Christians "Honor" Ahmadinejad......what really? No!

“Religious Groups Condemn ‘Obscene’ Event…”
Oh! My Gosh…..

9/30/08

My wife’s co worker, knowing we are Mennonites, tossed an internet news article on her desk. She said, ‘you have to read this, you are a Mennonite.’ The headline from Foxnews.com http://www.foxnews.com/ read “Religious Groups Condemn ‘Obscene’ Event Honoring Ahmadinejad”.
My wife scanned the article and thought about it. Then she went to the World Wide Web and proceeded to pull up other pieces regarding the same issue.
We talked about the entire conversation with her co-worker and the research that followed.
What follows is quite interesting.
First an observation prior to the facts: People definitely pick out key words in articles and/or other media related pieces and categorically form opinions. People read half works and are troubled. Individuals see what they want to understand and verbalize their thoughts long before they should.
Let’s get to the substance of this piece.
And please, don’t form an opinion until you read through. Please read through.
I have written, prior to this, a little on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Not all what was written is positive or negative. I do believe he is evil, but he has a heart and a mind. I believe the Prophet Ezekiel wrote accurate words as to what the upcoming actions of Iran will be. With that said, I believe all people have a heart; therefore all people have a chance (one day I may add my piece “Where The Heart Is” to this blog).
The Fox news article that was tossed on my wife’s desk stated that “an event organized by several religious groups to honor Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in New York Thursday (the piece was dated Wed. 9/24/08) has drawn ire from the Catholic League and several Jewish organizations, UPI reported.”
“Catholic League President Bill Donahue called on supporters to attend a rally to disrupt the ‘obscene’ event.”
He went on to say that Ahmadinejad “is a menace to freedom-loving people the world over, and the sight of religious groups embracing him is nauseating.”
I agree, he is a menace. Where is the love from Mr. Donahue. Please read further. This is not over.
Fox news reported that the Christian groups behind the vent are the American Friends Service Committee, Mennonite Central Committee, Quaker United Nations Office, Religions for Peace (this should have given UPI and Fox the real idea of this meeting), and the World Council of Churches.
An initial rally to protest this was formed by Women International and the Jewish Action Alliance. Along with Donahue, Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America, encouraged groups to rally against the event.
The New York Sun http://nysun.com/ reporter Benny Avni wrote that “Mr. Ahmadinejad, who has learned in recent years how to steal the show…” He is correct in that, Ahmadinejad does seem to “pop up” and be seen (and heard).
Like I said earlier, my wife went on the web and found some information out.
On the Mennonite Central Committee’s web site ,http://mcc.org/ there was some valuable information.
On September 23, 2008 their was a piece titled “MCC to Co-sponsor Peacemaking Dialogue.” Did they say “peacemaking dialogue”????
On September 26, 2008 (the day after this “dreaded event”) the MCC web site titled a piece “Religious and Political Leaders Hold Peacemaking Dialogue.” There’s that “P” word again.
Here is where those not to be mentioned are missing the point, missing the boat, missing the train, the plain or whatever. They are just missing.
This dialogue was scheduled not just with the Iranian President. There were political and religious leaders from all sorts of faiths who contributed. Christian, Jewish Muslim and other faiths all took part in the conference.
The theme of the dialogue (HOW COULD THE UPI AND FOX MISS THIS???????) was “Has not one God created us? The Significance to Religious Contributions to Peace.”
Watch out. M.A. may have brought a warhead in his lunch pail.
Let’s get a little serious. The New York Sun’s Benny Avni reported that top United Nations officials scrambled to figure out how to prevent Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann (Pres. Of the General Assembly) from eating with and honoring Ahmadinejad. Avni asked Mr. d’Escoto “if his ‘having dialogue’ with Mr. Ahmadinejad meant he was endorsing the Iranian leader’s call for the destruction of Israel, he told me: ‘I don’t want anyone to be wiped off the map, not even any individual, much less a state.’ Neither do the organizers of this religious event.”
William Vendley (Sec. General of Religions for Peace), along with leaders involved in the forums were in quest of “an opportunity for participants to express their deeply held concerns in a direct and face-to-face manner.”
The Bush administration wanted the event scrapped completely. I voted for Bush twice. Is he truly a religious President or are others speaking for him?
Arli Klassen, Mennonite Central Committee Executive Director, said “As Christians, we take Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount very seriously and say ‘Love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you.’” She continued: “Right now the U.S. and Iran are defining each other as enemies and so, as Christians, we are trying to promote dialogue, understanding and bridge-building, rather than leading to war.”
In the Sep. 23 web article MCC stated that they were facing public criticism for co sponsoring the meetings out of a false impression that they were honoring the Iranian President.
There were approximately 300 international religious and political figures who attended the dialogue.
Klassen lit an oil lamp during her welcoming talk. The lamp was a symbol of faith.
She said (Please – critics – listen to this carefully) “As a Christian, I believe that we are following Jesus Christ’s example and his teaching as we eat together and hold this dialogue despite our many differences.”
My ever observant wife pointed out Psalm 23:5. The first part of this scripture says “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
She continued by asking President Ahmadinejad: “We ask you to find a way within your own country to allow fro religious diversity, and to allow people to make their own choices as to which religion they will follow.”
Again, how can the critics criticize this?
Executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Nihad Awad said “Has not God created us? Yes – and he wants us to work together.”
President Emeritus of New York University, Dr. John Brademas said that “we believe that war is not the solution to the differences that divide peoples. Dialogue can make a real difference.
Robert J. Suderman, Mennonite Church Canada General Secretary said the participants of the dialogue should reach out to those who objected. Those included various Jewish, Catholic and Evangelical Christian groups. He said “What’s left is to build relationships with people on the other side of the street.”
Much of what you read so far were quotes from the various web pieces that were read. Some words – my personal feelings.
My other thoughts: Would I be writing this if I weren’t a member of the Mennonite Church? No one knows that answer. I would like to think I would.
Perhaps, critics should actually wait for an event to be completed before protesting or speaking out. I believe that if that would have happened, we might not have seen as many protesters.
Also, a rose is beautiful, but does it always smell good? A wolverine can rip you apart, but is it all bad?
Those critiquing can’t possible see the true thoughts of peace. What better way of promoting peace and having an exchange of ideas with those who are considered evil or mean or the enemy? Man wars were won at the “Peace Table”.
Perhaps, critics should actually wait for an event to be completed before protesting or speaking out. I believe that if that would have happened, we might not have seen as many protesters.
People read certain catch phrases and develop an opinion. They try to “throw” that opinion on others. People see things and snub the idea of looking at all sides. They refuse to investigate so that they can establish a proper opinion.
I hope you found this interesting and will dive into all of the information about this enormously important dialogue.
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