New York

    DUTCH INFLUENCES 12/12/2018 10:05 AM ARTICLES DUTCH INFLUENCES ON LAW AND GOVERNANCE IN NEW YORK *Albert Rosenblatt When we talk about Dutch influences on New York we might begin with a threshold question: What brought the Dutch here and how did those beginnings transform a wilderness into the greatest commercial center in the world? It began with spices and beaver skins. This is not about what kind of seasoning goes into a great soup, or about European wearing apparel. But spices and beaver hats are a good starting point when we consider how and why settlers came to New York—or more accurately—New Netherland and New Amsterdam.1 They came, about four hundred years ago, and it was the Dutch who brought European culture here.2 I would like to spend some time on these origins and their influence upon us in law and culture. In the 17th century, several European powers, among them England, Spain, and the Netherlands, were competing for commercial markets, including the far-east.3 From New York’s perspective, the pivotal event was Henry Hudson’s voyage, when he sailed from Holland on the Halve Maen, and eventually encountered the river that now bears his name.4 Hudson did not plan to come here.5 He was hired by the Dutch * Hon. Albert Rosenblatt, former Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, is currently teaching at NYU School of Law. 1 See COREY SANDLER, HENRY HUDSON: DREAMS AND OBSESSION 18–19 (2007); ADRIAEN VAN DER DONCK, A DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND 140 (Charles T.
  • Washington Irving's Use of Historical Sources in the Knickerbocker History of New York

    Washington Irving's Use of Historical Sources in the Knickerbocker History of New York

    WASHINGTON IRVING’S USE OF HISTORICAL SOURCES IN THE KNICKERBOCKER. HISTORY OF NEW YORK Thesis for the Degree of M. A. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY DONNA ROSE CASELLA KERN 1977 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 3129301591 2649 WASHINGTON IRVING'S USE OF HISTORICAL SOURCES IN THE KNICKERBOCKER HISTORY OF NEW YORK By Donna Rose Casella Kern A THESIS Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Department of English 1977 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . CHAPTER I A Survey of Criticism . CHAPTER II Inspiration and Initial Sources . 15 CHAPTER III Irving's Major Sources William Smith Jr. 22 CHAPTER IV Two Valuable Sources: Charlevoix and Hazard . 33 CHAPTER V Other Sources 0 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 Al CONCLUSION 0 O C O O O O O O O O O O O 0 O O O O O 0 53 APPENDIX A Samuel Mitchell's A Pigture 9: New York and Washington Irving's The Knickerbocker Histgrx of New York 0 o o o o o o o o o o o o o c o o o o 0 56 APPENDIX B The Legend of St. Nicholas . 58 APPENDIX C The Controversial Dates . 61 APPENDIX D The B00k'S Topical Satire 0 o o o o o o o o o o 0 6A APPENDIX E Hell Gate 0 0.0 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 66 APPENDIX F Some Minor Sources .
  • BOCA RATON NEWS Vol

    BOCA RATON NEWS Vol

    BOCA RATON NEWS Vol. 15, No. 50 Sunday, Feb. 15, 1970 34 Pages 10 Cents Lawsuit studied St- Funds raised to challenge school appearance code ByKATHIEKEIM A group of students spearheading the drive to challenge the appearance Students at Boca Raton High School regulations say about $200 has been are raising money to back an effort to raised so far. The money that is raised challenge the school's policy on per- will help retain an attorney should the sonal appearance. students take their case to court. Some of the students have said they are considering a suit against the schoolfbecauseithey say the wording of The City Council candidates, from left, are Tore Wallin, Bill Moore, Pat Honchell, and Earl Sloane. YOUR DAY the school's policy on such things as 197O FEBRUARY i97O the length of a boy's hair or a girl's M T W skirt leaves the school in a position to All agree: money 2 3 4 5 6 7 interpret the provisions arbitrarily. • If 9 10 11 12 13 14 The present policy, established by needed to fix roads 16 17 18 19 20 21 the county school board and in- 23 24 25 26 27 28 terpreted locally be each school's administration, includes statesment such as a male student's hair should be of "reasonable" length and worn in a"standard" hair style; girls are to Don't wear skirts or dresses of a Council race ends with "reasonable" length; and boys must wear socks. forget There is no precise definition of what is meant by "reasonable," so there should be some guidelines added students say.
  • Algonquians in Context: the End of the Spirituality of the Natural World Vernon Benjamin

