January 25, 2005
Is the U.S. thumping the Bible?
M. Mae
http://www.opinioneditorials.com/freedomwriters/mmae_20050125.html
Republican, Democrat, Right, Left, it doesn't matter; this is a question
for all of us. Is the United States thumping the Bible at the rest of the
world? The message is apparently coming across loud and clear
internationally, yet it's not a message we ought to be sending. It's
almost one of hypocrisy.
Whether they listen to the newly re-elected President Bush give his
inaugural speech, or listen to the missionaries claiming to be aid workers
showing up in their refugee camps, again the message is coming across loud
and clear. The United States is sending a very bad impression to the rest
of the world, that our mission is Christian. From our preaching President,
to what could be called a Holy War in Iraq, to the proselytizing of needy
victims in Sri Lanka after the Tsunami's. I ask; Where in GOD'S name is the
separation of church and state?
Earlier this month in Moraketiya, Sri Lanka Americans from the Antioch
Church, based in Waco Texas, showed up and offered more than humanitarian
aide to victims of the Tsunami's. They came with the purpose of offering
somethingelse, namely Jesus. Rev. Duleep Fernando, a Methodist minister in
Columbo, the Capitol, brought the Americans to a refugee camp and said they
had described themselves as humanitarian aid workers. Upon arriving however
they've began proselytizing. It's been reported that plays have been staged
detailing the life of Jesus, children have been drawing pictures of him,
and the group has even held prayer groups where they have tried to heal a
twelve year old deaf girl, all in the name of Jesus of coarse. Local
religious leaders have begun raising concerns about the American relief
efforts. Proselytizing, especially during such times of need, will not
only backfire against the Christians from Sri Lanka but the United States
as a whole.
At a time when our intentions are constantly being questioned around the
world, I'm quite certain that a Christian mission is not one we ought to be
sending. Not only is it coming from our so-called humanitarian aid workers
but from our Commander in Chief as well. I find it anomalous that today
everyone is so shocked by the preacher like words of President Bush? It
can't be because his message is new, because it's not. And I don't think
it's because they agree or necessarily disagree; but because time & time
again the man seems to ignore the separation of church and state and comes
across as sounding like his Presidency is actually one of missionary work.
Whether you are Christian or not, this is most certainly a horrible message
to send from the leader of the free world; now. And President Bush only
seems to continue pushing the envelope farther and farther.
During GW's first gubernatorial campaign Bush granted an interview for Ken
Herman of the Houston Post. During this interview Bush reflected upon a
disagreement that he & his mother had on religious doctrine: Did one need
to accept Jesus as his savior to go to heaven? Unable to settle the issue
they called Rev. Billy Graham, whom sided with Barbara Bush: "Since there
was no way of knowing what happened in the afterworld, it was best just to
live your life well here on earth and have faith in God". A modest response
from Graham but, as Bush confided to Herman, he still believed that
salvation must be a prerequisite for eternal life. The full story went to
press and the Muslims, Jews, and non-believers in Bush country were
outraged to learn their prospective Governor believed they were condemned
for eternal damnation. Bush never recanted nor apologized. As we know, Bush
won the race anyway.
Later Southern Baptist leader Richard Land recalls the afternoon of
Bush's second gubernatorial inauguration, when Bush gathered a few trusted
colleagues in his office to announce, "God wants me to be president." Wow,
that's a huge statement, on any account. A few years later during a
televised Presidential primary debate in 99 Bush was asked what "political
philosopher or thinker" had most influenced him and why, Bush responded
"Christ, because he changed my heart." I can still here the gasps!
We're told that Bush once brandished a copy of the bible during a speech on
federal funding for faith-based charities, saying, "This is the only
handbook you need. This handbook is a good go-by." While that might be true
for Bush personally, one has to wonder if he's actually capable of
separating his personal beliefs from public policy, and there's the
problem.
As the Rev. Welton Gaddy, leader of a liberal Christian coalition, points
out, in a nation founded on freedom of religious practice, promoting the
Good Book as a manual for public policy is a disquieting choice. Especially
since, of the $100 million so far dispensed to faith-based charities by the
Bush administration, not one dollar has gone to a Jewish or Muslim
organization.
Jim Wallis, editor of the Christian magazine Sojourners, recalls a speech
given by Bush to mark the first anniversary of Sept. 11. Sharing the frame
with the Statue of Liberty, Bush compared America's mission to conquer
terrorism to "the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall
not overcome it." Cut to a shot of an open Bible-the line comes directly
from the beginning of the Gospel of John, where, as Wallis points out, "the
light that shines in darkness" is a prophetic reference to Christ's mission
on earth. During Bush's 12-minute inaugural address on Jan. 20, 2005 there
are almost too many religious references to quote. Richard Land, president
of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission,
hailed the address as the "most overtly religious speech in its tone of any
inaugural address in living memory." At the same time, Bush's words sounded
inauspicious to Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for
Separation of Church and State. "There were times in this address when it
appeared Bush had not only been elected president, but also elected
national pastor," Lynn said. "His suggestion that churches would play an
honored role in his plans and laws demonstrates his deep misunderstanding
of the constitutional separation of church and state." Is it a
misunderstanding? I don't really know.
General William G. Boykin, one of Bush's top generals, has publicly stated
that the mission of the American military is to defeat Islam in the name of
Christianity. Preaching in his military uniform before a religious
congregation in Oregon in June 2004, General Boykin proclaimed, "We're a
Christian nation, because our foundation and our roots are Judeo-Christian.
Did I say Judeo-Christian? Yes. Judeo-Christian." He continued, "The enemy
that has come against our nation is a spiritual enemy. His name is Satan.
And if you do not believe that Satan is real, you are ignoring the same
Bible that tells you about God." Still more, still in military uniform,
General Boykin said of George W. Bush that, "He was appointed by God" to be
leader of the United States. Just as Bush proclaimed.
Bush has never stated
that he agrees with General Boykin, and I think the term radical might be
appropriate to describe him. Yet one might think the Bush Administration is
actually supporting General Boykin. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has
refused to criticize General William Boykin's ideas about an American holy
Crusade against Islam. George W. Bush also promoted Boykin to the position
of Deputy Under-Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. Bush has never
stated that he shares these same radical religious beliefs but one has to
wonder why he would continue to tighten the General's relationship with the
White House. What do we expect the world to think?
Now I happen to be a practicing Roman Catholic, a Republican, voted for
Bush, and whole heartedly believe in spreading the Good News. I think it
would be juvenile to believe that elected officials can somehow check their
faith at the door of their offices. A persons faith makes up a lot of whom
they are as a living being, but I think it is certainly just to not only
assume but insist that when addressing the public or public policy, it is
certainly to be kept in check. There is the line that must not be crossed.
Our nation, our public is not a Christian public it's a free republic. Just
ask the Jews, Muslims, Atheists, and dare I even say it, the gays of this
country. If not, where's their voice in this so-called land of freedom? Our
elected officials are elected to govern this nation, not use their office
for their own religious movement. To do so would make the United States
guilty of living such a blatant hypocrisy.
The world hears us thumping, do you?
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