I cannot help but weigh in on the controversy of the
comments made by US President Barack Obama at a prayer breakfast last week.
Addressing the group of his country’s most powerful church leaders, the
President began his speech by talking about America’s historical role in the setting
the precedent for separation of Church and State and also made much of America’s
early Christian values. He then proceeded to make reference to the current
situation going on the Middle East speaking about the barbaric acts committed
by various groups in the name of Islam, most of his references concerned the
terrorist organization known as ISIS. What was really controversial however
was when he all of a sudden changed his tune from speaking about Muslims and
decided to attack Christianity instead, basically telling the leaders of
Christendom that the Islamic state is not to be condemned as the Christian faith
itself has a bad history by carrying on the Crusades in the Dark Ages and also approving of
slavery and the slave trade all over the Americas centuries later.
As one can expect the Church and particularly conservative Christians
were rightly incensed by the President’s comparison of Christians and these
terrorists. It’s not to say that whatever he said was totally false as history itself
bears witness to the truth of both the crusades and slavery. But rather one
cannot help but question, what motivated him to make such an utterance, surely
this was not some offhand comment but rather was clearly crafted and its
intention was deliberate. I put it to you that Mr. Obama purposely decided to
hit out at the church right on their own turf. Obama knew perfectly well
what he was doing, he wanted to be controversial, he wanted to stick it to the
right wing where it hurts. He however did more than that however. As one GOP
senator so ably put it, President Obama by his very comments had poured insult
on every single Christian in the US by his comments, whether his intention was
to go that far cannot be ascertained but that’s precisely what he ended up
doing.
The president’s comments were seen as a double edged sword
for many, insulting Christians and in support of Islamic values. This then
leads many to question, “whose side is he really on, ours or theirs?” It is
most certainly not the first time that President Obama has made comments
sympathetic towards to the Islamic cause. In fact he has done it so many times
that he is dubbed as the first “Muslim President of the United States” as he
has been more accepting of Islamic values than all his 42 predecessors
combined. In a nation however that still has a Christian majority, this has
never boded well and given that Christianity has historically been seen as part
of American core values , Obama’s speech has led to him being dubbed as
Anti-American.
This view of the President and his outlook cannot be good
for him at all, as it makes him look very out of touch with his country’s
values. Had the comments made been echoed by the leader of a Middle Eastern
nation, then it would have been less controversial given that this region of the
world is dominated by Muslims. But for the leader of any western nation to make
such a comment speaks volumes and raises serious questions for many.
Other western political leaders, while not as blatant as Obama have
also done very little in condemning the waving tide of radical Islam that is
now sweeping Western nations by storm and instead seems to adhere to neo-Marxist
doctrine of multiculturalism that seeks to preach acceptance while tradition
western values and societies are being run into the ground. Thankfully one man
has taken up the charge of defending Christianity and Western civilization,
none other than His Royal Highness Charles, Prince of Wales. The heir to the throne
has taken the initiative, speaking against the rising tide of Islam in the
west, decrying multicultural propaganda by insisting the Muslims adapt or leave
the UK and most importantly of all defending the rights of Christians in the
Middle East who though now a minority have always been allowed to peacefully
coexist with their Muslim neighbours until the rise of the terrorists. The Prince through
his ingenuity has pushed leaped and bounds, in an era where many of even Europe’s
royals seems intent on keeping quiet, he has decided that he would be the voice of
the voiceless Christian minority in that part of the world. No doubt his comments
would have ruffled some feathers among the political elite especially in the
UK, who seems intent on shutting up like everybody else and remaining blind to
the tragedy unfolding before their eyes. Prince Charles however is pushing the
envelope, boldly stating what no other western leader be they royal or
political seems to have the guts to say and for that he has my absolute support.
Another royal who also deserves to be commended for tackling
this issue head on is His Majesty the King of Jordan. Though the leader of a Muslim nation, Jordan’s
Muslims have often been more of a sensible bunch than say the lot that runs
ISIS and other terror groups. This must be mainly as a result of their stance
on Sharia law and the radical violence that comes with it. King Abdullah in
recent times has stepped up the plate as the leading opponent of ISIS in the region
and is doing whatever it takes to stamp out this threat and make both the
region and the world a safer place.
At the end of the day, one thing is sure. As King Abdullah
rightly pointed out, this state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue. Comments
like those made by Obama are of no help. National leaders are meant to boost
morale, not tear them down, which sadly is precisely what the president seems
to be intent on doing. Thankfully with men like King Abdullah and Prince
Charles out there, there are still voices of reason, voices of hope. Royal men who are not willing stand idly by
and watch the world burn under the threat of Islamists but are whatever they
can to pick up the slack left sorely
lacking by many political leaders in the west. After all as the old saying
goes, “The only way that evil can triumph is when good men stand by and do
nothing”.
