Thursday, May 7, 2009

Obama diminishes National Day of Prayer

So this is where the rubber meets the road, friends.

If you don’t believe that secularists in government are pushing God out of the public square, then here you have it from the horse's mouth himself. President Obama – secularist - has taken it upon himself to disengage himself & his staff from Official Observance of the National Day of Prayer .

Established in 1952, by the Truman administration, then strengthened & fashioned into an honored tradition by subsequent Presidents, the National Day of Prayer is marked by a myriad events throughout the nation’s capitol on the 1st Thursday in May each year. The White House has traditionally marked the day with an interfaith service somewhere on the grounds, but not Mr. Obama's White House. Not only is the White House stepping away from it, they’re not even sending a scout from the Executive Team to the main event on Capitol Hill, according to CNN’s Kristi Keck . Here's how low this goes: even during the Clinton Administration, task-force leaders held low-profile observances, including some at Lafayette Park across the street from the White House.

Mr. Obama’s reasoning for dismissing the National Day of Prayer?

~ Pause ~

(I can hear the Lefties squealing all the way from here…*sigh*…So, yes; this morning after rolling out of bed & eating his Wheaties, Mr. O signed a piece of paper saying it’s National Prayer Day. Okay. So?)

~ Back to my point:

The President’s Press Secretary says that prayer is a private matter to Mr. O. Indeed it can be; but herein lies my problem… Our President can publicly bow (with the WORLD watching) to a Saudi King (who has zero investment in America’s welfare), but can’t publicly bow his head to God Almighty, whose very name appears (for now) on our currency & Who we (for now) acknowledge in our pledge of national allegiance? Can Mr. O not even send a member of his Exec. Staff to the Capitol as a proxy? Isn’t there even a Page, an intern or an elementary-school-kid-on-a-field-trip who can skip over to the Capitol & at least grab a biscuit off the buffet while Beth Moore says a prayer?

If our Nation’s executive office eschews observance of the day our nation sets aside for recognizing the power of prayer, then why should we get involved? If our secularist President -- whose every move is as choreographed as it is scrutinized -- doesn’t think his country & her people’s public acknowledgement of God is worth even a few minutes of silence in the Rose Garden, well, then why should we care?

And that’s my point. Exactly.

