We’ve reached a point where people are afraid to actually talk about what they want to say, because somebody might be offended. We’ve got to get over this sensitivity; it keeps people from saying what they really believe. It muffles people, it puts a muzzle on them; and, at the same time, keeps people from discussing important issues while the fabric of their society is being changed…
Dr. Benjamin Carson, Sr., the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast:
Why is it so important that we educate our people? Because we don’t want to go down the pathway as so many pinnacle nations that have preceded us. I think particularly about ancient Rome. Very powerful. Nobody could even challenge them militarily, but what happened to them? They destroyed themselves from within. Moral decay, fiscal irresponsibility. They destroyed themselves. If you don’t think that can happen to America, you get out your books and you start reading, but you know, we can fix it.
It is easy to forget that Michael Weinstein was an Air Force JAG “for 10 years” (if you can figure out how that timeline works, you win the Christmas turkey). In a recent press release conducted through his trusted Colorado Springs Independent, Weinstein claimed USAFA was now obligated to cancel its National Prayer Breakfast observance (the same event over which he sued — and lost — last year). Referring to the Colorado Court of Appeals ruling that said Colorado National Day of Prayer proclamations were unconstitutional,
Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, says the ruling means Read more…
“Our freedom of religion and freedom of practice of that religion in the military is one of our greatest assets to our fighting force,” Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry told the audience…“We’re truly blessed to Read more…
US Air Force Col James Dutton, a NASA astronaut, addressed the Eglin National Prayer breakfast and reminded his listeners of the sense of awe — and the presence of God — that people often miss in their daily lives:
“The world around us is really amazing,” he said. “Our sense of wonder we had as a kid is often lost when we become adults…”
“Being in orbit was like being a two-year old and being a fighter pilot is like being a six-year-old again,” he joked.
MajGen Kenneth Merchant told Col Dutton he “gave us a feel for what it is like to touch the heavens.” Dutton reiterated that it is “tremendously evident” there is a God Read more…
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, recently appointed to Cardinal, had the opportunity to address the Stewart Air National Guard in Newburgh, New York, for their 7th Annual Prayer Breakfast.
Cardinal Dolan was welcomed by the wing commander BrigGen Verle Johnston and Chaplain (LtCol) Joseph LaMorte, the senior chaplain: Read more…
Despite being in a combat zone on the other side of the world from home, the US military facilitated servicemembers’ participation in the National Prayer Breakfast. Retired US Army Colonel Danny McKnight was invited to speak at 12 different locations in the country. McKnight is famous for his role in Somalia in 1993 — in what the rest of the world now knows as Blackhawk Down.
Col Danny McKnight and his Hollywood alter-ego, Tom Sizemore
National Prayer Breakfast is an annual interfaith tradition started in 1953 by members of U.S. Congress to get Read more…
According to articles on the event, the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, was unique this year:
In a town where just about everything is scripted, the sight of the President, Vice-President and members of Congress singing “Amazing Grace,” during the 60th Annual National Prayer breakfast was one of several off script moments that was almost refreshing today.
Fox News and Commentary indicated retired LtGen William Jerry Boykin withdrew from the February 8th National Prayer Breakfast at West Point — after West Point asked him to withdraw.
The U.S. Military Academy pressured a retired U.S. lieutenant general to withdraw from speaking at a West Point prayer breakfast after Muslims and atheists complained, Fox News & Commentary has learned…
“[Boykin] asked them to rescind the invitation, but they were reluctant to do that so he said he would take them off the hook.”
The article also noted Michael Weinstein jumping the shark Read more…
Michael Weinstein recently wrote a scathing letter demanding retired LtGen William “Jerry” Boykin be prohibited from speaking to the US Military Academy (West Point) National Prayer Breakfast on February 8th. The reason: Boykin is, in Weinstein’s words, “rabidly Islamophobic.” (That’s the same word he used to describe Franklin Graham in 2010, when he was invited to a similar event.)
Simultaneously, Michael Weinstein has defended and is helping advertise Rock Beyond Belief — which last week received a significant amount of negative attention for inviting what he would seemingly describe as a “rabidly religiophobic” music group to perform. In fact, the “rabidly Christophobic” Michael Weinstein is scheduled to be one of the event’s speakers. Weinstein should probably look up the meaning of “phobia.”
Of course, it makes no sense for a person to use the “defense of religious Read more…
In an interesting bit of timing, several groups have decried the decision by West Point to invite retired LtGen William Boykin, author of Never Surrender, to their National Prayer Breakfast on February 8th. The self-described “progressive” VoteVets.org wrote to West Point Superintendent LtGen David Huntoon saying
You may not be aware of Lieutenant General Boykin’s history of extremist and hateful comments towards Islam…
These remarks are incompatible with the Army values, and a person who is incompatible with Army values should not address the cadets of the United States Military Academy.
Where have we heard similar cries before? Ah, yes: The claim Franklin Graham was an “Islamophobe” and therefore an inappropriate speaker at a similar event at the Pentagon. The critics won that one, and Graham’s invitation was rescinded based on his prior speech, not on what he might have said if he had been allowed to attend. Tony Perkins was “disinvited” for his public comments that were wholly unrelated to his event, as well. Likewise, Michael Weinstein demanded Read more…
While the topic of National Prayer Breakfasts at local military installations was already discussed, the events continue to occur at various locations around the world. At Fort Benning, a picture showed the nature of the breakfast within the military:
Jewish Chaplain (Maj) Carlos Huerta talks with Muslim imam Dawud Salahuddin Bin Pearson before the start of the National Prayer Breakfast. (US Army Photo)
The celebration was open to all faiths and included prayers by Muslim imam Dawud Salahuddin Bin Pearson and Jewish Chaplain Read more…
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of any government, military, or religious organization.
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