Flap Over General's Comments Tied to Christianity

FamilyNews ^ | 10/24/03 | Keith Peters

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An Army general is under attack from the media. His offense: saying God deals in the affairs of man. Lt. General William G. Boykin, a decorated U.S. Army officer, is in trouble for remarks he made about Islam and Christianity. The media have stirred up a firestorm of criticism against Boykin, a strong evangelical Christian, who is quoted discussing a 1993 battle with a Muslim militia leader saying, "I knew my God was bigger than his."

American Values President Gary Bauer called the media attack nothing less than religious persecution. "He talked about the War on Terrorism in terms of good and evil, and made it clear that he believes God takes an active interest in the affairs of men on this earth — and those things to the radical secularists are sins," Bauer said. "There is an attempt to silence him and, by extension, to silence us all."

Sens. John Warner, R-Va., and Carl Levin, D-Mich., have urged a probe be conducted into whether Boykin displayed what they called "inappropriate behavior." Family Research Council President Tony Perkins finds an interesting political irony going on here.

"There's been more of a political reaction to (Boykin's comments) than the Muslim military individuals in Guantanamo Bay that have undermined national security," Perkins said. "You would think we would be more focused on national security than we would be political correctness."

Perkins is referring to recent revelations that a Muslim chaplain and another soldier may have helped suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists being held at Guantanamo's Camp X-Ray.

Boykin, meantime, also is in trouble for his statements on why the Sept. 11 attacks weren't worse than they could have been. He said the hand of God stopped two more airplanes from crashing into landmarks in this country. That statement set editorial writers at major newspapers into a frenzy.

TAKE ACTION

Christian leaders urge you to call your congressional representatives and let them know you support General Boykin. For help in contacting your senators and representative, please see our Legislative Action Center.

In addition, please contact the White House — and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld — and tell them that Christians stand by this war hero.

President George W. Bush
Comment Line: (202) 456-1414
E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
Tel.: (703) 692-7100
E-mail: http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/comment.html

[ppaul]

Lt. General William G. Boykin, a decorated U.S. Army officer, is in trouble for remarks he made about Islam and Christianity

This fine, decent man put his life on the line for his country. The least we can do is make a phone call or e-mail on his behalf.

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ping.

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This isn't bad enough, but the Bush admin. has hung him out to dry! Here is a quote from a Newsmax article:

" Remarks about religion by Lt. General William G. Boykin drew the disapproval of President Bush, who told a gathering of moderate Muslims in Bali, Indonesia, that the general's comments "didn't reflect my opinion ... it just doesn't reflect what the government thinks."

Gen. Boykin, deputy under secretary of defense for intelligence and war-fighting, had been quoted as comparing the war against Islamic militants to Christianity’s struggle against Satan and had told evangelical gatherings that a militant Muslim militia leader in Somalia worshiped an "idol" and not a "real God."

This makes me sick. First of all, what does Bush know about theology? Who made him theologian-in-chief? Second, to abandon a Christian man like this is cowardly.

Mr. Bush, like it or not, ISLAM IS NOT PEACE! It is Satanic and the sooner you recognize this TRUTH, the sooner we can defeat it! We are in a RELIGIOUS WAR! Get that through your head and stop making declarations about a religion you obviously do not understand!

[WillRain]

While I disagree with Bush's assesment of the nature ofIslam, I have no problem with his claim - even assuming it's true - that the administration policy is not one of "War on Islam"

He did not - in the quotes I've seen - slam Boykin or say he was wrong to say those things...he only said that they were Boykin's own opinion and not those of the U.S. Government.

In saying that, he probably spoke the truth. I'd be stunned, frankly, if any politicain at that level had the spiritual discernment to recognize the truth of Boykin's words.

Bush is a product of the power structure that allowed him to rise to that position. I think he's ahead of the curve in terms of spirituality and such for a politician (given how far the curve lags in that profession) but he's still a long way from one whom you would expect to have a real theological outlook on such things. That's to be expected in the world we live in.

