By Gill Rapoza
November 27, 2009
There were two recent celebrations on the calendar this month, the Christian-American Thanksgiving, and the Muslim-Arabic (and other) Hajj. The two can not be confused in any way. I only honor the first as a Christian.
I am a Christian and I celebrate those things that are Christian. I am an American, and I celebrate those things that are American. I don’t celebrate holy days, holidays, or other days than these two. There are some exceptions of a few personal events such as birthdays and anniversaries. And these exceptions have a personal meaning, as I hold them close to heart.
The Christian American Thanksgiving Holiday / Day of Thanks to God
In the Christian day of Thanksgiving, we as Americans celebrate something that is both Christian and American. I realize some out there follow that the original Thanksgiving took place in Virginia rather than Massachusetts, and believe it or not, the actual first location will not matter as much as the meaning and the actual event that took place. And I believe both locations did celebrate the same thing in a similar manner.
Thanksgiving was a time where a group of Christian settlers got together and had a several day event where there was much food and merriment. There were many American Indians present at the feast, some of whom had helped out the Christian settlers in the planting and gathering of food that sustained them. Now here is the key to it all. They were thanking the Christian God for their bounty and survival thus far. Make no mistake about it, even after many had died in the previous winter, they were grateful to the One God for being in control and providing for them. It was a Christian – American event, which by the way, our neighbor to the North, Canada, also a primary Christian nation, also celebrates each October.
The Arabic Muslim Hajj / An Obligation of Islam
In the world of the Islamite, he believes Mecca is the place to go to fulfill one of their obligations. It is a holy obligation for them. They are taught they must go to Mecca one time in their lifetime. The teaching is that, at that place, is the spot where Abraham was tempted by Satan to save his son Ishmael from the sacrifice God ordered him to do.
The story goes that Abraham wanted to please God and save the son he had with his wife Hagar. In this version Abraham was pretty well upset with the way things were going. He threw rocks at Satan in the process, God sent a sheep to sacrifice instead, and Abraham and Ishmael built some kind of stone cube to recall the event. The modern Muslim goes there and throws rocks at the same location symbolizing tossing stones at Satan.
Presidential Proclamations of a Believer
It has been a tradition for presidents of these United States to honor the Christian American event called Thanksgiving. There have been presidents doing so in one form or another since the first one, George Washington. It has not always been an actual proclaimed holiday, and some have done better or worse in their statements, but the day has always been a day to honor the One God, the Christian God much of this nation was founded on.
BHO made his proclamation and I was glad he chose to do so. Here is a copy of what he said:
Obama’s Thanksgiving Proclamation
By The Associated Press (AP)
November 25, 2009
President Barack Obama’s Thanksgiving Day proclamation, as released by the White House:
What began as a harvest celebration between European settlers and indigenous communities nearly four centuries ago has become our cherished tradition of Thanksgiving. This day’s roots are intertwined with those of our nation, and its history traces the American narrative.
Today, we recall President George Washington, who proclaimed our first national day of public thanksgiving to be observed “by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God,” and President Abraham Lincoln, who established our annual Thanksgiving Day to help mend a fractured nation in the midst of civil war. We also recognize the contributions of Native Americans, who helped the early colonists survive their first harsh winter and continue to strengthen our nation. From our earliest days of independence, and in times of tragedy and triumph, Americans have come together to celebrate Thanksgiving.
As Americans, we hail from every part of the world. While we observe traditions from every culture, Thanksgiving Day is a unique national tradition we all share. Its spirit binds us together as one people, each of us thankful for our common blessings.
As we gather once again among loved ones, let us also reach out to our neighbors and fellow citizens in need of a helping hand. This is a time for us to renew our bonds with one another, and we can fulfill that commitment by serving our communities and our nation throughout the year. In doing so, we pay tribute to our country’s men and women in uniform who set an example of service that inspires us all. Let us be guided by the legacy of those who have fought for the freedoms for which we give thanks, and be worthy heirs to the noble tradition of goodwill shown on this day.
