Another sign that the First Amendment and religious liberty means little to the Obama administration. It's far more important to kowtow to islamic pressure groups like CAIR. ************************************************ Army disinvites Graham to Pentagon Prayer Day Associated Press WASHINGTON WASHINGTON (AP) â Evangelist Franklin Graham's invitation to speak at a Pentagon prayer service has been rescinded because his comments about Islam were inappropriate, the Army said Thursday. WASHINGTON (AP) â Evangelist Franklin Graham's invitation to speak at a Pentagon prayer service has been rescinded because his comments about Islam were inappropriate, the Army said Thursday. Graham, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, in 2001 described Islam as evil. More recently, he has said he finds Islam offensive and wants Muslims to know that Jesus Christ died for their sins. Army spokesman Col. Tom Collins said Graham's remarks were "not appropriate." "We're an all-inclusive military," Collins said. "We honor all faiths. ... Our message to our service and civilian work force is about the need for diversity and appreciation of all faiths." The Military Religious Freedom Foundation had raised the objection to Graham's appearance, citing his past remarks about Islam. Collins said earlier this week that the invitation to attend the National Day of Prayer event at the Pentagon wasn't from the military but from the Colorado-based National Day of Prayer Task Force, which works with the Pentagon chaplain's office on the prayer event. As co-honorary chair of the task force, Graham was expected to be the lead speaker at the May 6 Pentagon service. Country singer Ricky Skaggs was expected to perform. Since Graham's invitation was rescinded, the task force has decided not to participate in the military prayer service, Collins said. The decision suggests a growing sensitivity in recent years among senior Pentagon officials to the divide between the U.S. military and Muslims. Graham attended a Pentagon prayer service in 2003, despite objections by Muslim groups. Graham said he regrets that the Army felt its decision was necessary. In a statement, Graham said he would continue to pray for the troops to "give them guidance, wisdom and protection as they serve this great country." Nihad Awad, national executive director of Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Graham's invitation would have sent "entirely the wrong message" at a time when troops are stationed in Muslim nations. "Promoting one's own religious beliefs is something to be defended and encouraged, but other faiths should not be attacked or misrepresented in the process," Awad said. Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of the prayer task force, said Wednesday that U.S. leaders have called for a day of prayer during times of crisis since 1775 but the tradition is under attack. "Enough is enough," said Dobson, wife of conservative Christian leader James Dobson. "We at the National Day of Prayer Task Force ask the American people to defend the right to pray in the Pentagon." She called on President Barack Obama to appeal a ruling by a federal judge in Wisconsin last week that the National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional because it amounts to a call for religious action. The judge did not bar any observances until all appeals are exhausted. The Obama administration said Thursday it would appeal. Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation said Graham shouldn't have been invited in the first place. "I want to say this is a victory, but in a way it's a Pyrrhic victory because it shows how far this got," Weinstein said. "We're not exactly doing cartwheels." Weinstein said he hopes someone more "inclusive" will be invited to replace Graham. Collins said there was no word yet on who would lead the event. ___
They are right to do this. Align themselves with the good side of Islam. The faith has over a billion followers and, what, half a million violent fundamentalists at the most? To me this looks like a "hearts and minds" strategy at work.
why should a preacher even be making a speech at the pentagon? the government has no business promoting organized superstition.
AAA, i like you, and agree with you on 99% of issues, however on this one i think that it is not just the typical witch hunt against christianity. There is no way in hell they would have allowed someone who was expressing anti semitic views to speak, why should this case be any different? It is one thing to be persecuted based on your own religious beliefs, but it is a totally different scenario when you choose to persecute someone else based on their religious beliefs. He didnt get booted for his own choice of religion, he got booted for expressing negative sentiment against another religion. There is a huge difference.
Graham, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, in 2001 described Islam as evil. Don't mean to get off topic here but do people of Islam have anything good to say about other religions?
Franklin Graham has never persecuted anyone. He has expressed his religious viewpoint, which is what religious freedom is all about. The government wants this sterilized, generic religion that treats every religion exactly the same, no matter what. That is another way of saying they want to censor religious expression. You can make the point that they don't want to sponsor "controversial" views, but then you give a veto right to those who are trying to hide their agenda behind a facade of complaints, people like CAIR. The fact is that a lot about islam is evil and much of the evil done in the world today is done in its name. Our govenrment is so PC, and I don't limit it to Obama because Bush did the same thing, that we are not allowed to say it or to say we are fighting islamic terroism. Probably 95% or more of the troops are Christians, and to deny the most prominent Christian leader a role at this event was outrageous. Typical of Obama, but outrageous neverthe less.
How's that working out in Afghanistan? Maybe they would love us even more if we just made islam the national religion, which of course is what they would do. No liberal would have a problem with a preacher who said something controversial or insulting, provided it was insulting to traditional religion or conservatives. Then we would be getting the lectures about the importance of diviserity, tolerance, respecting differences of opinion, etc. Funny how that only works one way.
if a muslim or jewish preacher made the statement that christianity was evil because it encouraged and covered up rape of little boys do you think he would get an invite to speak at the pentagon?