Wal-Mart’s Popularity May Not Shield Retailer from Pro-Family Backlash
Groups Urge Public to Protest Company’s Pro-Homosexual Partnership by Shopping Elsewhere
By Ed Thomas, Allie Martin, and Jenni Parker
(AgapePress) – An Internet news report cites retailer Wal-Mart’s self-assurance that customer traffic will be unaffected by its new alliance with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Conservative groups are hoping to shake the retailer’s confidence by appealing to the family values of American consumers. Reaction continue to come in from pro-family leaders concerned about Wal-Mart’s new business and ideological partnership with the homosexual lobby. Cybercast News Service reported on criticism of the move by the Family Research Council (FRC), Americans for Truth and other groups. FRC president Tony Perkins connects the company’s recent moves to the fact that the company has been “under assault from the far left” for some time.
Perkins calls Wal-Mart’s decision to join the NGLCC “an apparent concession to the heat from the radical left.” He says it is unfortunate that Wal-Mart has “joined forces with an organization whose mission opposes many of the values shared by rural and small-town America” when the company has traditionally prided itself in promoting the interests of average Americans. While this apparent “surrendering to the radical homosexual lobby” appears to be a done deal, Perkins points out that it is not too late for pro-family citizens to express their disappointment with this recent decision by Wal-Mart executives. However, as Cybercast News reports, a corporate spokesman for the company claims Wal-Mart’s popularity should trump any cultural controversy. American Family Association (AFA) founder Don Wildmon says the Wal-Mart spokesman’s statement shows that the company has forgotten the conservative base on which it was built. “In essence,” he asserts, “translated, this is what the said: ‘We’re so big, nobody can hurt us. We can do whatever we want to do, and nobody’s going to hurt us, because we’re the largest retailer in the world.’” But an executive with Wal-Mart says the retailer cares about its entire customer base and does not want to alienate anyone. Bob McAdam, vice president of corporate affairs for Wal-Mart, says the retailer has not abandoned is core values. “I don’t think Wal-Mart has changed at all,” says McAdam. “Wal-Mart has always been trying from day one to appeal to as many customers as possible.” That, he asserts is part of the reason the company has grown rapidly over the years. “We believe we provide a good service to people — we provide good prices,” he says. McAdam says Wal-Mart is not giving special treatment to homosexual-owned businesses, and that the company is only trying to treat everyone fairly and equally. But AFA contends that by joining the NGLCC, Wal-Mart is supporting efforts to give homosexuals special treatment. The NGLCC is a strong advocate for homosexual “marriage.”
Wildmon’s group is one of a handful of organizations that are asking shoppers to contact the company’s corporate offices and talk to local store managers, expressing objections to the partnership. The Tupelo, Mississippi-based AFA is also urging pro-family shoppers to buy specific items at stores other than Wal-Mart, in order to start taking small bites out of the corporate giant’s presumed unassailable revenue stream. The AFA website indicates that Wal-Mart’s affiliation with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce involves giving the NGLCC $25,000 and agreeing to pay for two conferences scheduled by the NGLCC. The company will also give homosexual retailers and businesses preferred status, and will also be helping the commerce organization promote same-sex “marriage.” “Wal-Mart has blatantly thrown it into the face of the Christian conservative,” Wildmon contends, and has, in effect, told the public that it is going to help promote the homosexual agenda. And, he says, the retailer has gone on to say to pro-family Americans, “We’re so large, you can’t do anything about it.” However, Wildmon does not believe Wal-Mart is too big to be affected by its pro-family customers. “If enough people decide that they can buy a gallon of milk for a nickel more down the road a half a mile, they’ll think twice about their support for the homosexual lobby,” he says.
August 31, 2006
Tony Perkins
Dr. Don Wildmon
Christian Psychologist Suspended by Police over Former Affiliation with Pro-Family Group
ELLYN, Ill., August 29, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Illinois Family Institute (IFI) Executive Director David Smith today decried the Minneapolis Police Department’s suspension of Dr. Michael Campion, a former IFI Board Member, after reports surfaced of Campion’s past affiliation with IFI.
“Does this mean that any person with a Christian or moral belief system cannot work for the City of Minneapolis?” Smith asked. “This case has all the markings of blatant anti-Christian discrimination and bigotry. People of faith should follow it carefully, because they could be next.”
Today the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the Minneapolis PD “has temporarily suspended the use of a well-known psychologist who has been screening potential officers for more than a year after community members questioned his affiliation with a group that opposes civil rights for gays.” (see the Star Tribune report here: http://www.startribune.com/462/story/641727.html )
The newspaper reported that Dr. Campion’s “affiliation with a conservative Illinois group that says it opposes the ‘gay lifestyle’ was brought to interim Chief Tim Dolan’s attention on Wednesday during a meeting with the Police Community Relations Council.”
Campion served on IFI’s Board of Directors from 1998 until 2005. The Star Tribune reported that his business, Campion, Barrow & Associates, based in Champaign, Ill., has “received high marks from a consulting firm hired by the Minneapolis Police Department to evaluate his ‘general procedural goodness and specific cultural fairness’ of his testing procedures.”
This is not the first time Dr. Campion has suffered discrimination after having his character assassinated by liberal activists. Last year, the City of Springfield, Illinois, fired Campion as psychological reviewer for police and firefighter candidates after the left-leaning weekly Illinois Times ran an article about his role with Illinois Family Institute.
“I have known Mike Campion for years, and he is a man of great Christian integrity and character,” said Peter LaBarbera, IFI’s Policy & Media Advisor. “Mike is a fair and decent man, respected by his peers, who honors the ethical standards of his profession. Now he is being smeared by pro-homosexual activists. The message is growing across our nation: Christians are the only group that can be discriminated against– especially if they live out their faith in the public square.”
Added Smith: “It is ironic that advocates of tolerance and diversity would deny Dr. Campion’s right to exercise his First Amendment freedoms of speech and association-not to mention his freedom of religion.”
To express concerns to the Minneapolis Police Department:
Mpls Police Department
350 South 5th Street,
Room 130, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1389
police@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Tell Wal-Mart to Stick to Low Prices, Not Homosexual Activism
August 30, 2006 – Wednesday
Forward to a Friend! It is certainly not news that Wal-Mart has a history of providing American consumers with good products for reasonable prices. But what you may not know is that for some time Wal-Mart has come under assault from the far left questioning how they provide such an affordable service to the American public. Even Hillary Clinton – former Wal-Mart board member and 2008 presidential hopeful – has turned against the company by returning $5,000 in political contributions.