Now, therefore, I, Barack Obama, president of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all the people of the United States to come together, whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place where family, friends and neighbors may gather, with gratitude for all we have received in the past year, to express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own and to share our bounty with others.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of November, in the year of our Lord 2009, and of the independence of the United States of America the 234th (year).
_ Barack Obama
All was well and good with that until I read what else BHO made as an official proclamation, also on the eve of Thanksgiving. BHO honored the Hajj, to all the Muslims of the world. It went like this:
Obama issues special Hajj message to world’s Muslims
Statement by the President on Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha, as provided by the White House
November 25, 2009
Michelle and I would like to send our best wishes to all those performing Hajj this year, and to Muslims in America and around the world who are celebrating Eid-ul-Adha. The rituals of Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha both serve as reminders of the shared Abrahamic roots of three of the world’s major religions.
During Hajj, the world’s largest and most diverse gathering, three million Muslims from all walks of life – including thousands of American Muslims – will stand in prayer on Mount Arafat. The following day, Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha and distribute food to the less fortunate to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son out of obedience to God.
This year, I am pleased that the Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with the Saudi Health Ministry to prevent and limit the spread of H1N1 during Hajj. Cooperating on combating H1N1 is one of the ways we are implementing my administration’s commitment to partnership in areas of mutual interest.
On behalf of the American people, we would like to extend our greetings during this Hajj season – Eid Mubarak.
Comparing Two Proclamations
Seeing there was another proclamation, I compared the two. I discovered some interesting things.
First, the Thanksgiving proclamation.
BHO called Thanksgiving “…a harvest celebration between European settlers and indigenous communities…” It was actually a time of giving thanks to God. BHO talked about how other presidents were grateful to (the Christian) God, but he never does in this proclamation. He said it was to mend a fractured nation. No, it was not really, it was to thank God! BHO claimed it is of traditions of every culture. Wrong again, it is a Christian tradition set by our forefathers. The best he could do was a third party statement of what others believed or said.
Second, the Hajj proclamation.
It begins in the first person with “Michelle and I” send their best for the Hajj and the “shared” roots of three major religions of Abraham. (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have the same origin according to Islamic teachings) BHO sends his best to the Muslims of the world. Too bad he forgot to wish the best for Christians of his own (?) nation in the other proclamation. BHO was pleased that the Department of Health and Human Services worked with Saudi government to ensure they were healthy enough to attend while they “commemorate Abraham’s willingness” to get along well with Allah (and Ishmael). He proclaimed this in the name of the American people.
Not Buying It
Wow, no separation of mosque and state here! I am not wishing a happy, personal or otherwise, Hajj to any pagan worship service. They can go throw rocks and shoes anyplace they want, but I’m not condoning it. And I do not support it. BHO does not speak for me or anyone else I know, and I don’t see this has anything to do with the will of the American people. He must have bumped his head on one of those bowing sessions he is so fond of and really should seek medical attention!
And if you read the Hajj proclamation, you will see that BHO wished to validate the lies. Abraham did not have a wife named Hagar, as the Muslims proclaim. She was the Egyptian maid of Abraham’s wife Sarah, a concubine at best, whom Abraham messed up with. The son of Abraham that God sent on the sacrifice mission was his wife and his, Isaac, not Ishmael. The location was Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, where the Temple was later built, and it had nothing to do with Mecca. The Muslims teach this to call the history of the Jews a lie and change it to fit their own. BHO has insulted both the Christians and the Jews in the name of the American people with this Hajj proclamation!
I don’t really care what BHO said about his religious belief. The evidence of his favoring the Muslim belief over the Christian belief grows greater all the time.
It is time Christian Americans recall what was said in Matthew 7:15,
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
Oh, and as a side note, I noticed BHO’s grandmother went to the Hajj <http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Religion/?id=3.0.4036802442> he was so happy about. You remember her. She was the one that said she saw him born in Kenya.
Closing Prayer
I ask that you consider regular prayer for our nation. I regularly pray for the nation and the leaders, whether I like them or not, and often I don’t. But my prayers include that we as a nation return to the one God we once knew, and that the leaders do the same and lead that way. And if they will not, I ask that God will replace them with ones that will. I don’t think any of us wish turmoil or anarchy.
Godspeed,
Gill Rapoza
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