Time of crisis: Royal vs Political leadership

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”.