Persecuted Church Ministry Takes Issue With Bush's Pro-Islam Rhetoric
by Allie Martin
October 27, 2005
(AgapePress) - A spokesman with Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), a ministry to persecuted Christians worldwide, says President George W. Bush is sending mixed signals regarding the Islamic faith and its many less than peaceful followers. Earlier this month President Bush hosted a Ramadan dinner at the White House. During his speech at that event, he described Muslim men and women as good-hearted people in society and characterized Islam as a noble and peaceful religion.
However, Todd Nettleton of VOM holds a different view, based on that ministry's experiences with Islam. He feels it is unfortunate that Mr. Bush has been promoting such a positive picture of Islam to the public and says the chief executive seems confused about the true nature of that religion.
"The President obviously is a political officer," Nettleton says. "He has to represent all the people of America, including the Muslims. But it's just interesting that he, a week after talking about terrorism and talking about radical Islam, would sit down for a Ramadan dinner."
The VOM spokesman says he empathizes, to a degree, with the precarious position an elected official is in when he or she must represent a diverse constituency. "I would think as a Christian president, it would be very difficult to face the political realities of the country and what you can and can't say," he admits. "Obviously there are some things that America, or many in America, would not stand for their president to say."
Still Nettleton feels Bush should stand on his personal faith principles and be consistent in confronting the true nature of Islam as well as its connection not only with the war on terror but with religious persecution and oppression around the globe.
"Our experience with Christians in Islamic nations is that Islam is not a religion of peace, it's not a religion of freedom, it's not a religion of democracy," Nettleton says. He encourages Christians to write their elected officials and also to call the White House to express their concerns about President Bush's views on Islam.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
