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News The Daily Stuff The all-out war on Christianity
News The Daily Stuff The all-out war on Christianity
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08 February 2012
“Following a successful campaign by left-wing veterans groups and Muslim organizations to prevent retired Lt. Gen. William G. "Jerry" Boykin from speaking at a West Point prayer breakfast, the Washington Post's Sally Quinn was steamed. West Point hadn't gone far enough. Fire whoever is responsible for inviting Boykin, she wrote in her online column "On Faith," because his criticism of Islam makes him "notorious." Why, it's nothing less than blasphemy” Dianne West
With the recent decision of the Obama Administration to force Catholic Health Care to provide abortion services, most have missed a decision even more despicable and un-American. Lt. General Jerry Boykin is the epitome of the traditional All-American hero. As a career Special Operations officer who helped found the military’s most elite unit, commonly known as “Delta Force” (Boykin commanded Delta for over 12 years), Jerry Boykin is a decorated combat veteran of countless overseas missions. As a Vietnam Veteran, General Boykin was wounded twice but continued volunteering for the toughest missions. Late in his 30+ year career, General Boykin commanded Special Operations worldwide and was on the ground during the tough fighting in Mogadishu in ’93. As a fellow Ranger, I can attest to General Boykin being a “legend” in the Ranger and broader special operations community. His sacrifice for the nation he loved is surpassed by very few Americans. This hero, who should be the held as the role model for American manhood, has suffered what I believe is the most disgraceful and ungrateful treatment imaginable due to his Faithful Christianity. Let me explain.
In addition to war hero, General Boykin is an outspoken Christian. In fact, he’s a studied Theologian and ordained minister who speaks about Christian eschatology. In 2003, General Boykin delivered various sermons to private church gatherings. During his talks, General Boykin gave personal witness to the power of Christianity in places like Mogadishu during the terrible fighting there. In what was interpreted as a criticism of Islam, General Boykin said at one such Church gathering: “I knew my God was bigger than his (brutal Somali warlord). I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol." He also stated: "We in the army of God, in the house of God, kingdom of God have been raised for such a time as this” Both those statements were roundly attacked from the Left, and became the reason he has been stigmatized even after leaving the Army in 2007. He is now known to the Left as an anti-Muslim Bigot and not war hero.
I had the opportunity to meet and speak with LTG Boykin only a few weeks ago, when we were both campaigning for Senator Rick Santorum. Having only known the General through reputation, his gentle goodness struck me when General Boykin spoke of his love for nation and his love for God. Unlike the unfair characterizations from the Left, General Boykin was one of the most gentle and caring human beings I have met. He sincerely cared about others in a way not seen from most people in the modern world. We spoke just after the story broke of the Marines in Helmand caught urinating on dead Taliban. In having served recently in Helmand Province, my view was that, though the Marines deserved some type of punishment, they should not be used as scapegoats. I had seen the inhumanity of the Taliban there and had little pity. General Boykin heard me, but stressed the importance of showing respect for the dead regardless of religion. From my experience, General Boykin does not have a hateful bone in his body toward Muslims as individuals, but a deep faith in the God of the Bible. That faith has now brought the ultimate persecution from the Left.
Shortly after our visit together, General Boykin was invited to speak at the United States Military Academy’s annual Prayer Breakfast. General Boykin was to talk, not about sectarian religious issues, but about his experiences in war and God’s help and comfort during the tough times. Unfortunately, Jerry Boykin did not understand the strength or passion of the anti-Christian fervor become much more bold and hateful since he was a young cadet. Immediately after the invitation became public, various left-wing groups flooded West Point’s Superintendent with letters demanding Boykin be summarily disinvited. The radical Islamist group (with documented ties to Islamic terrorism) “CAIR” demanded General Boykin be humiliated by publically withdrawing the invite. The newest radical atheist group “Military Religious Freedom Foundation” (MRFF), led by anti-Christian zealot Mikey Weinstein, not only demanded Boykin’s ouster, but went much further. They went on to demand a Court Marshal for whoever invited General Boykin to speak. For those who aren’t aware, MRFF is systematically wiping Christianity from the face of the military in a sustained Jihad against traditional Christian military groups, like Fellowship of Christian Officers. Due to all the pressure and wanting to save the event (Liberal veteran groups have even claimed General Boykin is a “disgrace” to the uniform), General Boykin pulled back. However, this wasn’t enough for the radical Islamists or radical secular Left. The Washington Posts’ Liberal Sally Quinn demanded the firing of anyone responsible for inviting General Boykin to speak at West Point. I’m sure that will likely be forthcoming.
The truly sad part of this saga is the seeming apathy of so many Americans to the all-out assault on American Christianity. A shocking aspect of the Obama decision to force abortion on the Catholic Church is in the lesser reported order banning the free speech rights of Catholic Chaplains. Catholic Chaplains were asked to read a letter from their Bishop making clear the Roman Catholic Church opposition to Obama’s decision for force abortion services. Senior Obama civilian leaders of the Army got involved and put a “gag” order on the Chaplains from reading the Bishop letter. For those who aren’t aware, this is an outrageous violation of Christian rights. Throughout American history, Chaplains have had the freedom to preach their religious beliefs within the confines of their congregations. That includes those times preaching might offend those in the chain of command. The military understands that Chaplains must remain true to God first.
As Christian Americans, we have little time to make our voices heard. We cannot allow American heroes like General Jerry Boykin to be silenced and humiliated in this way due to their Christian faith. It is time to speak up on behalf of the Jerry Boykins of the world, and also to speak up on behalf of the Catholic Church. As Alexis De Tocqueville noted of America in the 1830s “America is great because America is good, if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great” and “There is no country on Earth in which the Christian religion retains greater sway over the souls of men than in America.” Is America still the “Bright Shining City on a Hill” as the earliest American colonists dreamed, or have we allowed darkness to pervade the land to the point of no return? The answer lies with us.
God Bless America,
Bill Connor