No matter what the circumstances, the Army has no business bowing to the will of a group that has been named an unindicted co-conspirator in a Hamas funding case, and has had several of its officials convicted of jihad terror-related charges.
And given Franklin Graham’s explanation of his remarks, now the Army is abetting the whitewashing and coverup of the institutionalized mistreatment of women in Islamic law. This could have been, as Obama might say, a “teaching moment,” and an opportunity to stand up for the human rights of those women and other groups oppressed by Sharia. Instead, it is just an occasion for more dhimmitude.
“Franklin Graham Regrets Army’s Decision to Rescind Invite to Pentagon Prayer Service,” from FOXNews.com, April 22 (thanks to all who sent this in):
Evangelist Franklin Graham said Thursday that he regrets the Army’s decision to rescind its invitation to him for the Pentagon’s National Day of Prayer service on May 6, but expressed “strong support” for the U.S. military.
Evangelist Franklin Graham said Thursday that he regrets the Army’s decision to rescind its invitation to him for the Pentagon’s National Day of Prayer service on May 6, but expressed “strong support” for the U.S. military.
An Army spokesman confirmed to Fox News that the invitation to Graham to be honorary chairman at the event was rescinded amid complaints from Muslim members of the military about his description of Islam as an evil religion….
Earlier Thursday, Graham stuck by his remarks about Islam, including that Muslims are “enslaved” by their religion, [sic]
Franklin, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, told Fox News that he loves Muslim people and wants them to know that God loves them, even if they can be saved only through Jesus Christ.
“I want them to know that they don’t have to die in a car bomb, don’t have to die in some kind of holy war to be accepted by God. But it’s through faith in Jesus Christ and Christ alone,” Graham said.
Graham said said he loves the Muslim people, just not their religion — which he called “horrid” for its restrictions on women.
“I love the people of Islam but their religion, I do not agree with their religion at all. And if you look at what the religion does just to women, women alone, it is just horrid. And so yes, I speak out for women. I speak out for people that live under Islam, that are enslaved by Islam and I want them to know that they can be free,” he said.
After the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Graham said Islam “is a very evil and wicked religion.” In a later op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal, Graham wrote that he did not believe Muslims were evil because of their faith, but “as a minister … I believe it is my responsibility to speak out against the terrible deeds that are committed as a result of Islamic teaching.”
Army spokesman Gary Tallman told Fox News on Wednesday that Graham’s “presence at the event may be taken by some as inappropriate for a government agency.”
“As the executive agent of the Pentagon chaplain’s office, Army leadership determined it needed further review,” he said.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation raised the objection to the appearance, citing Graham’s past remarks about Islam, in a letter sent Monday to Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Mikey Weinstein, president of the foundation, said the invitation offended Muslim employees at the Pentagon because Graham never retracted or apologized for his description of Islam as evil. Weinstein said the invitation would endanger American troops by stirring up Muslim extremists….
Yes, “Muslim extremists” will be downright chummy as long as Franklin Graham stays away.
After Graham’s appearance, the Council of American-Islamic Relations issued a call for supporters to petition the Pentagon to drop Graham.
“To have an individual who calls Islam evil and claims Muslims are enslaved by their faith speak at the Pentagon sends entirely the wrong message at a time when hundreds of thousands of our nation’s military personnel are currently stationed in Muslim countries,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “Franklin Graham’s appearance has the potential to harm unit cohesion and morale through the promotion of distorted, intolerant and divisive views within military ranks.”…