Powell attacks Christian right

Guardian ^ | Friday November 15, 2002 | Oliver Burkeman

[nickcarraway]

Colin Powell, the US secretary of state, condemned America's Christian right yesterday for propagating hatred against Muslims, in what appeared to be a coordinated White House campaign to confront anti-Islamic rhetoric from a constituency that includes some of the Bush administration's staunchest supporters. Days after the televangelist Pat Robertson said on his Christian Broadcasting Network that "what the Muslims want to do to the Jews is worse" than the Holocaust, Mr Powell told a gathering in Washington: "This kind of hatred must be rejected."

The escalation in anti-Muslim comments from conservative Christians includes a recent claim by Jerry Falwell, the country's leading rightwing Baptist, that the prophet Mohammed was "a terrorist".

Veteran evangelist Jimmy Swaggart followed that this week by calling Mohammed a "sex deviant" and a pervert and demanding that Muslim students in the US be expelled. "We ought to tell every other Muslim living in this nation that if you say one word, you're gone," he said.

As the likelihood grows of a war in Iraq there are strategic benefits for the White House in convincing Muslims that it would not be a war against their religion.

The administration's increased willingness to confront the Christian right reflects the Republicans' sweeping victories in last week's mid-term elections, reducing Mr Bush's reliance on the extreme fringes of his supporter base.

[CyberCowboy777]

Who is showing hatred towards the Muslims?

[billhilly]

Well, I have been on this earth for sixty-five years now, and one and a half of those years was spent in Libya. Because I made the effort to speak the Arabic language, I was treated with respect in spite of my youth.

During those years I have been witness to numerous evil deeds performed by our average garden variety of all american criminal, yet the little town where I grew up had a merchant class of Lebanonese who were the salt of the earth. Their grand children and great grandchildren still live and thrive there. My grandfather, a farmer, depended upon them for credit between plantings and harvest.

We were southern baptist, but in those days our "preachers" pretty much kept their sermons in the church and their politics a secret.

[don-o]

The administration's increased willingness to confront the Christian right reflects the Republicans' sweeping victories in last week's mid-term elections, reducing Mr Bush's reliance on the extreme fringes of his supporter base.

Dumb and Dumber - Colin and Dubya take it on the road.

WTF is going on?

While it is reported that pro-life made a diiference in races, we get such spew from fearless leaders?

Dubya is surely setting himself up to fulfill his one term legacy.

[CyberCowboy777]

Not sure what you are driving at.

I do like your "keep the religion in the Church" philosophy.

God Forbid those nasty Christians have a opinion, worse if they share it with others.

Your "preachers" were wrong to hide the truth in a building.

[CyberCowboy777]

They like to marginalize the Christian Vote

Yet if you look at the evangelical vote you will see when they stay home the elections go to the DemonRats.

This year the turn out was better than before '96

[Hank Kerchief]

Why do so many different denominations and religions profess that they have the only true religion and must convert the world?

That is an excellent question, and one more people should ask, including those who believe they need or ought to convert the world.

I believe you probably understand at least part of the answer already, and could give it yourself. There is a little bit of the evangelist in most of us. If we believe something strongly, there is an urge to convince others that have not yet discovered this truth, whatever it is, that means so much to us. This kind of evangelism is pretty much based on good will and a desire to share what we believe is true and good.

A more ardent and not always so innocent form of evangelism comes from a belief that one is mandated by their God or their religion to convert others, to "save their souls," from something. Often this kind of evangelism is mixed with a militant fervor, with either an implicit or explicit conviction that one is part of a Holly mission or plan that depends on one's doing their part. So long as this kind of militant evangelism is not combined with a belief that one is justified in using force, though it may be extremely annoying, it is not dangerous.

Finally, there is the rare form of religious conviction that one is mandated by God (or Allah) to convert others, or at least bring them under the control of, "God's law," and that they are justified in using force, or terrorism, or outright deception (if the opportunity for force and terrorism has not yet arrived) to fullfill their mission. This form of "evenagelism" has cropped up in many religions, but always as an anomoly and perversion of the main body of the religion. In the Muslim religion, it has historically been the dominate form, and in terms of raw numbers, it is the dominate form today.

Hank

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks! I needed that because I thought I was totally out of touch!

[Dataman]

I was trying to find something that would confirm the posted article. Notice that nothing is mentioned about the time or place from which the remarks were made except that they were yesterday. If Powell really said these things, and I must admit it doesn't sound like Powell, then why didn't other sources --especially on the rabid left-- pick up on this?

[billhilly]

"Your "preachers" were wrong to hide the truth in a building."

Sometimes it was in a tent, but I'm guessing that won't meet with your approval either. Why that does not bother me, I don't really know. Perhaps it has something to do with total strangers telling everyone who disagrees with them that they are "wrong."

[k2blader]

Mr Powell told a gathering in Washington: "This kind of hatred must be rejected."

Can someone please provide indubitable evidence of Mr. Robertson's "hatred"?

Just curious as I have been called a "hater" simply for believing in Jesus Christ.

[don-o]

was trying to find something that would confirm the posted article.

So neither Powell or Dubya are playing footsie with the Muslims in today's news cycle?

Bring on the debunking. But, I suspect thet the footsie is the run up to the bombs that shall soon fall.

We on the Religious Right will not forget this insult from our fearless leader

[CyberCowboy777]

Like you and your assertions of the correct?


How hypocritical of you to tell others it is wrong to tell others they are wrong.

Glad to know you never give voice to a subject, how rude that would be.

[Jorge]

Dubya is surely setting himself up to fulfill his one term legacy.

...and his sky high approval ratings.. ESPECIALLY among conservative Republicans prove it. Right.

[k2blader]

These three religious leaders go too far in their hatred IMO!

Perhaps you could help me out... Please see my post #110.

[Jorge]

How hypocritical of you to tell others it is wrong to tell others they are wrong.

It's OK when you know you are right.

[Dataman]

We on the Religious Right will not forget this insult from our fearless leader

Don't you think you should verify it? Most journalists are lefties. Lefties have no problem distorting the truth.

[PhiKapMom]

From a Milita Website:

Tim McVeigh, arrested in connection with the attack, has been linked to a militia group. He has espoused hatred of the government over destruction of the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, that killed four federal agents and cremated men, women and children.

http://www.logicsouth.com/~lcoble/militia/lmil29.txt

While not being a member of the militia outright he certainly did identify with them as well as the nutcases in Elohim City in Eastern OK! Thus McVeigh became the poster boy for the militia at one time and eventually this connection has done in the vast majority of militia members.

[BenR2]

I posted this very comment about President Bushs'view on this matter the other day. I shall now edit it and direct it to Colin Powell:

"This issue is where Dubya (Tex?) BushCOLIN POWELL and I part ways. The Christian Right has the right to believe what they want (and I wholly agree with them) Come on Mr. PresidentPOWELL, quit coddling the Islamo-fascists, wake up and smell the camel dung!!

I agree with you.

[PhiKapMom]

The Swaggart comments blew me away and as for Robertson and Falwell -- shut-up is right!

[PhiKapMom]

Thank you for your statements. I did not plan to get involved in this discussion either but finally decided after a previous thread I could not stand by and let these attacks against all Muslims go unanswered.

Thanks again!