Still, I never miss a chance to say: THREE CHEERS for Gen Boykin! You tell 'em soldier!

[Always Right]

Sens. John Warner, R-Va., and Carl Levin, D-Mich., have urged a probe be conducted into whether Boykin displayed what they called "inappropriate behavior."

Inappropriate behavior = religious expression. Too bad we don't have a Constitutional Amendment that protects religious expression.....

[exmarine]

While I disagree with Bush's assesment of the nature ofIslam, I have no problem with his claim - even assuming it's true - that the administration policy is not one of "War on Islam"

Bush claims to be a Christian, but doesn't act like it in many instances. He is ignorant of Islam, and we are at war with Islam. Wahabbi Islam is TRUE Islam according to the Koran and Hadith. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't know what they are talking about. I will thank Bush to refrain from theological statements (i.e. "Islam is peace"). Baloney! History tells a different story! Many muslims are peaceful but Islam isn't and never has been. It was violent and bloody when it started the first crusade and took over Palestine and usurped all the Jewish holy sites; it was violent and bloody when it invaded Europe and was stopped dead at the battles of Tours and Vienna; it was violent and bloodthirsty when it sacked Constantinople in 1453. It's founder was a warmongering murderer. Let the facts speak for themselves. Islam is intolerant and wherever it holds sway, there is SLAVERY! It is satanic and it must be subdued BY FORCE. I agree wtih Dr. Robert Morey that the best way to end terrorism is to take out Mecca.

[w_over_w]

The context for most of the attacks on this good man are of a anti-evangelical Christian nature. It's certainly the established bigotry from the Lost Angeles Times. The Pentagon has stood up yesterday for our Brother in Christ and they won't be intimidated by a bunch of Christian hating editorial writers that work for Lucifer.

Of course also driving this are bastards like al-Jubeir, senior adviser to Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler. This bigot said "If you switched the religions around, the words could have been said by Osama bin Laden."

Just one problem, Gen. Boykin didn't order the murder of 3000 innocent Saudi's and their families.

This is a smear campaign orchestrated by "the rulers of the darkness of this world, . . . spiritual wickedness in high places."[Ephs. 6:12]

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Too bad we don't have a Constitutional Amendment that protects religious expression.....

We have one - the 1st Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religon or PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF.

[Always Right]

We have one - the 1st Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religon or PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF.

You obviously can't read, the Amendment clearly states there is a separation of church and state, while ignoring this issue of religious expression. You must have an old version.

[exmarine]

You obviously can't read, the Amendment clearly states there is a separation of church and state, while ignoring this issue of religious expression. You must have an old version.

Oh I forgot. Silly me. Let me put my stalinist-colored glasses on (fumble rustle)....there! Egad you are right! It says that God must be erased from the public square and that atheism is the official U.S. religion! A pox upon me for being so blind!

[Gal.5:1]

How dare General Boykin express his thoughts or beliefs .


/s

[bereanway]

AMEN. We had better wake up to this pagan cult of terrorists known as Islam. A little history of the past 1400 years beginning in the Arabian pennisula as you have noted would serve us well.

[WillRain]

You are, of course, quuite right in what you say.

But I caution that if you expect THAT level ofdiscernment - and the cajones to act upon it - from any politician which is electable in this day and age then - well - you are far more optimistic than I.

[beachn4fun]

I think the ACLU should step up to the plate here. Lt. General is being pressured into giving up his Constitutional right. This man was in a church making a statement about his faith to other people of faith. I want to see this same uproar when people of Islam tell other people of Islam why the Christian religion, or their God, is false. They print it all the time in their Middle East papers. I'm sure if I were a fly on the wall of their mosque, I'd hear them say similar stuff. Yet, no one takes them to task. Why is that?

We cannot let liberals make this Lt. General feel he has done anything wrong.

BTW, who in that Godly church leaked his personal tribute to the press?

Can't we see what is going on here? Christians are being silenced while other religions have a right to speak out or ELSE!!!