You likely have heard that yesterday, on the anniversary of Sept.
11, the US Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three of his
staff
murdered last night in an attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi, as
retaliation for a film made in the US depicting the prophet Mohammad in
an undesirable light. Truly a sad and unfortunate situation.
The US Embassy in Cairo said this:
"The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing
efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of
Muslims — as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions.
Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks
on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who
serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy.
Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We
firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of
free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others."
Now, what
is interesting here is that many are considering this statement by the
US Embassy as also a statement by the Obama Administration (meaning it
was perhaps approved by Obama, etc...) and that it is an unAmerican
statement because it effectively apologizes for the American value of
free speech. The Obama administration has indeed distanced themselves
from the statement and says that these are strictly the words of the US
Embassy. What is interesting, though, is that the statement by the US
Embassy is clearly against disrespecting religious beliefs...(naturally,
for it led to a horrible outcome in these recent hours)...and at first I
thought, "Wow, how contradictory for America to be saying that it
doesn't want to disrespect religious beliefs when we have Obamacare
which completely goes against this ideal, ahem, this constitutional
right for freedom of religion". However, Obama has indeed said that
these words are not his words, so he remains exactly where he originally
had been...abusing his right to power as President to hurt the
religious beliefs of many (the Catholic Church!).
I think we may need an increase in checks and balances...is that possible?
I mean, people in other countries are KILLING (which is not
right, but work with me) people in our country because they are so
offended by single acts of disrespect to their religious beliefs. Yet
America's very own President and a whole host of political leaders and
citizens are fighting tirelessly for the right to disrespect the
religious beliefs of Catholic Christians within the very same country.
What an oxymoronic situation! Oh not to mention, we are killing our own
citizens in the womb, and we get all worked up (as we should but again,
work with me) when someone wrongfully kills a few of our men (see
yesterdays attack and other terrorist acts). Are we possibly our own terrorists? And if so, what war should we be fighting?