WASHINGTON, March 17, 2007
Christians Gather To Protest Iraq War
Prayer At National Cathedral And March On White House Kick Off Weekend Protest
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Anti-war protesters hold a candlelight vigil outside the White House in Washington, Friday, March 16, 2007. An estimated 3,000 protesters marched from the National Cathedral to the White House to protest the military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
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After the church service Friday night, participants marched with battery-operated faux candles through snow and wind toward the White House, where police began arresting protesters shortly before midnight. Protest guidelines require demonstrators to continue moving while on the White House sidewalk.
"We gave them three warnings, and they broke the guidelines," said Lt. Scott Fear. "There's an area on the White House sidewalk where you have to keep moving."
The protest marks the beginning of what is planned as a weekend of protests ahead of Tuesday's anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion in Iraq, which began on March 20, 2003.
About 100 people crossed the street from Lafayette Park — where thousands of protesters were gathered — to demonstrate on the White House sidewalk late Friday. Police began cuffing them and putting them on busses to be taken for processing.
Police said they would not know the total number of protesters arrested until later Saturday.
The windows of the executive mansion were dark, as the president was away for the weekend at Camp David in Maryland.
John Pattison, 29, said he and his wife flew in from Portland, Oregon, to attend his first anti-war rally. He said his opposition to the war had developed over time.
"Quite literally on the night that shock and awe commenced, my friend and I toasted the military might of the United States," Pattison said. "We were quite proud and thought we were doing the right thing."
He said the way the war had progressed and U.S. foreign policy since then had forced him to question his beliefs.
"A lot of the rhetoric that we hear coming from Christians has been dominated by the religious right and has been strong advocacy for the war," Pattison said. "That's just not the way I read my Gospel."
The ecumenical coalition that organized the event, Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, distributed 3,200 tickets for the service in the cathedral, with two smaller churches hosting overflow crowds. The cathedral appeared to be packed, although sleet and snow prevented some from attending.
"This war, from a Christian point of view, is morally wrong — and was from the beginning," the Rev. Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners/Call to Renewal, one of the event's sponsors, said toward the end of the service to cheers and applause. "This war is ... an offense against God."
In his speech, the Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, senior pastor at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church, lashed out at Congress for being "too morally inept to intervene" to stop the war, but even more harshly against President Bush.
"Mr. Bush, my Christian brother, we do need a surge in troops. We need a surge in the nonviolent army of the Lord," he said. "We need a surge in conscience and a surge in activism and a surge in truth-telling."
Celeste Zappala of Philadelphia recounted how she learned of the death of her son, Sgt. Sherwood Baker, who served in the National Guard. When a uniformed man came to her door asking if she was Baker's mother, she said yes.
"'Yes,' and then I fell to the ground and somewhere outside of myself I heard someone screaming and screaming," she said.
On Saturday morning, a coalition of protest groups has a permit for up to 30,000 people to march from the Vietnam War Memorial across the Potomac River to the Pentagon. Smaller demonstrations are planned in cities across the country.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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See all 99 CommentsREAL CHRISTIANS PROTEST IRAQ WAR.
(With an emphasis on the word 'real').
Leave Iraq, all problems will be solved.
So long as it was "Bush hating, cut & run long haired hippy freaks" the GOP could vilify them (us) as "Bush hating cowards & pinko communists."
The GOP warmongers must now accept the reality that they no longer have any support for their "war" on Iraq's oil and gas fields other than ExxonMobil, Halliburton (that Dubai company), AIPAC and Israel.
I wonder how the GOP will spin this protest?
FOOTNOTE: I attended my first ever public protest (against the invasion) in Crawford, Texas several years ago. It was amazing that all those "Bush hating pinko commie hippies" were all ordinary looking, mostly middle aged and middle class people. Including me.
"REAL CHRISTIANS PROTEST IRAQ WAR"
Read how many wars King David "a man after God's own heart" fought at the direct command of God. And even when he fought one without being directly commanded, God never reprimanded him for going to war.
I distincly remember the "christian" right trailing behind the piper not long ago.
I thought the only one that showed public input on their views was Pat Robertson who TOLD all Christians that Bush was a liar - then the sheep villified him.
