by Rev. Austin Miles
It is disturbing, to see a grown man who boasted about teaching Sunday School while holding the highest office in the world, sit in front of a camera and with a straight face, knowingly lie to the public. That is exactly what former President Jimmy Carter did while being interviewed by Rachel Maddow on MSNBC.
It all started because Texas Governor-Presidential Candidate Rick Perry called for a national day of humiliation, prayer and fasting for our country, inciting a gasp of outrage from a small but vocal minority in this country. Never has there been a greater need for God's guidance and protection over America than today.
And to see a current presidential candidate invoking, by collective prayer, the presence of God in America, brought a sigh of relief and encouragment to the largest portion of the population of The United States.The moment the call for public prayer in Texas was announced, the battle was on between those who rejoiced that a man in public office was sincerely seeking God's guidance, and those in the minority who are determined to abolish prayer.
Pittsburgh's Helen Trautman sent clips from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the New York Times that bashed Gov. Perry for the prayer rally in Houston that was attended by 30,000 people from all over America. The Gazette (8/9/11) headlined their scribble: "Perry's Rally; A Presumptive Candidate Mixes Politics and Prayer." No byline was given. Their Marxist inspired complaint was, "What about those who do NOT believe in God?" The New York Times story (8/7/11) by Frank Bruni, "True Believers, All of Us" is a totally rambling piece going in all directions to attempt to make a point, such as: "...more ardent appeal to God strikes us as too much hope invested in too magical a solution." Later in the article he writes that prayer is a misconception that provides "...easy, all encompassing answers."
THEN, former president, Jimmy Carter stepped forward to appear on The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Bob Boyd, host of the national radio program, Issues in Education, alerted us to the interview: Maddow asked Carter his thoughts on Gov. Perry's prayer rally. "I think it is unconstitutional" he replied. (?)
He went on to say that this violates the Separation of Church and State law (?) and then for the real zinger, he said, "Religion is a private matter. Yes, I'm a Christian but that never came up during my presidential term." How's that again?
Everyone who lived during the Carter campaign and administration heard him say over and over that he was a "born again Christian," that he taught Sunday School and often quoted something from The Beatitudes.
As for his claim of violation of Separation of Church and State in the Constitution…this is another outright lie. First of all, that clause is NOT in the Constitution. That phrase came from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Convention assuring them that there would be no dominant religion in America, that there would be freedom for all religions, and denominations to carry out their beliefs.
This actual phrase in the Bill of Rights backs this freedom: "Congress shall make no law respecting the ESTABLISHMENT of religion or PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF." (caps mine) This is a clear statement that says nothing about restriction of religion or practicing one's faith.
To hear the interview of Carter with Maddow on MSNBC, here is a direct link through the courtesy of Bob and Geri Boyd of Issues in Education: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYN6yC7tKKc
As for Governor Perry's prayer rally being unconstitutional, NONSENSE! John Adams called for days of humiliation, prayer and fasting for our country. Three months after the British tried to burn down Washington, President James Madison wrote: "The two houses of the National Legislature having by a joint resolution expressed their desire that in the present time of public calamity and war, a day may be recommended to be observed by the people of the United States as a day of public humiliation and fasting and of prayer to Almighty God for the safety and welfare of these states, his blessing on their arms, and a speedy restoration of peace. I have deemed it proper to recommend…a day of humble adoration to the Great Sovereign of the Universe."
As noted above, solid legal precedents have been firmly set in place to establish that this country was FOUNDED on the principles of God and it is proper and legal to acknowledge Him publicly.
See story, "Dangerous Minorities Evoke Misplaced Fears," 9/5/11 on this newssite or at: www.revaustinmiles.com
