Posted on 03/19/2005 5:00:01 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Rice to Attend Church Service in Beijing
Visit Has Significant Political Undertones
By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, March 19, 2005; 10:34 AM
SEOUL, March 19 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to attend a church service for Palm Sunday in Beijing, aides said Saturday. The visit to the Gangwashi Protestant Church was described as a private visit by a deeply religious woman, but it also has significant political undertones.
Earlier on Saturday, in Tokyo, Rice gave a speech in which she called on the Chinese leadership to move toward an "open, genuinely representative government" that respected human rights. She said that if Chinese leaders look at their neighbors in Asia, "they will see that democracy works. They will see that freedom of religion and respect for human rights are part of the foundation of decent and successful societies."
The State Department regularly criticizes the state of religious freedom in China. Although the Chinese constitution provides for freedom of religious belief, the State Department in its most recent report said that "the government's respect for freedom of religion and freedom of conscience remained poor, especially for many unregistered religious groups and spiritual movements such as the Falun Gong."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
A Full Diplomatic Offensive, Ping!
Remember when Moe would stick two fingers in Curley's eyes?
Go Condi!
Next thing you know, Condi will be hitting Hu over the head with a crowbar. Nyuk Nyuk bump.
The woman is nothing if not bold.
Bold in a way that the office of the Secretary of State has not known since perhaps the days of Thomas Jefferson.
Could you imagine, say, Cyrus Vance or Madeleine Albright doing such a thing? Even back here in the US?
¡Viva Condi!
Yo soy un CONDOLISTO.
I would state it a little differently.
Secretary Rice continues to do God's will in service to a President who serves His will.
She may very well be risking her life by joining this service.
The people she is worshipping with know that they are risking their lives, whether she joins them or not. She may protect them by joining them, or she may put them at greater risk. I think they know this. I think they all embrace this charge willingly.
In your face, Hu.
You got to love Rice. ;-)
EXACTLY what I was thinking. Dr. Rice doesn't wear her Faith on her sleeve rather she puts it into practice. God Bless her and keep her.
I have a litmus test. Pro-choice candidates will not get my vote. If both parties run pro-choice candidates I will not vote.
Oh wow! I wonder if I will even see it mentioned in the news over here.
Probably not.
Is this church one of the government-approved churches, or one of the independent ones which are harassed by the government?
I'd like it better if she was going to a "house" church,
one of the non-government approved ones.
I fear her going to a government church would give them
a legitimacy they do not deserve.
I do not believe that this is an "underground" Church. It is the "show" Church with recognition of the Government and supervision of what it is and doees.
I'm certain that her action has full Chinese government approval. Makes them look good.
I wonder if she forcefully push human right and freedom again at the church. If so, that is also significant.
I'm certain that her action has full Chinese government approval. Makes them look good.
I'm certain that the Chinese government authorized her visit to this group, but I will not guarantee you that they gave "full approval" to what she will do.
I have a lot more faith in Secretary Rice than you apparently do.
I'll bet you that she has a lot more faith in God than even I have in her.
OH Yes not only that Little Kim threw one of parade for Maddy NOT Too Bright
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