I came across this charming item out in the cybersphere today, being passed along the email chains...
And I just have to wonder what people are THINKING out there. Is there THAT much fear?
In 1952 President Truman established one day a year as a National Day of Prayer.
In 1988, President Reagan designated the first Thursday in May of each year as the National Day of Prayer.
This year however, President Obama, decided to cancel the ceremony at the White House <span style="text-decoration:underline;">not wanting to offend anyone.</span>
Presidential candidate Barack Obama declared the USA was no longer a Christian nation. Now see if you can wrap your brain around this: On September 25, 2009 from 4am until 7pm, a <span style="text-decoration:underline;">National Day of Prayer for the Muslim religion</span> will be held on Capitol Hill, beside the White House. They are expecting over 50,000 muslims that day in DC. ... [More]
The website (yes, there is a very informative website) is: www.islamoncapitolhill.com Pay particular attention to the very bottom of the page: "OUR TIME HAS COME". Could it be that the REAL agenda of the President is becoming more plain? The evidence is there.
The scripture verse in 2 Chronicles 7:14 says "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." ..... this becomes more important each day.
Please share this with your friends.
Well... Okay then. Consider yourself ... um... shared. I don't want to go off on a rant here but...
But there's a political misstep for you. Um... Not.
The whole "Christian Nation" thing does rather fly at odds with the doctrine of Separation of Church and State and the principle of Freedom of Religion that kept this nation from fracturing at it's very inception. Quick History, of the 13 original colonies, 2 were mercantile, one was a penal colony, and the rest were RELIGIOUS colonies, and all DIFFERENT. So the 1st Amendment was largely designed to reassure the new states that the Federal Government would not interfere with their individual religious (yes, overwhelmingly Christian) paths. Most of these people fled Europe due to religious persecution to make their way in the New World.
That said, I think the Government as a whole, and that includes the Obama Administration, properly ought to back the heck off religious issues altogether beyond insuring that all of its Citizens can peacefully worship as they see fit. That absolutely includes the current push towards inserting religious doctrine into the Law of the Land in social legislation. But there should not be any problem with celebrating the spiritual diversity of our Nation in a benign manner, so long as no one religion receives singular preferential treatment.
DID take a quick look at the Islam on Capitol Hill site, and as far as I can tell, it is a private enterprise without government sponsorship. Well, on the surface anyway, I don't really have the time to heavily research the organization. But at first glance, this enterprise does not seem to be any kind of Administration initiative or government action of any kind. Still, not My thing or my personal path, but hey, let them pray if they want to. It wouldn't hurt, and might even HELP.
But on the other hand, we HAVE come a bit of a way. Did you know that Native Americans were forbidden to practice THEIR religions until 1978? [ American Indian Religious Freedom Act] So all of what survives to this day, was due to stubborn and courageous elders and traditional people sticking to their paths and willing to commit Federal Felonies to practice their spirituality. That's the Sweat Lodge, Pipe ceremony, Sundance, ALL OF IT. Mind you, it was still the law, even on the Reservations, which were considered Sovereign territory. But the reality was, "sort of." The "Red Savages" were supposed to be "Terminated" [Official term!] and turned into Christian "honorary White People" by missionaries, by force if necessary, and absorbed into mainstream society, their religion and culture eradicated. That was Official Government Policy for nearly a century. So by comparison, things ARE moving along.
What does raise the eyebrow, is when folks get all crazed about conspiracies based on a few, most likely unrelated, incidents. But that's what they WANT to believe. Mind you, if I recall correctly, President Obama is a Christian. (Didn't prevent Rev Wright from being a jackass.) But of course the entire conspiracy theme rests on the bag of bullshit cynical rumor that "Obama is a Secret Muslim", which is OF COURSE revealed in his rejection of the "Christian Nation" and National [CHRISTIAN ] Day of prayer.
And of all things, coincidental of course, Pagan Pride Day tomorrow in NYC. I am leading some drumming and speaking about Shamanism and Native Spiritual Paths. So I HAVE thought about this stuff. Essentially, Freedom of Religion means EVERY Religion. Or, none at all. [ Thank you, rfall.]
That's just my opinion, I could be wrong. But I DO think I have history and common sense with me on this one. Not that the hysterical ones out there will much care about minor details like history or common sense.
Banzai.