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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBen Carson adds the $1 bill to his list of off-the-wall theories
By Steve Benen
Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson spoke at the Republican Jewish Coalition forum yesterday and raised a few eyebrows with his bizarre delivery, effectively reading a history of Israel for reasons no one could explain. He also kept pronouncing Hamas as hummus, making it seem as if Carson had very serious concerns about the influence of ground chickpeas in the Middle East.
But for my money, the really notable part about Carsons strange appearance was his thoughts on, of all things, the $1 bill. ABC News reported:
Only one problem: Theres no Star of David on the dollar bill.
Apparently, Carson believes that if you look at the back of a dollar bill on the right, just above the eagle youll see stars in a shape resembling the Star of David. The presidential hopeful told his audience yesterday about a wealthy Jewish merchant, Haym Salomon, who is believed to have helped finance George Washingtons army during the Revolutionary War.
more
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/ben-carson-adds-the-1-bill-his-list-the-wall-theories
Docreed2003
(16,883 posts)I pulled out a buck just to make sure I wasn't as insane as Carson. Yep, just regular old five pointed stars, not the Star of David
Recursion
(56,582 posts)brush
(53,924 posts)I'm looking at a one dollar bill right now and I see the five-pointed stars in a row, not in the shape of a six-pointed star.
Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)The 13 stars above the eagle are arranged in the shape of a six-pointed star. Have been since the first die for the Great Seal of the US was cut in 1782. The arrangement, according to Wikipedia at least, was probably the work of the engraver, since it wasn't specified in the blazon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Seal_of_the_United_States#First_die
brush
(53,924 posts)but if was to represent the Star of David why wouldn't the engraver have just drawn the six-pointed star?
And present-day Israel didn't come into existence until 1947, long after that engraving was done.
I think Carson just committed another screw-up that reveals his range of knowledge is pretty narrow.
Old Codger
(4,205 posts)Is minute, his depth of ignorance is deep and wide...
brush
(53,924 posts)Well said.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Mendocino
(7,514 posts)stars were simply put in that pattern for symmetry. Thirteen units do not lend themselves to good graphics. Plus there is the symbolic, many small stars (states) come together to form one large (a nation).
brush
(53,924 posts)Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)Mendocino
(7,514 posts)you posted in #28 are five star.
redwitch
(14,950 posts)LiberalElite
(14,691 posts)of things Carson gets wrong. This explanation of the stars over the eagle on the back of the dollar bill is from the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia:
" The 13 stars above the eagle represent a new constellation taking its place in the universe, in the same way that a new nation takes its place among the other sovereign nations. "
uppityperson
(115,681 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)It's part of the great seal.
elias49
(4,259 posts)MiniMe
(21,719 posts)Of course, they really aren't worth anything more than a dollar now. But it is neat to have them
elias49
(4,259 posts)Like finding a Liberty half dollar.
Used to collect coins etc as a kid.
MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)I can see them any time I want.
Now THERE!
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)He's stoned out of his damn mind.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)I was a stoner at that level back then, but I was more into obscure theories about prog rock and Krautrock.
Yorktown
(2,884 posts)Photographer
(1,142 posts)I think he must be self medicating. That kind of stupid doesn't come naturally.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)The 13 stars are in a Star of David formation.
Here's the first die of the original seal:
If anything it's even more clear in that.
Docreed2003
(16,883 posts)You'd be hard pressed to suggest that it is meant to be a "Star of David" and an emblem of Israel at the time the seal was created, because the "Star of David" wasn't accepted widespread as a symbol for Judiasm until the 18C
VMA131Marine
(4,158 posts)or did you mean the 1800's
Docreed2003
(16,883 posts)The end of the 18th C with the end of the French Revolution
Recursion
(56,582 posts)It was definitely a known symbol of Solomon's temple, if not Judaism per se. (Ironically, the Pyramid that everybody associates with Freemasonry on the left side isn't particularly Masonic...)
