Shibboleth (The West Wing)
Encyclopedia
"Shibboleth" is the 30th episode of The West Wing
.
coast, where a group of illegal Chinese
immigrants have been apprehended by US agents. It turns out that they are seeking asylum in the United States
because they are Christians fleeing religious persecution. This claim causes a stir amongst the American Christian community, and Josh
and Sam
are dispatched to meet with religious leaders to discuss the issue.
Leo faces his own policy dilemma when Toby strongly suggests that Leo's sister Josephine be named as a recess appointee
because of her well-known views on the separation of church and state. Leo reluctantly agrees until he discovers that his sister arranged for a press photographer to capture the moment she ordered the arrest of a group of students who began praying at an athletic event. Leo convinces his sister to decline the appointment. Toby earns respect from Leo for offering a pragmatic reason to keep prayer out of public schools: it separates children from each other. His own personal experiences are written clearly enough that Leo asks sadly "What did they do to you?" Toby doesn't answer.
Meanwhile, C.J.
is given the responsibility of choosing the national Thanksgiving Day turkey
to be pardoned, which she has considerable difficulty doing. She must decide between two birds, but begs the President to pardon the runner-up when she discovers that the non-pardoned turkey will be slaughtered and eaten for dinner. This leads to a humorous scene in which President Bartlet
announces pardons the second turkey but then launches into a tirade about how he cannot actually pardon a turkey and how the young man who thinks that he can should "ask his teachers for a better education." Instead, Bartlet drafts
the turkey.
Throughout the episode, President Bartlet sends Charlie
on a seemingly never-ending hunt for a new carving knife. Unbeknownst to Charlie, President Bartlet is replacing his own personal knife, which he gives to Charlie. A touching scene in the Oval Office occurs when Charlie receives the knife and asks the President about the markings from the manufacturer — a P.R. — and is told that the knife was made for the Bartlet family by a silversmith
named Paul Revere
.
Having been warned that illegal immigrants from China are sometimes taught to feign faith, the President meets with a representative of the Chinese
refugees who convinces him of their need for asylum by answering Bible trivia questions and then admonishing President Bartlet that "faith is the true Shibboleth
." President Bartlet calls in the Red Cross and asks the Governor of California to have the National Guard stand down, and the Chinese government is told that the refugees had escaped from the United States military.
, is a word commonly used to mean any language usage indicative of one's social or regional origin. It originates from the Book of Judges
in the Bible, where the pronunciation of the word was used to test those claiming to be from Gilead
.
was settled in the 16th century.
When asked by President Bartlet to name the apostles, the Chinese Christian names eleven - Peter, Andrew, John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, Thaddeus, Simon, Judas and James. He neglects to note that there were two apostles named James.
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
.
Plot
The episode begins with a scene on the CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
coast, where a group of illegal Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
immigrants have been apprehended by US agents. It turns out that they are seeking asylum in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
because they are Christians fleeing religious persecution. This claim causes a stir amongst the American Christian community, and Josh
Josh Lyman
Joshua "Josh" Lyman is a fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he was White House Deputy Chief of Staff in the Josiah Bartlet administration...
and Sam
Sam Seaborn
Samuel Norman "Sam" Seaborn is a fictional character portrayed by Rob Lowe on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is best known for being Deputy White House Communications Director in the Josiah Bartlet administration throughout the first four seasons of the series.-Creation and...
are dispatched to meet with religious leaders to discuss the issue.
Leo faces his own policy dilemma when Toby strongly suggests that Leo's sister Josephine be named as a recess appointee
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
because of her well-known views on the separation of church and state. Leo reluctantly agrees until he discovers that his sister arranged for a press photographer to capture the moment she ordered the arrest of a group of students who began praying at an athletic event. Leo convinces his sister to decline the appointment. Toby earns respect from Leo for offering a pragmatic reason to keep prayer out of public schools: it separates children from each other. His own personal experiences are written clearly enough that Leo asks sadly "What did they do to you?" Toby doesn't answer.
Meanwhile, C.J.
C. J. Cregg
Claudia Jean "C. J." Cregg is a fictional character played by Allison Janney on the television serial drama The West Wing. From the beginning of the series until the sixth season, she is White House Press Secretary in the administration of President Josiah Bartlet...
is given the responsibility of choosing the national Thanksgiving Day turkey
National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation
National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation is a ceremony that takes place at the White House every year shortly before Thanksgiving. The President of the United States is presented with a live domestic turkey, usually of the Broad Breasted White variety. Generally the National Turkey Federation and...
to be pardoned, which she has considerable difficulty doing. She must decide between two birds, but begs the President to pardon the runner-up when she discovers that the non-pardoned turkey will be slaughtered and eaten for dinner. This leads to a humorous scene in which President Bartlet
Josiah Bartlet
Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is President of the United States for the entire series until the last episode, when his successor is inaugurated...
announces pardons the second turkey but then launches into a tirade about how he cannot actually pardon a turkey and how the young man who thinks that he can should "ask his teachers for a better education." Instead, Bartlet drafts
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
the turkey.
Throughout the episode, President Bartlet sends Charlie
Charlie Young
Charles 'Charlie' Young is a fictional character played by Dulé Hill on the television serial drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he is the Personal Aide to President Josiah Bartlet.-Creation and development:...
on a seemingly never-ending hunt for a new carving knife. Unbeknownst to Charlie, President Bartlet is replacing his own personal knife, which he gives to Charlie. A touching scene in the Oval Office occurs when Charlie receives the knife and asks the President about the markings from the manufacturer — a P.R. — and is told that the knife was made for the Bartlet family by a silversmith
Silversmith
A silversmith is a craftsperson who makes objects from silver or gold. The terms 'silversmith' and 'goldsmith' are not synonyms as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are or were largely the same but the end product varies greatly as does the scale of objects created.Silversmithing is the...
named Paul Revere
Paul Revere
Paul Revere was an American silversmith and a patriot in the American Revolution. He is most famous for alerting Colonial militia of approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord, as dramatized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, Paul Revere's Ride...
.
Having been warned that illegal immigrants from China are sometimes taught to feign faith, the President meets with a representative of the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
refugees who convinces him of their need for asylum by answering Bible trivia questions and then admonishing President Bartlet that "faith is the true Shibboleth
Shibboleth
A shibboleth is a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important...
." President Bartlet calls in the Red Cross and asks the Governor of California to have the National Guard stand down, and the Chinese government is told that the refugees had escaped from the United States military.
Title
The title, ShibbolethShibboleth
A shibboleth is a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important...
, is a word commonly used to mean any language usage indicative of one's social or regional origin. It originates from the Book of Judges
Book of Judges
The Book of Judges is the seventh book of the Hebrew bible and the Christian Old Testament. Its title describes its contents: it contains the history of Biblical judges, divinely inspired prophets whose direct knowledge of Yahweh allows them to act as decision-makers for the Israelites, as...
in the Bible, where the pronunciation of the word was used to test those claiming to be from Gilead
Gilead
In the Bible "Gilead" means hill of testimony or mound of witness, , a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, situated in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It is also referred to by the Aramaic name Yegar-Sahadutha, which carries the same meaning as the Hebrew . From its mountainous character...
.
Errors
While chastising C.J. for mixing up several historical events, Toby inaccurately says that JamestownJamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
was settled in the 16th century.
When asked by President Bartlet to name the apostles, the Chinese Christian names eleven - Peter, Andrew, John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, Thaddeus, Simon, Judas and James. He neglects to note that there were two apostles named James.