    Algonquians in Context: the End of the Spirituality of the Natural World Vernon Benjamin

    Algonquians in Context: The End of the Spirituality of the Natural World Vernon Benjamin “When we have a sermon, sometimes ten or twelve of them, more or less, will attend, each having a long tobacco pipe, made by himself, in his mouth, and will stand awhile and look, and afterwards ask me what I was doing. I tell them that I admonish the Christians, that they must not steal, nor commit lewdness, nor get drunk, nor commit murder, and that they too ought not to do these things . They say I do well to teach the Christians; but immediately add, Diatennon jawij Assyreoni, hagiowisk, that is, ‘Why do so many Christians do these things?’” — Dominie Johannes Megapölensis Rensselaerswyck, 1644 “. .the chronic practice of describing man as a tool-using animal conceals some of the very facts that must be exposed and revaluated. Why, for example, if tools were so important to human development, did it take man at least half a million years . to shape anything but the crudest stone tools? Why is it that the lowest existing peoples . have elaborate ceremonials, a complicated kinship organization, and a finely differenti- ated language, capable of expressing every aspect of their experience?” — Lewis Mumford, 1966 “An ecosystem is a discrete community of plants and animals, together with the nonliving environment, occupying a certain space and time, having a flow-through of energy and raw materials in its operation, and composed of subsystems. For convenience of analysis, an ecosystem can be separated into its physical and biological components, although one should bear in mind that in nature the two are completely intermeshed in complex interactions.
  • Council Minutes 1655-1656

    Council Minutes 1655-1656

    Council Minutes 1655-1656 New Netherland Documents Series Volume VI ^:OVA.BUfi I C ^ u e W « ^ [ Adriaen van der Donck’s Map of New Netherland, 1656 Courtesy of the New York State Library; photo by Dietrich C. Gehring Council Minutes 1655-1656 ❖ Translated and Edited by CHARLES T. GEHRING SJQJ SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY PRESS Copyright © 1995 by The Holland Society of New York ALL RIGHTS RESERVED First Edition, 1995 95 96 97 98 99 6 5 4 3 21 The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements o f American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z 39.48-1984.@™ Produced with the support of The Holland Society o f New York and the New Netherland Project of the New York State Library The preparation of this volume was made possibl&in part by a grant from the Division of Research Programs of the National Endowment for the Humanities, an independent federal agency. This book is published with the assistance o f a grant from the John Ben Snow Foundation. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data New Netherland. Council. Council minutes, 1655-1656 / translated and edited by Charles T. Gehring. — lsted. p. cm. — (New Netherland documents series ; vol. 6) Includes index. ISBN 0-8156-2646-0 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. New York (State)— Politics and government—To 1775— Sources. 2. New York (State)— History—Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775— Sources. 3. New York (State)— Genealogy. 4. Dutch—New York (State)— History— 17th century—Sources. 5. Dutch Americans—New York (State)— Genealogy.
  • The Importance of Flushing

    The Importance of Flushing

    8 onsidering its significance— considering how foundational The it is to American history, to the root idea of a free society that we all take for granted— Cthe Flushing Remonstrance is a document that gets very little Importance respect. It could have some- thing to do with the name: it’s an awkward mouthful, is it not? In the first place, we must admit—and forgive us, of residents of a certain city in the borough of Queens—that if “Flushing” stirs something in people, it is not especially lofty. As to “remonstrance,” it Flushing might be interesting to query your co-workers or members of your family to see how BY RUSSELL SHORTO many can give you a reason- ably close definition of the Seventeenth-century settlers in Flushing word. Perhaps calling it The Long Island Protest would drafted a protest that became a watershed of have gotten the document bigger play over the centuries. religious freedom in the New World and “one Or something poetically in keeping with its era (only a reason why New York became New York.” few decades from that of Shakespeare): say, The NEW YORK archives • WINTER 2008 9 Complaint of Conscience. the New World colony. One directors of the West India The 350th anniversary of the Let’s both put this remark- of the principles of Dutch Company, which administered Flushing Remonstrance was able piece of paper in context tolerance was freedom of the colony, and to the provision celebrated throughout the fall with and outline its significance. conscience. According to Dutch in Dutch law that dictated a series of special programs and Flushing—the city in Queens— law, you couldn’t be harassed freedom of conscience.