In an apparent concession to the heat from the radical left, Wal-Mart has entered into a new partnership with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). While the NGLCC professes to promote the “interests of the LGBT business community,” this is not all they have done. Recently, they described efforts to defend traditional marriage as an attempt to “write discrimination into the Constitution…” The NGLCC also advocated attaching a pro-homosexual “hate crimes” amendment to legislation intended to protect children from violent sex offenders. Their advocacy delayed the legislation for several months. It is unfortunate that Wal-Mart has joined forces with an organization whose mission opposes many of the values shared by rural and small-town America. It is precisely the interests of average Americans that Wal-Mart has prided itself in promoting. Now, by surrendering to the radical homosexual lobby, Wal-Mart has entered the political arena with no economic benefit to their company or their customers. While it appears to be a done deal, it’s never too late to express your disappointment with this recent decision by Wal-Mart executives. Please download the flier and deliver it to your local Wal-Mart Customer Service Desk. Doing so will allow you, a patron of their stores, to convey your desire that Wal-Mart stick to business, not politics. AL06H05
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MOVEON.ORG’S PLAN FOR AMERICA
MOVEON.ORG’S PLAN FOR AMERICA
Far-Left Radical Dem Group Spreads Its Midterm Misinformation Campaign Across America ________________________________________
MOVEON.ORG’S 2006 PLAN TO ELECT DEFEATOCRATS
MoveOn.Org Launching “Call For Change” To Target Voters In Swing Districts:
MoveOn.Org Email: “Call for Change is our people-powered campaign to win back Congress. [On the night of August 29th] in your community, we’re throwing a big party and kicking our campaign up a notch. MoveOn members will be getting together meet, eat, and call voters in critical swing districts.” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Most Fun Way To Win Back Congress Yet,” 8/28/06)
- MoveOn.Org Email: “This program is brand new, so tomorrow’s parties are only being held in select locations before we go national next week. One of them is in your neck of the woods and we still need more people to fully test out our technology. So grab your cell phone (and charger) and join the party. You’ll have a great time, help win Congress, and be part of a critical test of our new campaign.” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Most Fun Way To Win Back Congress Yet,” 8/28/06)
MoveOn.Org Now Running False Ads Accusing GOP Representatives Of Being Criminals:
MoveOn.Org Email: “For the last few months, we’ve worked together to air ‘Red-Handed’ TV ads that get out the truth about Republicans’ ties to big corporations. The ads have been very effective …” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Taking ‘Red-Handed’ Everywhere,” 7/11/06)
- MoveOn.Org Email: “We need to take our ‘Caught Red-Handed’ message to every competitive district – making sure voters there are armed with the facts about the amount of special interest money their member of Congress took and the bad votes he or she cast.” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Taking ‘Red-Handed’ Everywhere,” 7/11/06)
- MoveOn.Org Email: “[W]e’re fighting back … by going on offense. This [August], we’re launching a new TV ad program that goes after Republican representatives in tight races who’ve rubber-stamped the war.” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Fight The Swift-Boaters: New Poll,” 8/10/06)
Non-Partisan Factcheck.Org: “A MoveOn.org Political Action ad campaign says four House Members have been ‘caught red-handed’ … In fact, none of the four members have done anything illegal.” (Factcheck.Org Website, “Caught ‘Red-Handed?’” www.factcheck.org, Accessed 8/24/06)
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“[MoveOn.Org's Ad Claim] Is Fiction. … In Fact, No Congressperson Actually Votes On Contracts To Individual Companies. The Contracts Are Awarded By Federal Agencies.” (WHAM-TV13 Website, www.13wham.com, Accessed 8/25/06)
- “Time To Go To The Trusty Webster’s Dictionary. It Defines Red-Handed As ‘In The Very Commission Of A Crime Or Wrongdoing.’ Wrongdoing? Perhaps In MoveOn.Org’s Opinion. But A Crime, Well That’s Fiction.” (WHAM-TV13 Website, www.13wham.com, Accessed 8/25/06)
MoveOn.Org Preparing Massive Get-Out-The-Vote Operation To Help Democrats In November:
MoveOn.Org Email: “[M]oveOn members have organized over 685 parties across the country to celebrate the last 100 days of Republican control and launch our massive GOTV program.” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Dessert Parties Tonight,” 7/31/06)
MoveOn.Org Email: “Call for Change is an innovative new program that’ll harness the energy of MoveOn’s 3 million members to make a difference in top races around the country. It’s a very ambitious plan to win big.” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Good News: Let’s Celebrate In Arlington,” 7/28/06)
- MoveOn.Org Email: “Through Call for Change, MoveOn members from New York to San Diego will make over 5 million phone calls into 30 highly competitive House districts plus key Senate races.” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Good News: Let’s Celebrate In Arlington,” 7/28/06)
- MoveOn.Org Email: “We’ll use new technology and cutting edge ‘microtargeting’ techniques … We’ll deploy skilled field organizers around the country to help our volunteer leaders recruit and support other MoveOn members in their area.” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Good News: Let’s Celebrate In Arlington,” 7/28/06)
MoveOn.Org Funding Out-Of-Mainstream Defeatocrats In 2006:
During 2006 Cycle, MoveOn.Org Has Contributed $719,186 To Democrats. (Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed 8/23/06)
- Since 2000 Cycle, MoveOn.Org Has Contributed $1,159,569 (100%) To Democrats And $0 To Republicans. (Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed 8/23/06)
MOVEON.ORG’S DISASTROUS AGENDA FOR AMERICA
In MoveOn.Org’s America, We Would Lack The Critical Tools To Fight The War On Terror:
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MoveOn.Org Sponsored Petition Saying “It Is Clear Now That The President Has Been Repeatedly And Willingly Breaking The Law To Wiretap American Citizens Without A Warrant.” (MoveOn.Org Website, www.moveon.org, Accessed 8/24/06)
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MoveOn.Org Sponsored An Online Petition To “Stop The Patriot Act.” (MoveOn.Org Website, www.moveon.org, Accessed 8/24/06)
In MoveOn.Org’s America, American Troops In Harms Way Wouldn’t Have Food, Shelter, Body Armor Or Bullets:
MoveOn.Org Released Ads Accusing GOP Of Being Caught “Red-Handed” Spending $319 Billion To Fund Troops In Harms Way. (MoveOn.Org Website, www.moveon.org, Accessed 8/23/06)
- MoveOn.Org Ad Attacks GOP For Voting To Award $14.8 Billion “[T]o Provide Food, Shelter, And Other Support Services To U.S. Troops …” (MoveOn.Org Website, www.moveon.org, Accessed 8/23/06)
In MoveOn.Org’s America, U.S. Troops Would Surrender In Iraq And Saddam Hussein Would Still Be In Power:
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“[T]he Liberal Group MoveOn.Org Produced A TV Ad Titled ‘Quagmire’ Asserting That Mr. Bush Lacks Plans To End The War. ‘George Bush Got Us Into This Quagmire,’ The Narrator Says As An American Soldier Sinks Deeper Into Quicksand, Rifle Overhead In A Posture That Suggests Surrender.” (Todd J. Gillman, “History Of A ‘Quagmire,’” The Dallas Morning News, 9/27/04) |
- MoveOn.Org Raised Money To Run Ad Celebrating Death Of 2,000th Soldier In Operation Iraqi Freedom. “We’ve also added to our campaign a respectful and emotional TV ad that honors those killed in Iraq and asks, ‘How many more?’” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Nothing Is True,” 10/26/05)
In MoveOn.Org’s America, The Taliban Would Still Be In Power:
After 9/11, MoveOn.Org Collected Signatures For Statement Calling For “Justice, Not Escalating Violence That Would Only Play Into The Terrorists’ Hands.” (Tony Pugh, “Against Tide, They Clamor For Peace,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/21/01)
- MoveOn.Org Petition Stated Governments Should Not Be “Held Unduly Accountable” For Actions Of Terrorist Groups Operating Within Their Borders. “Furthermore, we assert that the government of a nation must be presumed separate and distinct from any terrorist group that may operate within its borders, and therefore cannot be held unduly accountable for the latter’s crimes.” (MoveOn.Org Website, http://www.moveon.org/peace/petition/petition.html, Accessed 12/17/03)
In MoveOn.Org’s America, President Bush Is Likened To Hitler And Would Be Censured:
Two Ads Comparing President Bush To Hitler Appeared On MoveOn.Org Voter Fund Website. “One ad begins with Adolf Hitler making speeches, until a picture of President Bush appears. Another also uses Nazi and Bush images, with the tag line: ‘What were war crimes in 1945 is foreign policy in 2003.’ The videos appeared on the Web site of MoveOn.Org’s Voter Fund as part of a nationwide contest for an anti-Bush television ad on which the liberal group plans to spend a considerable sum.” (Howard Kurtz, “Anti-Bush Ad Contest Includes Hitler Images,” The Washington Post, 1/6/04)
- Abraham Foxman Of Anti-Defamation League Called Ads “Vile And Outrageous” And Group’s Comments Explaining Them “Hardly Comforting.” (Anti-Defamation League, “Hitler Ad Should Never Have Appeared On MoveOn.Org,” Press Release, 1/5/04)
“MoveOn’s [March 2004] Spot … Claims That Bush Did Not Tell The Truth A Year Ago When Laying Out The Case For War With Iraq, And It Urges Congress To Censure The President.” (Liz Sidoti, “New Anti-Bush Ads Assail President On Economy, Iraq War,” The Associated Press, 3/17/04)
In MoveOn.Org’s America, Economy Boosting Tax Cuts Would Have Never Been Enacted:
“The Liberal Activist Group MoveOn.Org Is Running A Caustic Television Ad Campaign … That Depicts The Administration’s [Tax Cut] Plan As Too Expensive And A Sop To The Wealthy. The Ads … Feature Parents Selling Their Blood Plasma To Raise Money For Their Children’s Cash-Strapped School …” (Helen Dewar, “2nd Illinois Republican Declines Senate Bid,” The Washington Post, 5/14/03)
In MoveOn.Org’s America, Mainstream Justices John Roberts And Samuel Alito Would Not Be On The Supreme Court:
MoveOn.Org Sponsored Petition Opposing John Roberts’ Nomination To The Supreme Court By Saying, “The President Has Chosen A Right Wing Corporate Lawyer And Ideologue For The Nation’s Highest Court Instead Of A Judge Who Would Protect The Rights Of The American People.” (MoveOn.Org Website, www.moveon.org, Accessed 8/23/06)
MoveOn.Org Sponsored Petition Opposing Samuel Alito’s Nomination To The Supreme Court By Saying, “[A]lito Is A Notoriously Right-Wing Judge On The Third Circuit Court Of Appeals. He Has Consistently Ruled To Strip Basic Protections From Workers, Women, Minorities And The Disabled In Favor Of Unchecked Power For Corporations And Special Interests.” (MoveOn.Org Website, www.moveon.org, Accessed 8/23/06)
- MoveOn.Org Petition: “The nomination of Samuel Alito poses a grave threat to the protections Americans count on, including basic workers’ rights, women’s rights, and civil rights. We call on the Senate to stand up for all of us and reject the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court of the United States.” (MoveOn.Org Website, www.moveon.org, Accessed 8/23/06)
MOVEON.ORG HAS ALREADY TAKEN OVER DEMOCRAT PARTY
MoveOn.Org On Democrat Party: “We Own It”:
MoveOn.Org Email Claims It Bought And Owns Democrat Party: “Now it’s our party: we bought it, we own it, and we’re going to take it back.” (Adam C. Smith, “Unshaven, Unbowed And In Our Face,” St. Petersburg[FL] Times, 2/18/05)
“[M]oveOn.Org’s Man In Washington … [Tom] Matzzie Noted How Senior Democratic Senators Eagerly Rearrange Their Schedules To Meet With MoveOn.” (Adam C. Smith, “Unshaven, Unbowed And In Our Face,” St. Petersburg [FL] Times, 2/18/05)
- “Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Of California [Was] Among Several House Democrats Who Met With MoveOn … What They See Is A Potential Ally That Could Help Them Move Votes And Frame Issues – As Well As A Template For The Party’s Own Organizing Activities.” (John Cochran, “Internet-Based Activist Group Puts Powerful Spin On Politics,” CQ Weekly, 10/3/03)
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) At MoveOn Rally: “We are depending on you, we are depending on you to make sure this country stands for what we learned many years ago when Mr. Smith went to Washington.” (Sen. Harry Reid, MoveOn.Org PAC Rally, Washington, D.C., 3/16/05)