I found it sickening that American Christians showed disdain for the Iraqi's that they claimed needed "liberation" yet - liberation from life itself was excused as an acceptable christian alternative to freedom.
I guess it is better late than never but after 100's of thousands of lives lost?
Are you sure that this new found "unity" is not just because bush didn't produce all that free "faith based funding" - transfering public funds to private *religious* corporations?
I wish,I'll see CHRISTIANS one day demanding that from today onward,human beings shall not be treated as GOD-CHOSEN or GOD-NEGLECTED on the basis of the RACE or FAMILY they are born in but'll be treated on the basis of their actions.
I wish I'll see that day when Americans won't be treated as GOD-NEGLECTED and NON-AMERICANS as GOD-CHOSEN.
Americans won't have to work day and night to pay tax to US govt and NON-AMERICAN GOD-CHOSEN ENEMIES OF THE GOD'S ONLY SON won't be having right to snatch more then $3 Billions from the American tax payed money for the killing of those who give us OIL in cheaper prices.
I wish to see that day when Christains will ask,why should we take OIL in cheaper prices from Arabs and in return support and protect their those enemies who were brought into Palestine after WWII to occupy the land of those PALESTINIANS by force who can't even speak the language spoken by HITLER.
Even if USA whithdraw her troops from Iraq,TERRORISM and HATRED against our nation won't be stopped unless we stop supporting the ILLEGITIMATE and UNJUSTIFIED EXISTANCE of ISRAEL on the cost of AMERICAN MONEY and AMERICAN LIVES because Americans are GOD-NEGLECTED while NON-AMERICANS are GOD-CHOSEN.
Don't hold your breath Rev., on any truth telling from your "brother Christian", Bush.
Islam sharades as faith, it tries to present portions of both Christian and Jewish belief, mixed with the beliefs of idol worshipers of the moon god hubal that Mohammads parents worshipped. But its a false faith.
There are no miracles from Islam. Islam requires submission to Islam or death. Islam is its own social system that ostracizes non-Muslims. Islam is a legal system that does not recognize the voice of the non-Muslim. Islam is a form of governance that is represented by the Islamic Kaliphate, which is directed by Islam's Koran to conquer the world.
No, Islam is not actually about true faith. They would rather slaughter people in this world, because according to thier koran, thats the only sure way for them to get to heaven.
Posted by darkfyreaol at 07:59 AM : Mar 17, 2007
Source?
Posted by pwrslm at 08:25 AM : Mar 17, 2007
And by stating this I assume that you can actually prove that at least 1 out of the 2,500 different "faiths" out there is the genuine article?
Note I said PROVE......
pwrslm...you are so absolutely wrong.
It's nice to see some Christian christians for a change.
Islam sharades as faith, it tries to present portions of both Christian and Jewish belief, mixed with the beliefs of idol worshipers of the moon god hubal that Mohammads parents worshipped. But its a false faith.
As far as Muhammad's parents are concerned,they were unbeliever according to Muhammad himself and are in the Hell fire.Muhammad's teaching had nothing to do with his parents faith.
Anyway who cares about Jusus,Moses,Muhammad,etc.This is 21st century and what we care about is human rights and American interest.
No other ideology has hurt United States then a PSYCHOSIS named as CHRISTAINITY.
Majority of Americans have been made SLAVES SERVANTS,PROTECTORS and DEFENDERS of a small minority based on Human beings not being created equal but created as GOD-CHOSEN or GOD-NEGLECTED on the basis of the RACE or FAMILY they are born in.
Crimes comited by HITLER and price payed by Palestinians is as PSYCHOTIC as JESUS-LOVERS are GOD-NEGLECTED and JESUS-HATERS are GOD-CHOSEN.
It's as psychotic as Sins comited by Adam and Eve,sinners are those innocent new born children who can't even think about comiting a sin and price is payed by a third party named JESUS.
It's as PSYCHOTIC as OSAMA BEEN-FORGOTTEN was in TORA BORA and BUSH attacked Iraq which had nothing to do with 9/11.
The call to holiness is not to be taken lightly. Once embraced, it transcends politics and usually makes both sides of the political spectrum very annoyed. The seamless garmet of Jesus: no war, no nukes, no guns, no abortion, no euthanasia, economic and personal equality, mercy. That agenda will have both sides of the aisle in an uproar. Well, Jesus caused quite an uproar, too.
Christianity denies Homosexual's right of marriage and Islam teaches to kill Homosexuals.
Christianity teaches;
"Thou shalt not comit adultery"
Islam took it to extreme and said
"Don't even go near to adultery"
Islam made it dishonesty for a man to look at any woman else his wife and teaches a woman to dress modestly(in their radical belief) just like JESUS mother Marry used to dress according to Christianity by saying
"Tell the believer men to lower their gaze and protect their genitals.This is cleanliness for them"
Christianity teaches to love JESUS and respect his mother MARRY.
Islam took it to extreme and ordered to kill anybody who insults JESUS and deny the VIRGINITY of his mother "MARRY".
Irrespective of all these NON-SENSE taught by thousands of years old religious beliefs,we have to care about American interest and Human rights.
It was a human right violation to bring Europeans into Palestine (irrespective of the faiths of PALESTINIANS and the EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE) for illegal occupation of Palestinian land which is far away from Germany and concentration camps.
Posted by patriotic9 at 08:50 AM : Mar 17, 2007
patriotic9-
You may need to consider the NEED for many to continue believing in fairy tales into adulthood. Some never out grow that state.
Asking them to give up their "warm fuzzy" is an absolute waste of time and effort. Once they are intellectually enslaved to believe in a dogma, logic and common sense takes a back seat.
Many of them delight in the religious overtone of Iraq with a Judeo-Christian country invading a Muslim country and dictating to the Muslims.... just as it should be in the minds of those who relish the occurrence.
GOD-NEGLECTED AMERICANS work day and night to pay TAX to US govt and more then $3 Billions from their tax payed money is given to the NON-AMERICAN GOD-CHOSEN ENEMIES of the GOD'S ONLY SON which results in TERRORISM,HATRED and 9/11 against our nation.What a great investment is that in which we give our tax payed money for causing HATRED TERRORISM,HATRED and 9/11 agianst us!
Saudi Arabia is the most Conservative Wahhabi Muslim country.King of Saudi Arabia visited INDIA [a polythiest nation with millions of GOD including Monkeys(Hanumaan jee),Elephent(Ganiash Maharaj),Snake(Naag Dewta),etc]and China (An Athiest nation) and signed an OIL DEAL. When it comes to Business and politics,people either need to forget their Religious beliefs or face adverse financial consequences.
Nobody has been fooled in the history of mankind like Americans on the name of GOD,BIBLE and CHRISTIANITY.
If Christianity is a true faith of GOD then why invading Iraq didn't result in the 2nd coming of Christ and resulted in the success of ISLAMIC RADICALISM like never before.
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Rev. Raphael G. Warnock
Now THIS guy is a CHRISTIAN!!
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Rev. Raphael G. Warnock
Now THIS guy is a CHRISTIAN!!
Posted by kgj1264 at 08:53 AM : Mar 17, 2007
+ report this comment
YOU have got to be a southern fascist? I heard this constantly when I walked arm and arm with real Christian's throughout the south to stop Jim Crowe. We'd approach the FEW people who claimed to be Christian who opposed what the Religious Reich was doing in an effort to gain their support. What you posted is EXACTLY what they said. Isn't it GREAT that all the REAL Christian's DO NOT agree with you want to be's? LOL I'll tell you one thing Sparky If you sit back and allow this to continue, do NOTHING? Well I certainly do not want to be close to you come Judgement!! Talk about TOAST?? LOL
Posted by condumism at 09:00 AM : Mar 17, 2007
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Amen to that! Not just with this event either.
Asking them to give up their "warm fuzzy" is an absolute waste of time and effort. Once they are intellectually enslaved to believe in a dogma, logic and common sense takes a back seat.
Many of them delight in the religious overtone of Iraq with a Judeo-Christian country invading a Muslim country and dictating to the Muslims.... just as it should be in the minds of those who relish the occurrence.
