Group wants evangelist's Pentagon event canceled

By DAN ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer Dan Elliott, Associated Press Writer – Tue Apr 20, 9:30 pm ET
DENVER – A watchdog group objected Tuesday to an evangelist's invitation to speak at the Pentagon next month, saying his past description of Islam as "evil" offended Muslims who work for the Department of Defense and the appearance should be canceled.

Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said inviting evangelist Franklin Graham to speak May 6, the National Day of Prayer, "would be like bringing someone in on national prayer day madly denigrating Christianity" or other religious groups.

It would also endanger American troops by stirring up Muslim extremists, Weinstein said.

Graham is the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham and president and CEO of both Samaritan's Purse, a Christian international relief organization in Boone, N.C., and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, in Charlotte, N.C.

He said through a spokesman that he will be a guest of the Pentagon and will speak only if he's still invited. A military spokeswoman said she was locating officials to respond to the criticism.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100421/ap_on_re_us/us_day_of_prayer_military



---------

Once again we see the use of organized patriarchal religion as an underpinning for war and

warmongering -- handy little tool religion is!

Chumbawamba -- Walkin' Into Battle With the Lord

A new crusade to the Holy Land
Walking into battle with the Lord
An army of men under my command
Walking into battle with the Lord
Fight the good fight here at home
Walking into battle with the Lord
Send those men to kingdom come
Walking into battle with the Lord

Take my aim with a higher will
Trust my Lord to hold me still
Say 'amen' and shoot to kill
Walking into battle with the Lord
Walking into battle with the Lord

With open arms on Judgement Day
Walking into battle with the Lord
Teach the children how to pray
Walking into battle with the Lord
Faithful, blind, we all believe
Walking into battle with the Lord
I was taught by Adam but I blame it on Eve
Walking into battle with the Lord

All my words in kindness came
Your souls in mercy to reclaim
Cleanse this world of sin and shame
Walking into battle with the Lord
Walking into battle with the Lord

Holy Father, Mother Tongue
Walking into battle with the Lord
Manna from heaven, right from wrong
Walking into battle with the Lord
Take my place on the witness stand
Walking into battle with the Lord
Trigger fingers, praying hands
Walking into battle with the Lord

When two men meet on the field of war
They both ask 'what are we fighting for?'
And haven't we heard this all before?
Walking into battle with the Lord
Walking into battle with the Lord
Walking into battle with the Lord
Walking into battle with the Lord

After the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Graham said Islam "is a very evil and wicked religion." In a later op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal, Graham wrote that he did not believe Muslims were evil because of their faith, but "as a minister .... I believe it is my responsibility to speak out against the terrible deeds that are committed as a result of Islamic teaching."

I think Graham's appearance will only foster more hatred. We have so much hatred as is. I also find it 'evil' on the Pentagon's part. Haven't we learned that religion and wars feed on each other?

--imm

:nuke:

Franklin Graham is offensive. Having him speak at the Pentagon is offensive.

UGH!

Federal establishments are not for silly church services, if they want to hold a black mass, then they can do it elsewhere.

:thumbsup: