Posted on 08/17/2017 10:16:31 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
In a scathing, and what many might call unexpected, missive posted to his Facebook account, the Rev. Franklin Graham fired back at critics who would blame President Trump for the attack in Charlottesville, Virginia over the weekend.
That attack claimed the life of one counter-protester, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, in addition to two Virginia State troopers who died in a helicopter crash while monitoring the white supremacist demonstration that started the unrest.
Posted Sunday night, Graham’s statement said that if earthly political figures don’t want to put the blame where it belongs — on evil itself — that there’s plenty of it to go around among themselves, and that’s the unexpected part.
I doubt anyone expected Graham to attack the local — activist and feckless — politicians eager to score cheap points for being anti-Confederate monument. What a strange phrase to type — “being anti-Confederate monument” — as if monuments to local heroes are somehow responsible for inner city violence or urban illegitimacy rates.
In his attack, Graham made points few others have the guts to make, let alone defend in this day of knee-jerk reactionism and insta-boycotting.
“Shame on the politicians who are trying to push blame on President Trump for what happened in Charlottesville, VA,” the outspoken evangelist wrote. “That’s absurd.”
“What about the politicians such as the city council who voted to remove a memorial that had been in place since 1924, regardless of the possible repercussions?” he continued, referring to the statue of Robert E. Lee that was put forth by organizing groups as the impetus for the demonstration.
“How about the city politicians who issued the permit for the lawful demonstration to defend the statue?” he added, getting specific about the blame. “And why didn’t the mayor or the governor see that a powder keg was about to explode and stop it before it got started? Instead they want to blame President Donald J. Trump for everything.”
While some conservatives have brainlessly defended the rally and others — equally brainlessly — attack Trump to prove they’re not racists, Graham boldly said what few others have been willing to say, that evil is responsible for Saturday’s tragedy and foolish politicians were its unwitting tools. And nothing will infuriate liberals like that claim (well, that and maybe his refusal to blame Trump).
In their world, politics is everything, man is perfectible, and evil is something that springs from adolescence spent in the wrong environment. But they’re wrong and Graham is right. Politics can’t save us, man is completely fallen, and evil lurks in the heart.
“Really, this boils down to evil in people’s hearts,” Graham said. “Satan is behind it all. He wants division, he wants unrest, he wants violence and hatred. He’s the enemy of peace and unity. I denounce bigotry and racism of every form, be it black, white or any other.
“My prayer is that our nation will come together,” he concluded. “We are stronger together, and our answers lie in turning to God. It was good to hear that several Virginia and Charlottesville leaders attended church today at Mt. Zion. CNN said, ‘The racial divides that fueled Saturday’s violence were replaced by unity Sunday…’ Continue to pray for peace and for all those impacted by Saturday’s tragedies.”
Indeed, at times like this it’s worth remembering that the real enemy is division and hate. Our thoughts and prayers ought to be with the people of Charlottesville at this trying time, not aimed toward apportioning blame for the unspeakable evil of one individual and the contemptible causes so many gathered under the banner of this weekend.
I guess Franklin Graham hasn’t been told that you can no longer speak the truth in America.
Bkmk
I was threatened on Twitter because I criticized Antifa. They were going to let my employer know I was “Pro-Nazi”. Funny thing is, I never updated my profile after I retired.
Can you name any conservatives who have "brainlessly defended the rally" ?
I have heard a few brave souls defend the principle of free speech. No one has "defended the rally," per se –only the right of American citizens to speak freely, no matter how repugnant the speech, without government shutting them down.
That little thing called the First Amendment used to be a universally accepted principle of American governance, once upon a time.
Well said, Franklin Graham.
The exact kind of common sense things a lot of us have been thinking, and saying.
There is comfort in remembering a couple of things:
1) God is NOT surprised about this.
2) God uses evil people doing evil things to achieve HIS purposes (see Romans 8:28; also Joseph being sold into slavery in Egypt; etc.)
God have mercy on America.
evil is responsible
_________________
I’m with you, Rev, up until that.
Evil can’t be jailed or punished.
Evil just is. It can’t be eliminated
from the world any more than communism
was able to eliminate the individual.
The best we can do is punish those
who do evil things.
two Virginia State troopers who died in a helicopter crash while monitoring the white supremacist demonstration
The white supremacist demonstration was declared unlawful around 11:50 am. I don't know exactly how long it took for that crowd to disperse, but the leftist victory rally persisted for hours afterward. The pedestrinas strik happened about 2 hours later, 1:42 pm. The helicopetr crash as three hours after that, around 4:40.
I point this out just to illustrate how dishonest the press is. They are dishonest about EVERYTHING.
The rally had a permit. There’s nothing brainless
about freedom of assembly.
Good news.
>> the white supremacist demonstration that started the unrest
Bogus premise.
Yes exactly.
The MSM seem to have no memory of the neo-Nazi march in Skokie, Illinois, 40 years ago. Everyone agreed that the marchers had a repugnant message, but that they had a legal permit to march. (Actually the ACLU went to court to help the Nazis get the permit –then the ACLU patted themselves on the back afterward for defending the First Amendment)
There were counter-protesters at the Skokie march too, but they behaved themselves. Either that, or the Skokie police made sure to keep the parties apart. Free speech was upheld and everyone went home alive.
Awesome.
Actually, I'm fairly certain that Dr. Graham was reminding us that we can still speak openly and honestly. I'm pretty sure it's our obligation. IMHO.
You have that right!
Same here. Hope I survive the inquisition.
Did I mention that I'm self-employed?!
Amen and Amen!
They won't succeed.
“How about the city politicians who issued the permit for the lawful demonstration to defend the statue?” he added, getting specific about the blame. “And why didn’t the mayor or the governor see that a powder keg was about to explode and stop it before it got started? Instead they want to blame President Donald J. Trump for everything.”
Hell no - this line of thinking means that nobody can ever exercise the first amendment rights about any controversial issue. All that it takes to shut-down a public demonstration is if there will be some portion of the population who will be upset about it. That gives ultimate power to the heckler’s veto.
You can criticize the city and police for how they handled things on the ground, but not for letting people exercise their first amendment rights in the first place.
We are dealing with communists (DNC) and communist sympathizers (RNC).
Communism is inherently evil.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.