MoveOn.Org Working Hard To Oust Mainstream Democrats:
MoveOn.Org Email: “It is also part of our work together to hold Democrats to their Party’s highest values on issues like foreign policy, economic prosperity and good government. That sometimes means grappling with specific right-wing Democrats who consistently side with big corporations and right-wing Republicans.” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Should We Take On Right-Wing Democrats?” 2/14/06)
- MoveOn.Org Email: “One approach is to support progressive primary challengers to right-wing Democrats. We think this makes sense but it’s a big decision …” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Should We Take On Right-Wing Democrats?” 2/14/06)
- MoveOn.Org Email: “[84 Percent] of us agreed we should challenge some right-wing incumbent Democrats in primary elections.” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Three Weeks To Pull It Off,” 2/16/06)
MEET THE 2006 MOVEON.ORG DEFEATOCRATS
MoveOn.Org Supporting Defeatocrat Senate Candidate Ned Lamont (D-CT):
MoveOn.Org Endorsed Senate Candidate Ned Lamont (D-CT). (MoveOn.Org Website, www.moveon.org, Accessed 8/24/06)
- During 2006 Cycle, MoveOn.Org Has Contributed $251,126 To Lamont. (Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed 8/23/06)
- MoveOn.Org Email: “In an election decided by 10,119 votes, MoveOn members made 77,000 calls to get Connecticut voters to the polls and put Lamont over the top.” (MoveOn.Org Email, “Victory!” 8/9/06)
Lamont’s Campaign Message Is Cut-And-Run From Iraq. Lamont: “I think it’s time for us to take our front-line military operations and start bringing those troops home now.” (Susan Haigh, “Iraq War Key Topic Of Senate Race,” The Associated Press, 6/17/06)
- Lamont Opposed To Terrorist Surveillance Program. Lamont: “I look at the illegal wiretaps. … I think we should have said that was wrong. … I think censure was a way of telling the president of the United States, what you did was wrong.” (“Lieberman, Lamont Spar In Conn. Primary Debate,” The Washington Post, 7/7/06)
MoveOn.Org Supporting Defeatocrat Senate Candidate Sherrod Brown (D-OH):
MoveOn.Org Endorsed Senate Candidate Sherrod Brown (D-OH). (MoveOn.Org Website, www.moveon.org, Accessed 8/24/06)
- MoveOn.Org Email: “[I]n the Ohio Senate race … Rep. Sherrod Brown … stands a great chance of winning a Senate seat from Republican Senator Mike DeWine.” (Moveon.Org Email, “Thanks For A Great Year: Your Work In ‘05 (And What’s Next In ‘06!),” 12/29/05)
Rep. Brown Voted Against The PATRIOT Act At Least 3 Times. (H.R. 2975, CQ Vote #386, Passed 337-79: R 207-3; D 129-75; I 1-1, 10/12/01, Brown Voted Nay; H.R. 3199, CQ Vote #414: Passed 257-171: R 214-14; D 43-156; I 0-1, 7/21/05, Brown Voted Nay; H.R. 3199, CQ Vote #627: Adopted 251-174: R 207-18; D 44-155; I 0-1, 12/14/05, Brown Voted Nay)
- Rep. Brown Voted Against An Amendment That Said “The Apprehension, Detention, And Interrogation Of Terrorists Are Fundamental To The Successful Prosecution Of The War On Terror.” (H.R. 4548, CQ Vote #298: Adopted 304-116: R 223-0; D 81-115; I 0-1, 6/23/04, Brown Voted Nay)
MoveOn.Org Supporting Defeatocrat House Candidate Patrick Murphy (D-PA):
MoveOn.Org Endorsed House Candidate Patrick Murphy (D-PA). (MoveOn.Org Website, www.moveon.org, Accessed 8/24/06)
- MoveOn.Org Email: “Democrat Patrick Murphy is running in the 8th congressional district of Pennsylvania. … His experience in Iraq has led him to support ‘The Murphy Plan’ for Iraq that would start bringing troops home now. … This should be a Democratic seat and Murphy is the candidate who can win it but he needs our help.” (Moveon.Org Email, “Deadline Tomorrow: Can You Pitch In?,” 6/27/06)
Murphy Wants To Cut-And-Run In Iraq. Murphy: “It is time to change the direction in Iraq, and we need to start bringing our men and women home now.” (Patrick Murphy For Congress Website, www.murphy06.com, Accessed 8/24/06)
MoveOn.Org Supporting Defeatocrat House Candidate Francine Busby (D-CA):
MoveOn.Org Endorsed House Candidate Francine Busby (D-CA). (MoveOn.Org Website, www.moveon.org, Accessed 8/24/06)
- During 2006 Cycle, MoveOn.Org Has Given $124,620 In Earmarked Contributions To Busby. (Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed 8/23/06)
“[D]emocratic Candidate Francine Busby Says Voters Should Send A Different Message: A Change Is Needed In Washington Because Of The Quagmire In Iraq … In Her Public Comments, Busby Has Consistently Opposed The Invasion.” (Tony Perry, “Key Race Is Seen As A Test Of GOP’s Vulnerability,” Los Angeles Times, 5/30/06)
- Busby Opposed The NSA’s Terrorist Surveillance Program. (Tony Perry, “Key Race Is Seen As A Test Of GOP’s Vulnerability,” Los Angeles Times, 5/30/06)
MoveOn.Org Supporting Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV):
MoveOn.Org Endorsed Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV). (MoveOn.Org Website, www.moveon.org, Accessed 8/24/06)
- “The MoveOn.Org Rally Featured Several Members Of The Democratic Leadership … But It Was Byrd Who Drew The Most Applause.” (Mark Preston, “Feisty Byrd Looks Like A Candidate,” Roll Call, 3/17/05)
Sen. Byrd Voted Against Senate Passage Of $87 Billion Iraq/Afghanistan Reconstruction Package. Byrd: “This entire adventure in Iraq has been based on propaganda and manipulation. Eighty-seven billion dollars is too much to pay for the continuation of a war based on falsehoods.” (S. 1689, CQ Vote #400: Passed 87-12: R 50-0; D 37-11; I 0-1, 10/17/03, Byrd Voted Nay; Robert C. Byrd, Losing America, 2004, p. 290)
- Sen. Byrd Voted To Kill The PATRIOT Act Reauthorization. (H.R. 3199, CQ Vote #358: Rejected 52-47: R 50-5; D 2-41; I 0-1, 12/16/05, Byrd Voted Nay)
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Jimmy Carter’s Values
—Janet Parshall
August 29, 2006
Former President Jimmy Carter gave an interview recently to Der Spiegel, a German publication. The interviewer asked Carter about his assertion that there is “a rather strange coalition between Christian fundamentalists and the Republican Party.” Because of this supposed intersection, Carter was asked how such a “coalition of the pious could lead to moral catastrophes like Abu Ghraib and torture in Guantanamo?”
Carter not only didn’t question the premise but he asserted that these “fundamentalists” don’t believe they can make mistakes and assume that they speak for God. He also contends that “fundamentalists” (remember he is talking about Christian fundamentalists here) view their opponents as “sub-human.”
I know the former President is currently promoting his newest book, “Our Endagered Values,” but interviews like the one Carter gave are an affront to the values of millions of evangelical, Bible-believing Christians around the world.
Carter is entitled to his opinion, but he’s wrong to hurl unfounded and misleading insults that impact the entire nation in a time of war.
Antireligious School Board Policy Stricken by Federal Court of Appeals
August 28, 2006
News Release
by Federal Court of Appeals
Atlanta, GA – In a unanimous decision, a federal court of appeals has struck down an antireligious school board policy that banned students from distributing religious literature within the Lee County School Board, located in Florida. The students in the lawsuit were represented by Liberty Counsel.
While in seventh grade in Cypress Lake Middle School, Michelle Heinkel sought permission to distribute religious and pro-life literature about the Day of Remembrance, which was a day to remember unborn children who lost their lives through abortion. The Day of Remembrance was sponsored by Freedom to Learn. However, Superintendent James Browder denied the request. The school board policy prohibited students from distributing literature that is political, religious or proselytizing. The next year, Browder again denied Heinkel’s request, along with the request of Nate Cordray, a student at Riverdale High School. The federal district court upheld the policy, but the court of appeals found it unconstitutional.
In its unanimous decision, the court of appeals ruled that the policy’s ban on all political and religious literature was an unconstitutional content-based restriction. The court also ruled that the policy gave too much unrestricted discretion to school officials to deny speech. The court struck down the entire policy as a violation of the First Amendment.
Erik Stanley, Chief Counsel of Liberty Counsel, said, “Public school students have a right to free speech, which includes verbal or written speech, before, after or in between classes. A school’s desire to squelch speech because of discomfort with the message is unconstitutional.”
Mathew Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, who argued the case before the district court and on appeal, commented: “Religious and political speech are twin sisters, without which we have no freedom. Public schools may ban obscenity and libel, but religious and political speech does not stop at the schoolhouse door. Banning religious speech sends the wrong message that religion is taboo or second class, which proposition neither this court nor the Constitution is willing to tolerate. Educators need education about American history and the Constitution.”
Join with us as we defend the religious freedom of students and teachers.
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SPECIAL MESSAGE
SPECIAL MESSAGE
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Dear Friends,
Tourists are now being ordered to leave the Florida Keys, and Governor Jeb Bush has taken the precautionary step of declaring a state of emergency as Hurricane Ernesto, the first Hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic Hurricane Season approaches Cuba.
It seems hard to believe, but once again our number one priority is the preparation of our state for another hurricane.
Although we cannot be certain where Ernesto will make landfall, or how powerful it will be when it does, all the early indications suggest that Florida will feel the effects of yet another hurricane as early as Tuesday. I know this is difficult news for many Floridians, especially our friends and neighbors who are still recovering from the storms of 2004 and 2005. But because of the general path of the storm, and the early and advance warning that Governor Bush and weather service officials have given, we have plenty of time to prepare.
Please, use this time wisely. We’ve learned the lessons of the importance of personal responsibility. It is important for you to do what is necessary to prepare yourself for whatever the weather may bring. By taking the necessary steps to prepare your family and property now, you can lessen or avoid altogether the heartache that these storms bring.
Soon, I will begin mobilizing the full resources of the Department of Financial Services and the Office of State Fire Marshal to assist citizens in need. Our consumer response teams will be assembled and ready to be dispatched to impacted areas, and our state fire marshal personnel will be on hand to work with all law enforcement and emergency responders in coordinating search and rescue missions.
Residents can contact the department’s toll-free storm line at 1-800-22-STORM with any questions or for assistance.
For preparation tips please visit our website at: http://www.fldfs.com/consumers/hurricane_season_2005/hurricane_guides.htm
We can all take solace in the fact that we have a proven and capable leader like Governor Jeb Bush in charge of our state during these uncertain times. Working alongside Governor Bush for the past eight years has given me incredible confidence in his ability to prepare our state, and lead recovery efforts, whenever storms threaten our state.
Take comfort in knowing that your state and local officials are prepared for this storm, and we will do everything in our power to ensure your safety before the storm, and stand with you during recovery.
Please listen to the emergency management officials for safety instructions so you can keep your family safe and secure.
Christians focus on the Muslim world
Christians focus on the Muslim world
Posted on August 22nd: 2006
International (MNN) — For the 15th year in a row, Youth with a Mission (or YWAM) and WorldChristian.com is helping Christians focus prayer on the Muslim world.
The 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus coincides with Islam’s holy month of prayer and fasting known as Ramadan. This year’s Prayer Focus begins September 24 and continues through October 23. During that time, Christians are called upon to make a concerted but respectful effort to learn about, pray for and reach out to Muslim neighbors — across the street and around the world.
YWAM has again produced a new informative prayer guide to help Christians understand and effectively pray for the Muslim world.
Following the 9/11 tragedy and the problems taking place in the Middle East, the 30 Days Muslim Prayer Guide is a proven tool to help Christians resist the temptation of being caught up in generalizations, anger, or fear toward all Muslims. It also provides Christians a way to feel part of the Great Commission and remember those who are reaching out to the Islamic World. The 52 page booklet includes daily readings and prayer points. It’s a great resource for individuals, prayer groups, Sunday School, ministry or congregations.
Patrick Johnstone, the author of Operation World, says “This 30-day prayer emphasis has been a remarkable global effort to focus Christians on prayer for the spiritual needs of Muslims. Is it surprising, then, during the last 15 years there has been a corresponding rise in the number of Muslims turning to Christ? May God call many more as intercessors-priests to change our world and extend His kingdom.”
