Tuesday, August 23, 2005
How Very Religious of You
Robertson Calls for Chavez Assassination - Los Angeles Times: "Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson has suggested that American agents assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to stop his country from becoming 'a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism.'
An official of a theological watchdog group on Tuesday criticized Robertson's statement as 'chilling.'
'We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability,' Robertson said Monday on the Christian Broadcast Network's 'The 700 Club.'
'We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator,' he continued. 'It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with.'
Chavez has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of President Bush, accusing the United States of conspiring to topple his government and possibly backing plots to assassinate him. U.S. officials have called the accusations ridiculous.
'You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it,' Robertson said. 'It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war ... and I don't think any oil shipments will stop.'"
While I still do not a favor a completely secular country and believe fully in freedom of religion, this kind of rhetoric is not exactly 'love they neighbor'. What about 'turning the other cheek'? What about those ten commandments he so badly wants plastered in every government building in America? Is Chavez a bad guy? Yes. But that is hardly the point. I don't tout myself as somoeone who can help people better understand god and godly ways. In fact, it is weird and awkward to even discuss this, to have someone like him feel so comfortable saying things like this. When I was a child going to church, it would have been absolutely mind-blowing to have our Reverend say anything even close to this. And this guy was just a random preacher in a random church in Kentucky. Here we have a strangely respected figure who actually ran for President of the United States who is openly calling for the assassination of a foreign leader. It boggles the mind. I guess I need Christians to explain to me how they feel this man can continue to help them understand god and godliness given these types of views. I am sure they have canned answers ready, but it will take more than a press sheet to convince me that he is anything more than just a regular guy with a TV show.
An official of a theological watchdog group on Tuesday criticized Robertson's statement as 'chilling.'
'We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability,' Robertson said Monday on the Christian Broadcast Network's 'The 700 Club.'
'We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator,' he continued. 'It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with.'
Chavez has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of President Bush, accusing the United States of conspiring to topple his government and possibly backing plots to assassinate him. U.S. officials have called the accusations ridiculous.
'You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it,' Robertson said. 'It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war ... and I don't think any oil shipments will stop.'"
While I still do not a favor a completely secular country and believe fully in freedom of religion, this kind of rhetoric is not exactly 'love they neighbor'. What about 'turning the other cheek'? What about those ten commandments he so badly wants plastered in every government building in America? Is Chavez a bad guy? Yes. But that is hardly the point. I don't tout myself as somoeone who can help people better understand god and godly ways. In fact, it is weird and awkward to even discuss this, to have someone like him feel so comfortable saying things like this. When I was a child going to church, it would have been absolutely mind-blowing to have our Reverend say anything even close to this. And this guy was just a random preacher in a random church in Kentucky. Here we have a strangely respected figure who actually ran for President of the United States who is openly calling for the assassination of a foreign leader. It boggles the mind. I guess I need Christians to explain to me how they feel this man can continue to help them understand god and godliness given these types of views. I am sure they have canned answers ready, but it will take more than a press sheet to convince me that he is anything more than just a regular guy with a TV show.
