Obama Cancels National Day of Prayer Service
This will no longer be the case. President Obama, apparently listening to complaints by atheists and others who hold that holding a religious service, no matter how inclusive, constitutes an official endorsement of religion, has canceled the National Day of Prayer service. This cancellation in turn has miffed evangelical Christians who see it as a slighting of religion.
The subject of religious observances have proven vexing for President Obama before. For many years Barack Obama attended the prestigious Trinity United Church of Christ then presided over by the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Reverend Wright's invective filled sermons were played and replayed repeatedly on television and talk radio and proved to be very embarrassing to the then Presidential candidate. Barack Obama, who was married at the Trinity United Church of Christ and considered at one time Reverend Wright as his spiritual advisor, was obliged at last to leave the church and to repudiate Reverend Wright.
Since becoming President, Barack Obama has had some indecision as to where to attend Sunday services. Any church in Washington that any President attends can become a focal point of attention.
President Reagan, a religious man, declined to attend Sunday services, pleading the problems of security. President Clinton, a man known more for his sinning than his piety, was often seen at the church door, Bible under his arm, schmoozing with the preacher.
Religion, as with everything else in American life, has become a political issue. President George W. Bush, a man of unusual piety, held the service of the annual Day of Prayer with the thought of celebrating the importance of religion in American life. President Bush underwent the same sort of criticism by the same sort of people who like to complain about-say-Christmas trees being displayed on public property.
President Obama seems to have decided to go the opposite way, de-emphasizing the role of religion in America and eschewing public celebrations of faith. Hence the cancellation of the Day of Prayer service.
This will no doubt please atheists and separation of Church and State advocates. But Barack Obama's cancellation of the Day of Prayer service is likely to miff everyone else. The United States is a religious nation, almost uniquely in the Western World. Any perceived slight against religion by no less than the President of the United States is likely to be noted with great antipathy.
Source: Obama ends Bush-era National Prayer Day service at White House, Johanna Neuman, LA Times, May 7th, 2009
Published by Mark Whittington
Mark R. Whittington is a writer residing in Houston, Texas. He is the author of The Last Moonwalker, Children of Apollo, Dark Sanction, and Nocturne. He has written numerous articles, some for the Washington... View profile
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100 Comments
Post a Comment... Memorial Day is coming up. Let's all remember the sacrifices that our men and women in the armed services have given for America; along with their families and love ones. Please pray for their safe return. We Americans LOVE our men and women that serve America. It's a shame that our leaders have sent our sons and daughters across the whole world to fight and die for no reasons at all. It is very easy to act strong and tough from the comfort of a big leather easy chair. While our sons and daughters die all over the world. No one can tell or comfort the love ones here at home that their sons and daughters gave their lives for a noble cause. When the whole world hates us. None of the countries that we have fought for, and died for are grateful to us. We need to think of America first for a change. When we are in trouble no one comes to help us. The world has become a big monkey on our back. They have a cruel bridle in our mouth; pulling us this way and that. Don't they car
It just takes a couple clicks to check facts...Right wingers are willing to belive anything, as long as it's against the U.S.
This is nothing more than rumors generated from SPAM email.
We should all pray for all mankind, this has been foretold through prophecy. Store up God's words into your hearts, as the times are here that all will see that Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Scripture says every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen
Why..God is still on the throne!!!!
People really need to check their facts before printing or maybe they have fallen subject to their own hype, that whatever they write is in fact a fact. Check snopes.com for the actual real story because the whole truth isn't here in this article. Just saying....
According to a 2000 Gallup Poll, 80 percent of Americans belief that God watches over them and answers their prayers.
With 300 Million people in America, that is 240 Million who still believe that God answers prayers
If we can get half of those people to Pray for Jobs, Health and Government in America,
We will see a healing of our country that will convince Everybody how Wonderful God is. Please help us spread the word
http://www.ra2.biz/national_prayer_day/
THIS IS HOW SAFE WE ARE HERE IN AMERICA!
Part 2
'Honor killings' in USA raise concerns
Some clerics and even lawmakers in these countries have said families have the right to commit honor killings as a way of maintaining values, according to an analysis by Yotam Feldner in the journal Middle East Quarterly.
MORE: Ariz. woman allegedly hit with car by Iraqi father dies
BRITAIN: Father found guilty in honor killing
In the USA, police allege the latest "honor killing" was that of Noor Almaleki, 20, who died Nov. 2 after she and her boyfriend's mother were run over in a Peoria, Ariz., parking lot. Prosecutors charged Almaleki's father, Faleh Almaleki, with murder, saying the Iraqi immigrant was upset that his daughter rejected a husband she married in Iraq and moved in with an American.
"By his own admission, this was an intentional act, and the reason was that his daughter had brought shame on him and his family," says Maricopa County prosecutor Stephanie Low, according to The Arizo
THIS IS HOW SAFE WE ARE HERE IN AMERICA!
'Honor killings' in USA raise concerns
Faleh Almaleki
Peoria Police Department via AP
By Oren Dorell, USA TODAY
Muslim immigrant men have been accused of six "honor killings" in the United States in the past two years, prompting concerns that the Muslim community and police need to do more to stop such crimes.
"There is broad support and acceptance of this idea in Islam, and we're going to see it more and more in the United States," says Robert Spencer, who has trained FBI and military authorities on Islam and founded Jihad Watch, which monitors radical Islam.
Honor killings are generally defined as murders of women by relatives who claim the victim brought shame to the family. Thousands of such killings have occurred in Muslim countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and Palestinian territories, according to the World Health Organization.
Some clerics and even lawmakers in these countries have said families have the right to commit
I am a Republican, that has voted Democrat at times. I do not like President Obama because he is not transparent. He is a hypocrite. Why? He does not observe The National Day of Prayer, which means anybody and everybody can pray. (Note: NOT the "CHRISTIAN NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER"). The reason given, is "he and his family pray everyday." Others have said, it has no place in the White House, separation of church and state, blah, blah, blah, etc. Well, helloooooooo, what did he celebrate last year and this year in THE WHITE HOUSE? Yep, Ramadan. The Muslim observance for fasting for a whole month. What bias and hypocricy he and others talk. It is NOT acceptable. If The National Day of Prayer is not good enough for the White House because it represents "one" religion, then Ramadan is also NOT good enough to observe in the White House for it REPRESENTS another. NOT ONE SINGLE MUSLIM FOUGHT FOR OUR INDEPENDENCE, NOR SIGNED THE CONTSTITUTION, OR HELP CONSTRUCT THE BILL OF RIGHTS!
Excellent reporting, Mark! Keep those comments and page views coming. :)