| Pentagon easter graham islam wicked { April 12 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.mpac.org/home_article_display.aspx?ITEM=503http://www.mpac.org/home_article_display.aspx?ITEM=503
Pentagon Sponsors Franklin Graham Saturday, April 12, 2003 Religious members within the Department of Defense are protesting the Pentagon Chaplain's group sponsorship of an appearance by Franklin Graham at a Good Friday Prayer service scheduled for April 18th. Graham, a Christian fundamentalist, has repeatedly insulted Islam, calling it a "wicked religion." He is also planning to evangelize Iraqis under the cover of bringing humanitarian aid into the country while Iraq is suffering from lack of food and water.
By affiliating itself with such religious hate-mongering, the Bush Administration is sending the wrong message to the world and is losing any advantage gained when Iraqis were liberated from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein.
The Pentagon is also raising questions about its own motives in the Middle East when promoting figures like Graham.
The following is an excerpt of a letter from members of the Pentagon Chaplain's group:
"...we are deeply dismayed and disappointed that the Pentagon Chaplain's Office has invited Mr. Franklin Graham, an extremely controversial and divisive figure, to perform the Good Friday Services at the Pentagon on April 18, 2003. Mr. Graham has made recent public statements that are not only insulting and offensive to Muslims but also to those who espouse ecumenism among the faith groups. Mr. Graham's negative statements concerning Islam and Muslims, which he has never recanted, fly in the face of what we stand for as Americans. By sponsoring and promoting a visit to the Pentagon by an extreme fundamentalist like Mr. Graham, the Pentagon Chaplain's Office is sending a message that it and the Department of Defense condone public displays of attitudes and thoughts that contradict not only Department of Defense regulations but also the American ideal of religious tolerance. We hope and pray that the Pentagon Chaplain's Office will reconsider its invitation to Mr. Graham and instead invite a more inclusive and honorable Christian clergyman to perform the Good Friday Services."
Send your comments to:
Victoria Clarke Asst. Sec. of Defense for Public Affairs public@defenselink.mil 703 428 0711 (Mon-Fri)
White House Comment Line: 202 456 1111 (Mon-Fri)
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