The rubber has met the road, friends. I think there may be skid marks.
~~~

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Suz ... your "biscuit" allegory was perfect. The National Day Of Prayer was precisely that. BO thinks he's gonna throw the 'God and gun clingers' a biscuit, and they'll just wet themselves over how he is "reaching out" to all his enemies. All he seemed to do was further establish himself as yet another faithless socialist seeking to remove the foundations on which our great republic was built (lower case intentional).

Melonie said...

Here's a mind picture: can you imagine what it would be like if everyone in DC (there's gotta be more than are actually saying anything most days, otherwise it'd be 2 people) just got up and walked away from whatever they are doing and went to the observance?

What if people (of any faith - ANYBODY who believes in prayer) at all political levels - from pages and interns to our Senators and Reps - stopped what they were doing at the exact moment Beth Moore is scheduled to pray - and bowed their heads?

Nobody can stop them from sitting at their desk or standing in a hallway with their head bowed. Maybe they have a headache, maybe they fell asleep standing up, maybe they are praying - who knows?

Wouldn't THAT be a hoot?

I'm so tired of the silent majority getting the kick in the hoohah with golf cleats.

I'd love to see people of all faiths look at the MSM and say - "This isn't about Christianity, this is about FAITH. And we won't let you take it away from us, because our faith-based morals are the only thing keeping us from *really* losing it on you people!" ;-)

It would lead in to an awesome stand-up routine for somebody too, now that I think about it.

"A Christian, a Jew, and a Muslim walk up to the White House......."

Unknown said...

Heh,

It's a private matter for him in the fact that he probably looks in a mirror when he prays to himself.

He needs to be cornered on a matter of religion. He should not get a pass on this and many other things that he wont directly speak against, but he clearly doesn't support.

Strangely, at the same time, Hawaii makes an Islam Day. Don't remember a Christian Day or a Jew Day.

BetteJo said...

The president, or so it has been said, prays every day. Uh huh. And he does throw out a "God bless America" at the end of his speeches. He can be a tiny, inoffensive amount of religious and he pleases some, but more secular to please many. He's playing both sides of the fence and I question what his own personal beliefs could possibly be after belonging to the church he did for 20 years. I do not believe him to be an honest or sincere man.

Anonymous said...

And the Christian says "My Church bus broke down a little up the road, and I was wondering if I could use your phone to call for another bus to get the children in my preschool class home?" And then the Jew says, "Can I use your phone? While I was searching for a parking spot, (the government gave my parking spot to the Palestinians in a barter for peace), my car quit and I need to call for a tow." And then the moslem says, hey my bomb broke down just a little up the road, and I was wondering if I could come in and use the phone to call my fellow jihadists." Guess who they let inside?

Joe said...

Susannah, I'm not at all certain those skid marks are from rubber.

As I have said elsewhere, if President BO is a Christian, Jesus was wrong about who and what He wanted His followers to be.

Sad.

Anonymous said...

Thank you SO very much for your very kind words, I'll be around, just try and stop me...LOL

Susannah said...

Oweme1~ "All he seemed to do was further establish himself as yet another faithless socialist seeking to remove the foundations on which our great republic was built" Bingo - & modeled it for the whole world to see...

Mel! I'm certain there were thousands in DC who participated.
I the title of an article that said, "Obama Sits Out National Day of Prayer as Millions Pray for Him." Oh, where is thine grace, dear leader?

"What if people...ANYBODY who believes in prayer...stopped what they were doing...and bowed their heads?" Exactly! Mrs. Moore had something very specific to say about that. Hmmmm...maybe that's my next blog piece. Thanks for the inspiration! :)

BetteJo~ Both sides of the fence, indeed. Again, my friend Sandy says "he's got a silver tongue & a black heart."

Oweme1~ Ouch...

Joe~ Double ouch...

DD2~ You're so very welcome. Please come by here ANY time! God speed~

Susannah said...

Bluepit! How did I skip over you & your pooch!! (my apologies)

"He needs to be cornered on a matter of religion. He should not get a pass on this and many other things that he wont directly speak against, but he clearly doesn't support." The closest he has come to getting cornered was the Rick Warren "Saddleback" forum during the campaign. His answers were vague & slithery. Even when he came close to ansering a direct question, "What is your take on when life begins," his answer was, "That's above my paygrade."

What?? Above your paygrade? WTHeck? Thing is, people knew he was dodging in order not to be pinned down. They knew what he was doing & DIDN'T CARE??? That's what I don't get...I just don't get it.

There are some folks @ my church who have a bumper sticker that says, "Republicans for Obama." I'm sorry; that just makes my brain twist in ways I can hardly recover from.

James' Muse said...

Matthew Chapter 6:

5 "And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get.

6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.

Susannah said...

Hi James~ You could have said 'Hi,' ya know?

Okay, so in Matt. 6:5-6, Jesus is addressing hypocrisy. Jewish leaders of the day who wanted to be seen as 'holy' would 'perform' public prayer in order to receive attention. Their motive was self-righteousness. Jesus was concerned w/ their motive, not the act of praying in public. He was teaching, as I understand it, that the essence of prayer is not public flare, but intimate communication w/ God. There IS a place for public prayer, but praying ONLY where others will see you indicates an attitude of the heart that is not focused on God.

Surely you understand that the National Day of Prayer has been a national observance since 1952. A National Observance requires representation of our National Leader - that would be the President. Your comment suggests that Mr. O is more righteous b/c he did NOT attend. This, dear James, misses the entire point of my piece; & the point of Jesus' lesson in the scripture you quote (imo).

I'm not an exegetical scholar, but I believe perhaps you're misusing scripture in order to try & chastise me.

Next time, why not just say 'hi' & tell me you beg to differ.

James' Muse said...

Hi! I beg to differ :)

While not an exegetical scholar, I did spend the first couple years of college as one before switching majors.

My post is chastising you, and others, for being upset that he did not go. In essence, you are demanding that our leader bring his faith public. That would be quite pharisaical. Throughout the whole passage he talks about how it is better to do these things in private. Our leaders, since this day was established in the '50s, has been a political exercise. It came about during the height of McArthyism as an answer to the "godless commies."

I think that there are many legitimate criticisms of President Obama, but this was not one of them. When the conservatives and religious right complain about everything Obama does, the complaints lose their credence.

A wise woman once told me (my mother) to "Choose your battles." I think that applies here.

Susannah said...

Well, hey there, James! Welcome. (Now see, isn't that better?)Same goes for the scholarship thing, only I tucked a minor under my belt, but that's beside the point...

"you are demanding that our leader bring his faith public"
Not exactly. I am demanding that our National Leader at least be in attendance at an important National Observance in the nation's Capital, or at least send a darned impressive representative.

"That would be quite pharisaical" No, in fact, it would not. Mr. O would have served in a leadership capacity (modeling that faith/prayer is important to our nation, & important to observe), not in a religious capacity.

Again: in Matthew, Jesus was not speaking to the ACT of praying in public so much as the ATTITUDE of humility before God. Using your logic, nobody should bother to have invocations @ Inaugurations, go to a Billy Graham crusade or ever even go to worship, for that matter.

(Truthfully, James, I chafe at being chastised with scripture, & you not knowing me, or even anything about my personal faith. Rather presumptuous, no?)

NDofP "has been a political exercise." I would argue an exercise in LEADERSHIP for reasons articulated above. I'm not so cynical to think that some people (a lot) still look to political figures for leadership/models of citizenship, even in these dark political times.

"When the conservatives and religious right complain about everything Obama does, the complaints lose their credence." Perhaps it's because they absoltutely cannot abide ANYthing about his positions, his agenda, his image, his behavior,etc...If it rings true, it's got 'credence.'

"It came about during the height of McArthyism as an answer to the 'godless commies'."

Godless Commies - Yes, I believe that was precisely my point. My Mama always says, "If the shoe fits..."

Be sure & kiss your mother - she is indeed wise - & tell her you love her for Mother's Day. If you've got children, kiss your wife too - take it from me, she deserves it!

a red voice said...

I've been bogged down & haven't been able to visit blogs as often as I would like - however, I did read about this & appreciate you posting about this. It was very sad indeed that BHO did not participate in the National Day of Prayer. I was indeed saddened by it, but it didn't shock me at all. Let his true colors be known by all. He claimed he was "Christian" to get elected, but I think it suited him then & now he doesn't need to benefit from it so he can dismiss it, because after all he has already "won".

Susannah said...

Red Voice! So glad to have you come by! I know what you mean about being preoccupied w/ other things. This is my first real swipe @ this blog in what feels like DAYS! Yes, what you said...'true colors.' Indeed. See you soon, I hope.