Ambassador Franklin: Graham was helping Muslims before helping Muslims was cool

World ^ | April 12 issue | Mindy Belz

[Mr. Mulliner]

Ambassador Franklin

Graham was helping Muslims before helping Muslims was cool: Since when did that become a threat to U.S. interests?

By Mindy Belz

Franklin Graham was handing out shoeboxes to Bosnian Muslim children before most Americans knew where Bosnia was. Longstanding humanitarian work in Muslim countries, however, didn't stop members of the press from pouncing on the son of evangelist Billy Graham for planning to help people in Iraq.

Mr. Graham, who heads the humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse, told the website Beliefnet that his organization was "poised and ready" to move emergency supplies into Iraq once the conditions were secure enough to permit relief work. He wrote an opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times and appeared on Fox News to discuss postwar needs in Iraq and ways his group planned to help. "[I]t just may be an ambassador of Christ, not of the United Nations," Mr. Graham said in the Times, "who holds the lifesaving hope for thousands of desperate Iraqis. We intend to be there with outstretched arms."

Religion news outlets were among the first to cry foul, saying Mr. Graham's statements about Islam made him unfit to serve in Iraq. Religion News Service carried a story questioning Mr. Graham's motives in light of his post-9/11 statements calling Islam "a very evil and wicked religion." Beliefnet posted an interview with Mr. Graham followed by an April 2 column from editor Steven Waldman. The piece ran under a banner headline, "Who Does Bush Fear More?" accompanied by photos of Franklin Graham and Saddam Hussein.

Mr. Waldman wrote that because Mr. Graham's statements on Islam have "infuriated Muslim leaders," the president should prevent Mr. Graham from doing charity work in Iraq. Going ahead, Mr. Waldman told WORLD, "demonstrates a lack of understanding on the part of the administration and Mr. Graham for the tinderbox it is and how this undermines American interests."

In response to questions from the press, Ellen Yount, spokesman for the U.S. Agency for International Development, was quick to give reporters a lesson in First Amendment rights: "What private charitable organizations choose to do without U.S. government funding is ultimately their decision."

The religious relativists also missed Samaritan's Purse's history of working in Muslim majority countries, including those with radical ties like Sudan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. Samaritan's Purse projects director Ken Isaacs said, "The irony is we have excellent solid relationships on the ground because we love people without condition and they respect us for that. The platform of our witness is built on the quality of our work."

[Mr. Mulliner]

I don't see any inconsistency in calling Islam "evil" and wanting to aid Muslims.

I'm very proud of a friend of mine, a former Muslim, who plans to go to Iraq to bring humanitarian aid after the war.

[Mr. Mulliner]

This is a ping for y'all.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

God Bless Reverend Graham. He doesnt deserve this criticism. He never has problem with people...just some of the beliefs that are forced on them

What troubles me even more is that Graham's organization is getting heat for helping Islamic people...yet so few Islamic organizations are trying to help people in Iraq.

Why do we hear stories about the International Red Cross going to help Iraqi civilians? Where is the Islamic Red Crescent (the Islamic version of the Red Cross)?

Giving aid to the needy is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Looks like a lot of Islamics may not be getting their 72 virgins after all

[aimhigh]

More proof of the liberal press trying to promote CommunIslam.

[Cicero]

It makes sense to me. Franklin Graham condemns Islam but helps Muslims. In contrast, the liberals praise Islam but support their oppressors. And any "help" they give invariably involves somebody else's money.

[crz]

He has been consistant as his father on the issue of whether war is right or not. Franklin stated that even David slew the giant Goliath to do gods will. He and his dad are the ONLY christian ministers who know anything about the good book.

We are charged by God to "Purge the Evil from among us" as well as help each other. No greater gift a man can give than that of his life for his fellow man. Our boys and girls are doing that every day. And may it be to those so called ministers who are against this war, may they be forever shamed and judged according to their support of evil.

[Grand Old Partisan]

Don't forget that Billy Graham excused Bill Clinton's philandering, because his "attractiveness to the ladies."

[Alex Murphy]

Don't forget that Billy Graham excused Bill Clinton's philandering, because his "attractiveness to the ladies."

Would you mind providing details about when/where this happened?

[AppyPappy]

WRROONG!!!!

[Grand Old Partisan]

It was on a TV interview with Billy Graham during the Monica Lewinsky affair. Could have been 60 Minutes. I saw it, and "attractivenes to the ladies" is a quote charred into my mind.

[Grand Old Partisan]

I agree. Sin is always WRROONG!!!!

[AmericanVictory]

We note that Franklin Graham has continued this good work for many years in predominantly Muslim lands and expands it now. By contrast, given the unprecedented assault by Islamism on Christianity and America as a nation predominantly Christian, the "mainstream" religions can't be bothered, having, it seems, important things to do like promoting the homosexual agenda and trying to protect evil dictators.

[Alex Murphy]

In the interest of truth, this is what I found via Google. I suspect this is the interview you're referring to:

=======================
"I forgive him, because I know the frailty of human nature. ...He has such a tremendous personality that I think the ladies just go wild over him."

-- the Rev. Billy Graham on Bill Clinton during an interview on NBC's Today show (March 5).
========================

I'll admit it's not quite the condemnation I would have liked to see - and it may sound like splitting hairs to you - but there's a difference between excusing behavior and forgiving it.

[crz]

He forgave Clinton. Did not excuse him for it. And as a Christian, when someone makes even so much as an attempt at apology, it is the christians duty to accept and help those that sin get back on the straight and narrow. I will bet you might not find any other mention of Clinton after this from the Grahams.

Ol Billy learnt his lesson in the Nixon affair. You can bet your bippy he isnt gonna let Franklin make the same mistakes and get into the politics like he did.

[marron]

Maybe we should institute a 12-step program for recovering muslims...

[Mr. Mulliner]

Very true. I never read Billy Graham's comments about Bill Clinton as condoning or excusing his sin at all. I think he wanted to try to be of help if Clinton ever called on him, but may have been naive in thinking it would happen.

Honestly, some people have the same hatred for you as they do for their enemies if you don't vilify their enemies as much as they do.

[Grand Old Partisan]

I thank both of you for correcting my memory. I am still a big fan of Billy Graham, and catch his classic sermons on TV whenever I can.

[mabelkitty]

Red Cross can kiss my a$$.

[crz]

To be honest. Slick Willey and his Wife and cohorts will have to answer for what they did someday. I'll leave it at that.

[Michael2001]

BTT