Mission Network News is providing copies of the 30-Days Muslim Prayer Guides for a gift of any amount. Click on the “Support” button on the left, or call our resource line (USA & Canada only). http://www.MNNonline.org/support
APA President Signals Policy Change on Homosexuality
by Pete Winn, associate editor
The message that gays can change may finally be getting through. Ex-gay groups and organizations that counsel people with unwanted same-sex attractions say they are pleased, but puzzled, by recent remarks by the top official of the American Psychological Association. At a town-hall meeting during the APA’s convention in New Orleans, APA President Gerald P. Koocher responded to questions about the organization’s pro-homosexual positions — and its lack of recognition of former homosexuals and their therapists. Koocher’s response was simple: “APA has no conflict with psychologists who help those distressed by unwanted homosexual attraction.” Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, a network of ministries for those struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction, said it was an unexpected turn of events. “Given the APA’s track record of the last two years,” Chambers told CitizenLink, “it is very unusual that the president would come out and state our case for us, that people have a right to self-determination — to determine their own path for their mental-health status.” Chambers said he believes a protest organized by ex-gays and their therapists outside the convention hall had an impact. “We protested because the APA hasn’t been very solid on these issues,” he said. “They haven’t respected a psychologist’s right to help patients that want help in overcoming their same-sex attraction. “They have written position papers and made it very public that they’re opposed to people being able to choose the path that I, and hundreds of thousands of other people like me, have chosen, and that is to overcome their homosexuality.” He also said change is coming about because of pressure from within the APA. “What we found at the protest, is that 80 percent of the attendees — people that were coming off of the buses and walking into the convention center — were supportive of what we said,” he added. “I believe that it is through the ongoing efforts of groups like Exodus and NARTH, the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, that the board of the APA is realizing it is out of step with its membership.” Research by Dr. Robert Spitzer has also helped the cause. Spitzer, a New York-based psychiatrist who helped to convince the APA in 1973 to remove homosexuality from the list of psychological disorders, found that some people who are highly motivated to leave homosexuality may return to heterosexuality. “I think Dr. Spitzer has helped our cause a great deal by being someone who isn’t pro-faith or pro-change, but who is someone who respects the rights of clients,” Chambers said. Prior to the convention, NARTH sent Koocher a petition signed by 75 licensed psychologists asking the APA to reconsider its stance on change therapy. David Pruden, a NARTH board member, was one of them. “I think that we got their attention,” he said. “It is hopeful that they are now talking and corresponding with us and that President Koocher felt the need to respond to the members about the right of individuals to seek treatment.” Even more astounding was a statement by Clinton Anderson, director of the APA’s Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns Office, who acknowledged that people can change from being homosexual to being straight, since they can change the opposite way. “This is the first time we’ve heard from someone in that type of position acknowledge that sexual orientation can change,” Pruden said. “It’s a pretty dramatic change in the official position of the association.” Ironically, Pruden said the APA gave NARTH and ex-gay groups the brush-off when they tried to be part of the convention. “We petitioned and asked that we be allowed to have a booth inside the conference to hand out literature that would talk about the idea of change therapies and some of the things that would be available to people,” Pruden said. “We were denied that opportunity. We also asked for the chance to run an ad in an APA publication, The Monitor, and we were turned down.” Recognition that change is possible is the goal, Pruden said. Ex-gay groups will continue to put pressure on the APA for a place at the table. “They need to do everything they can to encourage sound scientific research, discussion and exploration of these type of issues,” he added. “They need to get out of the business of trying to shape policy and mold science to fit political agendas.” FOR MORE INFORMATION: (NOTE: Referral to Web sites not produced by Focus on the Family is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the sites’ content.)
Visit the Web sites for NARTH and Exodus International.
Gore Sea Levels?
By Dennis Avery
Al Gore’s movie An Inconvenient Truth says human-emitted CO2 will boost the earth’s temperatures enough to melt the Arctic ice cap—and suddenly raise sea levels by 20 feet.
Phooey.
First of all, let’s understand just how cold the Antarctic is. Winter temperatures on its high, cold interior plateau range from 40 to 95 degrees F below zero! In the summer (December) it “warms,” with temperatures dipping only to 49 degrees F below zero—and sometimes rising within 25 degrees F of the melting point (32 degrees F). But even then, the ice reflects virtually all of the sun’s rays back out into space.
However, the world’s warming in the past 150 years has produced a change in Antarctica. The huge East Antarctic ice sheet, which contains nearly 90 percent of the world’s ice, has been thickening. European satellites measured the ice sheet’s thickness 347 million times between 1992 and 2003, and found it is gaining about 45 billion tons of water per year because the planet has warmed enough for snow to fall at the coldest place on earth.
The study, “Snowfall-driven Growth in East Antarctic Ice Sheet Mitigates Recent Sea-level Rise” was led by Curt Davis of the University of Missouri, and reported in Science on June 24, 2005.
Thickening ice in the Antarctic, in fact, is just about offsetting the meltwater being released from the edges of the Greenland ice sheet—which has also been thickening in its center. This leaves us with a global warming sea level gain of about 1.8 millimeters per year—or 4 inches per century. The rise has remained constant during the 20th century despite the moderate 0.6 degree C warming of the planet.
In the movie, a whole Antarctic ice sheet shatters on Gore’s computer screen. In the real world, that isn’t happening. It is only the Antarctic Peninsula—2 percent of the continent’s land area that sticks up toward the far-off equator—that is warming. It recently earned headlines by calving an ice floe as big as Rhode Island, not an unusual event.
But the East Antarctic ice sheet is more than 2,000 times bigger than Rhode Island, and the ice is two miles thick! John Stone of the University of Washington, reporting in Science on January 3, 2003 says the West Antarctic ice sheet has been retreating so slowly for the past 10,000 years that it still has not fully accommodated the end of the last Ice Age, and apparently still has about 7,000 years of ice to melt—and the East Antarctic ice sheet is melting even more slowly than that.
So. Al Gore says Antarctic melting will suddenly raise the sea levels by 20 feet, and the experts say 4 inches per century. Seth Borenstein, an AP science writer, did a column on June 27 headlined, “Scientists OK Gore’s Movie for Accuracy.” The dean of environmental studies at Duke is quoted as saying “He got all the important material and got it right.”
Were they talking about the same movie I saw? Gore overstated the impact of global warming on the Antarctic glaciers by about 50-fold. Or did he mean that 7000 years was “sudden”? How can so-called scientists applaud his accuracy either way?
