Graham’s visit

Published On: April 23, 2010|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|0 Comments|

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Greetings MRFF,

I write to you about the revoking of Franklin Graham’s invitation to speak at the Pentagon.  The MRFF states it’s case at to Graham’s comments on Islam.  Well, Have ANY of you ever read the Quran?  Franklin Graham SPEAKS THE TRUTH about Islam.  Sometimes the truth is tough and obviusly the MRFF seems pretty spineless.  Doesn’t the MRFF stand for Military Religious FREEDOM Foundation.  It seems that Christianity is being singled out here, Folks.

IF WE CONTINUE TO KICK JESUS OUT OF THIS COUNTRY……IT WILL FALL!

Sincerely,
(name withheld)

Dear Mr. (name withheld),
There is a prolific myth growing legs in America, and that is the assertion that the United States of America was founded as a Christian Nation. I have no doubt that my rebuttal will do little if anything at all to change your mind, but as a courtesy we respond to incoming emails.
A fellow MRFF colleague has summed up the facts as follows:
1796 Treaty of Tripoli

(Passed by Congress and signed by President Adams in 1797) had to say – here’s

Article 11 of the treaty:
“As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”

It also bears noting that in signing this treaty into law, President Adams said, “Now be it known, That I John Adams, President of the United States of America, having seen and considered the said Treaty do, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, accept, ratify, and confirm the same, and every clause and article thereof. And to the End that the said Treaty may be observed, and performed with good Faith on the part of the United States, I have ordered the premises to be made public; And I do hereby enjoin and require all persons bearing office civil or military within the United States, and all other citizens or inhabitants thereof, faithfully to observe and fulfill the said Treaty and every clause and article thereof.”

I know this flies in the face of revisionist history disseminated by zealot Christian Dominionist leaders, Fox Infotainment and other entities of self-interest…but nonetheless this is the reality. We at MRFF are in no way an “anti-Christian” foundation as so many proclaim. We are in fact defenders of freedom of religion and the rights of our enlisted to be free from manipulative proselytizing – no matter what faith or who the messenger.
This includes all who stand on government property owned by the people (not JUST the Christian population) and proclaim a single religion as the dominant faith in our country, no matter their celebrity status.
We are at war. That war is in a region dominated by people of Islamic faith. We do not need a featured speaker at our Pentagon preaching the evils of Islam, and proclaiming Christianity as the one true faith. This creates an extremely dangerous environment for our troops and our position in the world at large.
Mr. Graham is welcome to preach his message, hold national vigils, reach tens of thousands of people as devoutly as he would like…just not on the grounds owned by ALL Americans, including American Muslims, Mormons (who were also told they were not welcome by Mr. Graham’s organizing committee), Jews, Buddhists, Wiccans, Pagans and all others in America including those of no faith at all. The IRS does not separate tax dollars based on the faith of the taxpayer. Which brings us to our overriding goal at MRFF, and that is a complete separation of church & state. Period. That is not anti-religion; it is freedom of religion for all without state interference. My prayers are with you as well, and as a mainstream Christian I embrace the day that we can truly follow in the loving message of Jesus to love our neighbors. Too much violence has been perpetrated throughout history and around the globe in BOTH the name of God and Allah. Religious wars have wreaked untold atrocities as Christians and Islamics. I sincerely doubt that you would have sat back and remained calm if a clergy member of the American Muslim community had been the invited featured speaker at the Pentagon on May 6 rather than Mr. Graham. Why? Because you consider your faith to be Christian. Well, they feel the same about their faith, that those who do not believe in Islam are misguided. This argument is age-old and will not end.

But…it is NOT the job of the American government to appear represented or favoring any one faith over another. Christianity is not being removed from America, just America’s government. Big difference.

Leah L. Burton
Member, Board of Directors
Military Religious Freedom Foundation

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