Docreed2003
(16,883 posts)Be interesting to know if the designer of the was a Freemason
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)angrychair
(8,738 posts)Thing made me laugh so hard I almost hurt myself. What a ignorant jackass.
struggle4progress
(118,379 posts)pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)struggle4progress
(118,379 posts)build the pyramids and fill them with grain
But I find myself wondering why Salmon Chase's lovely portrait was later removed from the bill design
George Washington graced the bill in 1880, but by 1886 he'd been replaced by wife Martha; and in 1896 George and Martha are on the back of the bill
The front of the 1928 version looks like today's bill but the back is different: no grain storage pyramid, no flying eye ...
Recursion
(56,582 posts)And, yes, the 13 stars are deliberately in a star of David formation.
Docreed2003
(16,883 posts)When you understand that the "Star of David" wasn't accepted as a symbol of the Jews until the 18c, and he is suggesting that the symbology was placed their by the founders, which has been debunked numerous times
VMA131Marine
(4,158 posts)lindysalsagal
(20,747 posts)Treasure of New York. Washington. 18 thingys at the top and bottom. 6 thingys in the middle. Looks like some guy dropped anything on had that had anything at all to do with the government, and everyone else said, "well, ok."
struggle4progress
(118,379 posts)rurallib
(62,465 posts)the horse named Carson slipped off the track to sniff some loco weed and take a shit.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Does nobody else see that?
pansypoo53219
(21,004 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)But there's one very clearly there.
Generic Other
(28,979 posts)The founding fathers were into Masonic symbols. Kinda of like the Revolutionary Brotherhood, right? They had the supersecret handshake and decoder ring. Makes sense they would include all sorts of symbols. I looked that one up. Was not technically the star of David until the 17th century and not adopted by us until much later. It was a talisman or charm not a direct reference tying the wearer to Judaism.
VMA131Marine
(4,158 posts)but that doesn't mean its a Star of David any more than this is a symbol of Devil worship
[url=https://flic.kr/p/ATPpU4][img][/img][/url]
There is this though from Wikipedia:
"The interlacing triangles or deltas symbolize the union of the two principles or forces, the active and passive, male and female, pervading the universe ... The two triangles, one white and the other black, interlacing, typify the mingling of apparent opposites in nature, darkness and light, error and truth, ignorance and wisdom, evil and good, throughout human life." Albert G. Mackey: Encyclopedia of Freemasonry
The hexagram, one of the world's most ancient symbols, is featured within and on the outside of many Masonic temples as a decoration. It may have been found within the structures of King Solomon's temple, from which Freemasons are inspired in their philosophies and studies. Like many other symbols in Freemasonry, the deciphering of the hexagram is non-dogmatic and left to the interpretation of the individual.
So the star on the dollar is more likely to have its origins in Freemasonry .....
Recursion
(56,582 posts)He's absolutely wrong about its significance;I was just surprised people didn't seem to see the figure itself.
Snobblevitch
(1,958 posts)believes about the $1 bill. I do think we should stop printing $1, $2, and $5 bills and mint coins in those denominations.
Brother Buzz
(36,478 posts)In the novel (hello Carson, it's a novel, not history) there are actually two Stars of David; one is the cluster of stars above the eagle on the back
and the other needs to drawn over the unfinished pyramid. Mason? Hmm,
Docreed2003
(16,883 posts)Haym Salomon, although a real and influential person, had no impact on the design of the national seal whatsoever.
Initech
(100,108 posts)Enrique
(27,461 posts)brush
(53,924 posts)Might be Carson's next sharing of his "wisdom".
madokie
(51,076 posts)The last person who we should want in the whitehouse as President. He's even nuttier than tRump if thats possible that is
madinmaryland
(64,933 posts)saltpoint
(50,986 posts)you can perceive animal shapes in passing clouds.
I saw a crocodile once.
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)SheilaT
(23,156 posts)and the Star of David is a common feature in RC Churches, especially in the stained glass. Maybe that just indicates that the Church more clearly understands its roots in Judaism, than those Johnny-come-lately Protestants.
Mendocino
(7,514 posts)the swastika is and was a common symbol in several eastern religions, doesn't make those Nazi. Also does the fact that many sheriff stars are six sided doesn't make law enforcement Jewish.