[Peace-discuss] letter to the editor

[msimon at uiuc.edu]

Noting Adam Chervin's (5/9/03) objection to claims 
of "Americanization" in Iraq, there are numerous recent 
instances that only fuel the fire of suspicion that America 
is on a crusade against Muslims in the Middle East.  I offer 
only five examples:

1)Samaritan's Purse, the Christian missionary/relief 
organization of Franklin Graham, announces readiness 'to move 
into the interior of Iraq as soon as possible.'  Noted for 
anti-Islamic statements, Graham said of 9/11, "It wasn't 
Methodists flying into those buildings, it wasn't 
Lutherans..."

2) International Mission Board sends out call for 
Evangelism: "When the door opens for relief efforts, we want 
everyone to be ready to go immediately."  For those who can't 
go, ISM suggests donations for food boxes, on which will be 
printed: "For the Law was given through Moses; grace and 
truth were realized through Jesus Christ.  A gift with love 
from the Southern Baptist churches in America." 

3) US government's new Arabic TV news station is produced in 
the studios of Grace Digital Media, a Fundamentalist 
Christian, pro-Israel company associated with Grace News 
Network.  GNN’s purpose: "reporting the current secular news, 
along with aggressive proclamations that will 'change the 
news' to reflect the Kingdom of God and its purposes." 

4) In the recent Ethics and Public Policy Center survey of 
350 Evangelical church, missionary, relief agency, and 
political leaders, 81% believe Christians should Evangelize 
Muslims, 57% believe that U.S. policy was not at all 
responsible for 9/11 attacks, and 70% believe "Islam is a 
religion of violence."

5) 7/10/02: Laurent Murawiec, by invitation of Defense Policy 
Board chairman Richard Perle, makes presentation "Taking out 
Saudi Arabia" to the DPB.  At the end of the presentation, 
Murawiec suggests the Dept. of Defense deter Saudi anti-
Americanism with threats to target Mecca and other holy 
places. 

Mike Simon