Toward an American Shibboleth!

by Tim Wingate

Exclusive to STR

January 26, 2007

“Once an individual who would advance liberty has settled on self-perfection as correct method, the first fact to bear in mind is that ours is not a numbers problem. Were it necessary to bring a majority into a comprehension of the libertarian philosophy, the cause of liberty would be utterly hopeless. Every significant movement in history has been led by one or just a few individuals with a small minority of energetic supporters.” ~ Leonard E. Read

“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.” ~ Samuel Adams

The story behind the word is recorded in the biblical Book of Judges Chapter 12, verses 1-15. The word shibboleth in ancient Hebrew dialects meant “ear of grain” or “torrent.” Cousins and countrymen, members of the two Israelite tribes Ephraim and Manasseh, have a quarrel over booty from a battle that Ephraim sat out. The Ephraimites invade Manasseh’s area of Gilead and are defeated. The survivors attempt to retreat across the river Jordan back to Ephraim. The Gileadites set up a blockade to catch the fleeing Ephraimites. The sentries asked each person to say the word shibboleth. The Ephraimites, who had no sh sound in their dialect, pronounced the word with an s and were thereby unmasked as the enemy and executed. Book of Judges 12:5-6. Click here for more.