When you're constantly under fire and you have an ounce of courage in you, that courage is bound to sneak out once in a while ... and in the most unlikely of places.
Google a transcript of President Obama's National Day of Prayer Speech and you might be confused: the transcript given out to USA Today is very different than the transcript given out AFTER the Breakfast. Read the PDF given over to USA Today and you'll find these very important words: "As Prepared for Delivery." The one actually given was different in many ways.
It was longer
It didn't mention Jesus
It mentioned God more often
Its key words were "God" "Faith" "Without" and "Civility"
It mentioned Uganda
It mentioned other religions
It referenced gay marriage
And some of the audience took umbrage with his inclusion of other faiths.
A "CHRISTIANS ONLY" AFFAIR!:
from Beyond Religion:
Anyone can attend the National Day of Prayer, but only Christians can lead said prayers. So the National Day of Prayer is really the National Day of Christian Led Prayers to the Christian God who, because he is Jewish, is excluded from leading prayers during His Own National Day of Prayer. This is what really pisses me off-- if Jesus Himself came down from heaven and asked to lead a prayer at any of today's National Day of Prayer events he would be denied.
The worst misstep of today's speech? When the president said that "God's grace" is expressed "by Americans of every faith, and no faith, uniting around a common purpose, a higher purpose." Uh, no it isn't -- unless my definition of atheism is different than his. Most atheists insist that God's grace most certainly is not expressed through them, and that there are no "higher" purposes. While we may all come together for "a purpose" like relief work in Haiti, poverty, AIDS, or world hunger no atheist I know would consider this God's work.
"Willingness" and "openness" smack of lefty commie-pinko socialism!...we all share a recognition -- one as old as time -- that a willingness to believe, an openness to grace, a commitment to prayer can bring sustenance to our lives.
God's grace, and the compassion and decency of the American people is expressed through ... evangelicals at World Relief. By the American Jewish World Service. By Hindu temples, and mainline Protestants, Catholic Relief Services, African American churches, the United Sikhs. By Americans of every faith, and no faith, uniting around a common purpose, a higher purpose.
How DARE he be so inclusive! How DARE he mention atheists and pagans and the like! THIS IS A CHRISTIAN EVENT!!
We see that in many conservative pastors who are helping lead the way to fix our broken immigration system. It's not what would be expected from them, and yet they recognize, in those immigrant families, the face of God.
Is he insinuating that our pastors have no compassion for illegals?
Yes, there are crimes of conscience that call us to action. Yes, there are causes that move our hearts and offenses that stir our souls. But progress doesn't come when we demonize opponents. It's not born in righteous spite. Progress comes when we open our hearts, when we extend our hands, when we recognize our common humanity.
we've turned the faith-based initiative around to find common ground among people of all beliefs, allowing them to make an impact in a way that's civil and respectful of difference and focused on what matters most.
There he goes again! Putting us on the par with every other religion! A subtle dig against us!
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