House Democrats claim prayer is 'disrespectful'
An old...perhaps already forgotten bit of news, but at the very...very least illustrative of all the doubts, confusion, hatred, hurtfulness, insensitivity, and lack of compassion man has shown to each other.
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 28, 2004 12:00 AM
Rep. Doug Quelland, R-Phoenix, caused a stir on Tuesday when he delivered a prayer on the House floor that took aim at multiculturalism, welfare, abortion and "alternative lifestyles."
It was a prayer that has made the rounds on the Internet since 1996 when it was delivered before the Kansas House of Representatives.
Offended Democrats, led by Rep. Wally Straughn of Phoenix, filed an official protest, saying the prayer was partisan, disrespectful and divisive.
Here is the prayer:
Quelland: "Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know your word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values. We confess that:
"We have ridiculed the absolute truth of your word and called it pluralism.
"We have worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
"We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.
"We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
"We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.
"We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
"We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
"We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
"We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
"We have abused power and called it political savvy.
"We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
"We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
"And we have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
"Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
"In the name of your son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen."
This is the Democrats' response:
Straughn: "Pursuant to House Rule 20, we, all the members of the House Democratic Caucus, protest the lack of respect that was shown the members of this body and the citizens of Arizona during the opening prayer on January 26, 2004.
"The opening prayer is the one opportunity during each day that we can come together as a body. The opening prayer should unite us, not divide us.
"But the prayer on January 26, 2004, was divisive. It was a pandering, mudslinging, name-calling political statement. It was hateful and mean-spirited. It was undignified.
"The citizens of Arizona deserve better. We are diverse. We have unique perspectives. And our unique voices should be respected. Especially during the opening prayer, as members of this body we must set aside our differences and show respect for Arizona in all of its diversity."
Comments
"We have worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism."
this line offended me the first time I read it. Multiculturalism should not be equated with polytheism. Neo conservative totalitarian bastards of the RELIGIOUS RIGHT would like you to believe that Allah and Jehovah are two different Gods. Guess what. That's what usama bin laden believes too. Those infidel Christians who died in his 911 attacks serve Satan because they "worship the false God, Jehovah"
He believed he was doing God's work when he ordered the attack. That's why he could sleep at night. That's why he believes that he was doing God's will.
That's what George W. believes too. The Iraqi people who died during the INVASION of Iraq serve satan because they "worship the false god, allah"
He believed he was doing God's work when he ordered the attack. That's why he could sleep at night. That's why he believes that he was doing God's will.
lastly,
The Jewish people who died in the "final solution" were in the Devil's service. If you read the Gospels literally without enlightment From the Holy Spirit you too would Hate the Jews and falsely blame them for the Death of Jesus Christ. That's why Hitler and leaders of the HAMAS would have loved and promoted the screening of Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ"
and about the holocaust and the suicice bombings that they ordered?
They believed they were doing God's work when THEY ordered them. That's why THEY were able to sleep at night. That's why THEY believe that THEY were doing God's will.
We can Tolerate and promote MULTICUTURALISM that defends our first amendment right to religion, or we can join people like: Usama, W., Hitler.
There is no middle ground.
ecrasez NEOCONSERVATISM, l'infame
CRUSH NEOCONSERVATISM, THAT INFAMOUS THING.
You are correct to say that multiculturalism is not the same as polytheism. It goes without saying that several monotheistic religions should not be taken collectively as polytheistic, and it is only due to utter ignorance or a blatant disregard for the religious beliefs of others that one would come to such an absurd conclusion.
There are just some entities...groups, individuals, what have you...out here in this world who believe that it is their sworn duty to convert everyone else to their way of thinking. Any other form of thinking has to be wrong. Well, this form of extremism...whether from the right...or from the left, is just as repugnable. Like you said, everyone thinks their doing God's work, when all they're doing is advancing...forcing even, their own beliefs and ideologies on other people.
Yes. There is NO middle ground. It's either we believe that there is room for only one religious belief, or we believe there is room for all religious beliefs. We cannot afford to be fencesitters. Fencesitters more often than not tend to be casualties.
I for one believe that there is room for all sorts of religious beliefs in this world. Religion is often a product of an individual's ancestry, ancient and modern history, nationality, citizenship, education, and other factors. And these can be infinitely diverse. To force one belief would not only be impractical...or cruel...it would also be impossible.
And for all this talk of neo-conservatism vs multiculturalism...the Constitution of the United States...and for that matter even our own Constitution, recognizes and protects our rights to religion and of worship.
Just my two cents.