Dennis T. Avery was a senior policy analyst for the U.S. State Department, where he won the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement. He is the co-author, with atmospheric physicist Fred Singer, of Unstoppable Global Warming: Every 1500 Years, due in October from Rowman & Littlefield.
Why liberals are crushing dissent
Kevin McCullough
August 25, 2006 — Liberals are actively undermining First Amendment rights to free speech by trying to crush opposing views.
Growing ever bolder in their naked grab for power they are leaving scorched earth behind those who disagree with them. This is why Dick Gephardt, Joe Lieberman and Zell Miller no longer find themselves included in the modern Democratic Party. What is left over for the Democrats are wildly anti-American, anti-God and anti-biblical leftists who are now bragging about their use of brute force to crush the voices of those who disagree with them.
Perhaps that’s why this week in one of the boldest moves yet by a sitting liberal, Democrat California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez proclaimed, “The real purpose of SB 1437 is to outlaw traditional perspectives on marriage and family in the state school system.”
He continued, “The way you correct a wrong (perspective) is by outlawing. ‘Cause if you don’t outlaw it, then people’s biases tend to take over and dominate the perspective and the point of view.”
Nunez’s solution to the people he disagrees with is to outlaw their ability to disagree with him.
And Nunez’s viewpoint is one that pervades liberals in his party and in the nation. That is why Nunez and his fellow Democrats in the California State Assembly voted in unison to pass four bills that are all designed to punish people who disagree with them. To incarcerate someone for daring to criticize a different point of view – over a purely behavioral issue.
The bills in question have passed both houses and await Gov. Schwarzenegger’s signature or veto. The bills were unanimously embraced by the Democrats and universally denounced by the Republicans.
What do they say?
These four bills would require that in every classroom from kindergarten through high school perverse sexual activity be praised and highlighted in a positive light. They would require textbooks, many of which would then also be produced for other states beyond the borders of California, make positive references to the ideas of men putting on women’s under things. They would restrict school districts from being able to bar females from displaying dildos on the outerwear of their prom dress. And in functional sexuality courses from K-12, they would require positive explanation of the merits and instruction of anal intercourse.
These four bills are also dangerous in what they outlaw. No single teacher – not even in science classes – would be allowed to talk about the negative health impact of homosexual behavior. No school counselor would be allowed to confirm to a molested student that they felt wrong about continuing in a homosexual relationship that they were primarily drawn into because of earlier molestation to begin with. No mention of moral aspects of sexual behavior would be permitted unless immoral activity were praised and in fact referred to as moral.
In other words, the pushing of the sexual envelope would be unleashed with a nitro-fueled explosion the likes of which has never been seen in America’s history.
One of the bills goes a step further. Its actual purpose is to cripple any state resources such as fire or police protection for any religious institution – i.e., a Bible-based church – that would in any way demonstrate negative “doctrine” or “propaganda.” So if an arsonist (who also just happened to be a radical activist) decided to burn down a church that was in their view teaching the faithful interpretation of Scripture as it relates to sexual practice, then the local fire company could be barred from assisting in the recovery and protection of said facility.
So why are liberals going to such extremes to shut down and shut out any opposing view?
Because they are a stubborn and sinful people – people that are bent on reshaping a utopia that God did not design and one that will never exist.
Just because the entire world claims there is no God doesn’t make Him disappear. Just because a majority of voters might even say that two men hooking up is the moral equivalence of marriage doesn’t mean it is marriage.
Liberals are wracked with guilt because the conscience that God put inside of them has told them again and again that such things are wrong. But instead of choosing to change their view, they have instead chosen to crush anyone and everyone who would give support to the message that their heart already knows.
Without Judeo-Christian morals, there would be no society in place today that would have allowed freedom of speech. And as the moral framework of the Judeo-Christian society that America has always been is systematically being targeted for erasure, the little power mongers and dictators are already aligning to rule with absolute say.
Speaker Nunez’s view to “outlaw traditional perspectives” is shocking in its blunt regurgitation. It is also, sadly, not new to the hard left in America. And without the power of debate, ideas and dissent it is being given a larger and larger place at the table.
So the godless have announced their intentions and now it is up to us to speak – while we still have voice. Call Gov. Schwarzenegger today at 916-445-2841 and ask him to protect free speech and perspectives of many sorts.
Moral guilt serves its purpose and the best way to rid one’s self of it is to change behavior. To attempt to appease it by stifling those you disagree with will only cause it to grow.
What happens when the opposition is gone and the guilt still pervades?
Common sense has been telling us this for years – will we listen?
Sam’s Club replaces ‘Christmas’ with ‘Holidays’
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August 22, 2006 Sam’s Club replaces ‘Christmas’ with ‘Holidays’
Dear Ric, Even though it is August, the Christmas advertising season has already begun and Sam’s Club has come down on the side of “Holidays” instead of “Christmas.” In the August/September issue of their in-house magazine Source, Sam’s Club has one page dedicated to Christmas. But Sam’s Club doesn’t refer to Christmas as being Christmas. Sam’s Club promotes it as “Holidays.” On page 69 of Source, the promotional plug says: “Coming soon. Plan ahead for the holidays.” On the page decorated in Christmas fashion are three products. Sam’s Club wants you to buy “Holiday Cards,” “Holiday Ribbon,” and “Holiday Gift Bags.” On the “Christmas” page, the word Christmas isn’t used! View the page ad. On June 26, AFA wrote Wal-Mart (which owns Sam’s Club) asking that they not ban “Christmas” in advertising and promotions. Included in that letter was a CD with the names of 201,595 individuals who signed the petition asking for no ban. Wal-Mart, ignoring the letter, did not even bother to respond.
Sincerely,
Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman P.S. Please forward this e-mail message to your family and friends! |
Gideons, ACLU At Odds Over Scripture Distribution to Public School Students
By Allie Martin
August 22, 2006
(AgapePress) – The ACLU is trying to restrict the Gideons from handing out Bibles to fifth-graders at an elementary school in Missouri.
For years the superintendent of the South Iron R-1 School District in Annapolis, Missouri, has permitted various groups to present information to students at district schools. The open access policy in the district has allowed such groups as Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Union Pacific Railroad to have access to the students during classroom time. The Gideons International, which annually places and distributes more than 63 million Scriptures worldwide, has had access to schools during a study period.