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 09:01 AM : Mar 17, 2007
+ report this comment
You are absolutely right.
Some people are waiting on Santa clause to come on a flying deer for distributing candies and expect Easter bunnies to fight as US troops in Iraq.
Posted by lganso at 09:42 AM : Mar 17, 2007
Because people like PET ROBERTSON and JOHN HAGEE were told by GOD that Bush is on his mission.
Couldn't God find anybody else a BRAIN DEAD CHRONIC ALCOHALIC for his mission?
Tiefe Wasser sind nicht still
God is Santa Claus, huh?
The Hexagram symbolizes that things which run stable like the sun, balance themselves in a free running cycle. The one triangle is pressure, the other is gravity. Aslo there are six nobel elements. The Old Testement is a dictonary of the tree of commands and languges of the universe. It's in Moses codes. How did they know that?
The Cross symbolizes everything from time and space, to messurement and lining up words with objects in your head. That's why the New Testement is loaded with references to lining up of the stars and astrology. Jesus was explaining the ancient meaning to zodiac worshipers.
Early depictions of the Crescent and Pentagram clearly show they knew that was the earths shadow on the moon. The perspective is interesting too. If you are light you get off the earth. Otherwise Sherriff Dwarf takes you to jail when the sun flashes red and blue. Sound familiar?
Your brain does not need to be simulated by 1,000 IBM mainfraims. One lousey 8088 XT that could comunicate with the universe like biology, would out do us like an 18 wheeler compaired to what a human can carry. But between the three symbols and God, you'll never know.
Or, who or what tell the bee to make a hive? You certainly didn't.
Just wonder how many of these people were REALLY Christians. Or those of the Jimmy Carter variety of hate Jooz, hate Blacks (covertly - gotta be like Bimbo Val here), hate REAL Christians, and love Islamonazis like they once loved Commies.
You know, the "Liberation Theology" wackos who also advocate open borders no matter the consequences and oppose the death penalty, even for child molesters, spouse abuser, and pet torturers.
CBS tell us they're Christians - I doubt even 10% of them truly were, or regularly attend Church.
Now, bring on the spew and vomit brigade. I see that some of the regulars have arrived.
As for the last post, I know how much you want the President and VP to go over there. How about sending Botox Nan, Bimbo Val, Hanoi John Kerry, Drunk Intern Killer Kennedy, Plagarizing Joe, Wiseguy Webb, Traitor Murtha, KKK Byrd, Steppin Fetchit, the Clitons, and Jimmy Carter first. It's time for the traitors and betrayers to defend America - and you can go along with them and search for Osama.
Guess he is in Texas, practicing his drive..
Guess he is in Texas, practicing his drive..
Posted by inventagod
Nah, he was at Camp David. He heard the REAL Christians were coming and got scared!
How Tragically SAD!
Posted by rsoxfan1123 at 10:28 AM : Mar 17, 2007
rsoxfan
First of all,let me make one thing straight.
I never used to be in the favor of Iraq invasion but also I am not in the favor of suddenly pulling troops out of Iraq after we have handed over a Secular country to Islamic Radicals.
If we pull out our troops after bringing Islamic Radicals into power and making the western part of the country into world's best Alqaeda training camp,what was the purpose of Iraq invasion?
To help Islamic Radicals in forming an Islamic Empire!
What makes me frustrated about Christians is their unprecedented support to the European invaders in Palestine which was the reason we were attacked on 9/11 and which is the main tool for Islamic Radicals to get recruits .
When the European invaders in Palestine had attacked Lebanon and killed innocent women and children and destroyed billions of Dollars of properties,Not only conservatives like Condi Rice had supported their actions but all the Christians whether they were Republicans or Democrats,Liberal or Conservatives had unprecedently supported the so called GOD-CHOSEN in their aggression.
You sure you're not really a palestinian blogging on as an American? That web site address you gave me a couple of months ago with those videos of all of those americans being killed was recently identified as a site being used as a propaganda tool for anti-american groups. Just because you don't want iran to control Iraq doesn't mean you have the best interests of our country at heart.
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