Now, however, The Gideons has been singled out in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri, which claims that last fall two Gideons representatives were permitted to address fifth-graders during class time and then distribute New Testaments to them — an action the ACLU says is unconstitutional. The lawsuit seeks an injunction prohibiting the South Iron Schools from continuing to allow outside visitors into their classrooms for religious purposes.
Orlando-based Liberty Counsel has joined with conservative author and commentator David Limbaugh in defending South Iron against the lawsuit. Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, says the attacks against the school district are unfounded.
“An open access policy under the First Amendment requires that you treat religious speech equally,” Staver explains. “The ACLU may not like the idea that they have to treat religious speech equally, but the fact of the matter is the Constitution demands it. So we’re now defending this ACLU lawsuit which we believe, frankly, is frivolous.”
Beyond that consideration, Liberty Counsel has added motivation to be involved in the case, says the attorney. “I think it’s important to stand up in this particular case because if the ACLU had its way, it would literally shut down religious speech; it would be discriminating intentionally against religious speech, whereas all the other forms of secular expression have their way in the marketplace,” says Staver.
Religious viewpoints are protected under the First Amendment, adds the Liberty Counsel founder, but “the ACLU wants to silence [religious] expression. They want all this [other] information to come as a free flow to the students, but not religious information — in this case, specifically, no Bibles,” he comments. “I think it’s very important for our religious freedom and certainly for our constitutional liberties to stand up against the bullies of the ACLU.”
Two years ago, the ACLU was successful in shutting down The Gideons’ scripture distribution in another Missouri school district. In June 2004 the Smithville R-II School District settled a federal lawsuit filed by the ACLU, agreeing that it would not “aid, abet, or assist in the distribution of Bibles to school children on school premises,” or “grant permission to any non-student to distribute Bibles on school premises.” That lawsuit had been filed by a Catholic father of three. The court-ordered agreement was to remain in effect for as long as the man has children enrolled in Smithville schools.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
As Beirut’s buildings crumbled, so did barriers to the Gospel
By Dea Davidson
Aug 21, 2006
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–> BEIRUT, Lebanon (BP)–Downtown Beirut was the place to be. In early July, fashion and soccer were the summer’s hot topics as thousands thronged the streets to watch the final matches of World Cup 2006 on large-screen TVs. Bustling downtown Beirut also was a prime location for Melissa Hunt* and two other college students as they sought to connect with Lebanese students and city residents during an eight-week summer mission trip. “It was really cool how God put the pieces together,” said Hunt, a member of a St. Louis-area Baptist church. “When I was going through all the job descriptions, this one in the Middle East caught my eye. I put it down as my third choice, because I knew my parents would flip. It took me a few days before I accepted that I just knew that’s where God wanted me to be.” For five weeks, Hunt and her team had two primary goals: to distribute Bibles in a Beirut neighborhood and to witness to college students in the city. On the days the team hung out with the fashion-conscious college students at the American University of Beirut, Hunt chose her outfits carefully. Like typical college students, the girls chatted about anything from school to hair and makeup to the many social cliques that existed at the university. Their reactions to the Gospel included a wide range of what Hunt called “openness.” “A lot of people were very interested in the Bible,” she said. “Several people … told us they had been wanting to read the Bible and learn what was in there. Some of the students were totally against religion. But a lot of them would say, ‘It’s really great what you’re telling me, but I just don’t have time for that right now.’” Hunt said the civil war in Lebanon that ended in 1990s “was pretty much fought between the Muslims and the Christians. To them, religion is political. Whatever [religion] you’re born [into], that’s what you are, and that’s what you die.” To try to break through that mentality, the team shared the Gospel on campus by using a survey as a conversation springboard. While two students went over the survey, the third member prayed nearby. For one of Hunt’s teammates, Lori Strahan*, those campus witnessing opportunities enabled her to tell Muslim students, who believe Jesus was only a good man, that He wants to be their Savior. “One girl didn’t know what to believe,” said Strahan, a member of a Baptist church in Kentucky. “When you explain to [Muslims] about Jesus from the verses in the Koran, though, it’s like a light comes on in their head. Later, [the girl] said, ‘Lori, I believe God led you to tell me these things.’” The team also went door-to-door, offering Bibles to residents in the predominantly Muslim area. These neighborhood visits gave Hunt the opportunity to see Muslims in a new light, particularly after meeting some of the women. “Before I went, I thought the women who wore the veil [didn’t] have any opportunities to do anything,” she said. “But they’re just like us -– they’re women who love to meet people, love to have friends. They’re ready to hear it; they just need people to tell them the Gospel.” Although bridges were being built between the Lebanese people and the mission team, those newfound friendships were cut short as the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict broke out in July. Hunt and Strahan were at the beach in southern Beirut the morning when word came that Israeli soldiers had been kidnapped by Hezbollah militants. By 2 p.m., the beach was cleared. People were calling friends and family. Rumors were spreading that highways were closed and possibly bombed by Israeli jets. The next day, the rebuilt city began to feel the first effects of another war. “The Lebanese are so used to living during war and having a life during war,” Hunt said. “Especially after the bombings happened, they just went into their war mode. They were like, ‘Yeah, this is war, but this is going to be our lives too. We’re going to live through it.’” Within 24 hours of the first bombings, three Lebanese college friends had called the team’s cell phones to make sure they were OK. For a few days, they tried to make plans to get together, still thinking that “it’s going to blow over.” However, the city streets and malls soon were bare and university classes cancelled. As the team hunkered down, first in one apartment and then in another with 20 other Americans, they could see the bombs coming in. During one of these attacks, Hunt’s first thoughts were for her new Muslim friends. “The second night of the bombing, I was awakened at 3:30 in the morning by the [Islamic] call to prayer,” Hunt recounted. “In the background I could hear these huge bombs going off. I was thinking, ‘Here they are praying, but their prayers aren’t going anywhere.’” Before the conflict began, taxi drivers and new friends constantly asked the team, “What do you think of Lebanon?” The pride in their city, its beauty and its people was evident. But in just a week’s time, that pride began to crumble. Some Muslims are reaching toward the Bible for comfort amid the latest round of devastation. And for those displaced to the outskirts of Beirut, many have encountered Christians ready to love them, demonstrating that God can break down longstanding social barriers even in the midst of conflict. “[T]heir cry is for more stability, for some peace,” Strahan said. “Jesus would offer that peace.”
–30–
*Names changed for security reasons.
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