Oh, yeah. This will work. They’re already fighting us for trying to steal their oil, impose our democracy, etc. Imposing a religion on them (which is what the Islamic militants want to do to us) is clearly the right approach.
Robin Hayes says we will win in Iraq by “spreading the message of Jesus Christ” there.
[North Carolina:] Robin Hayes has the solution to the Iraq war: have our soldiers convert all Muslims to Christianity.
Having won the election by only a hair’s width and almost getting himself kicked out of Congress seems to have had some profound psychological effects on poor Mr. Hayes. A speech that flip-floppin’ Robin gave last week at the Concord Rotary Club seems to prove he has finally gone off the deep end.
Our local weekly newspaper the “Concord Standard and Mount Pleasant Times” reported on Mr. Hayes speech in his hometown:
First there’s the usual talk of how we’re “winning” over there: “The war in Iraq has got to be won; it’s being won” (A couple of months ago Hayes said that the rise in violence in Iraq was an indication that we’re winning.)
Then comes the real kicker: “Stability in Iraq ultimately depends on spreading the message of Jesus Christ, the message of peace on earth, good will towards men. Everything depends on everyone learning about the birth of the Savior.”
So if we just turn our soldiers into missionaries everything will be okay, Mr. Hayes? First we sent our men over there to take out the WMD’s, then it was to “spread democracy”, now you want them there to “spread the message of Jesus Christ”?
It so happens that people in Iraq already have a savior but unfortunately for Mr. Hayes it’s Muhammed, not Jesus.
If we can’t keep Muslims from killing each other over there, I don’t think that trying to make them all Christian is going to be any easier.
With this kind of talk Hayes just plays into the hands of Al-Qaeda by confirming what their leaders have always been saying: those American soldiers are just modern Crusaders. He is thereby strengthening the beliefs of terrorists that want to kill every American soldier they come across.
I am glad to see that there is a growing understanding of the issues involved in Iraq.
Oh wait, he said what?
Oh #^%& were screwed!
Worked for every other war, so why not now?
All you naysayers are toast, pun intended.
It would be easier just to kill everyone in Iraq …. and simpler.
I find it interesting that their methods are also our methods.
Hey, maybe they will ship to Iraq all those bible-thumpers who keep ringing my doorbell. Be a good place for them.
We often apply the label “madman” to foreign leaders who are no less sane than Mr. Hayes.
This does count as a “strategy”, you know. Maybe having one of those would be a good thing.
#7 James, yes, maybe this thing you call a “strategy” will be our stocking stuffer this year. Don’t forget the milk and cookies.
At this point “Crusade” sounds better than “Stay The Course”.
#9 lmao — good one. Even “Armageddon” almost sounds better than the tired phrase “Stay the Course.”
strategy – an elaborate and systematic plan of action.
stupidity – “Stability in Iraq ultimately depends on spreading the message of Jesus Christ”
Some of these Christian Fundamentalists are as bad as the Islam Fundamentalists. There really is no difference.
Name one thing that Jesus ever asked of anybody that would not lead to a better world in every way. He is the true leader, and for our leaders to look to Him for the answers is absolutely the best thing that they can do. I would certainly rather rely on Jesus than on any man.
Don’t listen to anyone who says “Jesus says do this…”, instead listen to those who say “Do what Jesus says.”
@13
you do realize that jesus never intended his message to be spread to anyone except the jews. The neighbor in “love thy neighbor” was only refering to the “chosen people” and he was pretty much as intolerant of all the rest of the world as this congressman seems to be.
In fact if jesus were around when they started spreading his religion to the gentiles he would have been furious.
And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Oh I get it…(wink, wink)… the new strategy for saving Iraq is to for them give away their riches (oil) so that they can enter heaven.
I think I can hear bush from here in Canada… “oh, yeah, oh yeah…(moonwalking)… I’m da man, oh yeah”
Muslims know all about Jesus; he’s mentioned in the Koran as a prophet, but he’s not considered divine. Neither is Mohammed.
Christian fundies should also know that in many Islamic countries, someone who converts to any other religion from Islam will be killed as a heretic. Of course this does reduce the population somewhat.
#14, I suggest that you learn something of your subject before you speak on it. There is the matter of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). Who is the hero of the Good Samaritan parable? And surely the Centurion who went to Jesus for help concerning his daughter was not Jewish.
In the book of Acts, chapter 2, the apostles spoke to crowds from many different cultures.
Jesus spent much time and effort tearing down religious rules espoused by the Jewish leadership (the Pharisees).
So not only would Jesus not have been upset, He started the preaching to the Gentiles.
Why attack those who merely suggest that the commandment “Love your brother as yourself” might actually bring some measure of peace to your own life?
#15 – the point is that a rich man will not give up HIS OWN wealth to do the right thing. Are YOU ready to give up what you own to help somebody who really needs it?
That is why it is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Maybe the same can be said for a rich nation.
#16 – Muslims start with the Bible, but the Q’uran was not written down for many centuries after Jesus lived. Who better to speak on the subject, his contemporaries or those 5 centuries removed?
I’ve always thought that if Jesus ever did come back to earth, he’d probably be crucified all over again, but this time he’d be crucified by those who profess to be Christians (and probably in Texas). Just as he was originally put to death for heresy against the Jewish faith, his true teachings would be considered heresy by most Christians today. Those folks are only looking for an almighty leader to rule the world and punish all non-Christians. Some things never change.
BTW, Jesus says it’s OK to say “Happy Holidays!”
I am with #5. The Christ Brigade, armed only with Faith and a Crucifix (Crucifix optional for those Christians who don’t do the Crucifix thing), a million volunteers attempting to complete with Theatre of the Absurd (remember, none of them will speak the language, so they’ll have to communicate by deed rather than by word) the job in which high-tech weaponry has bogged down.
Oh yeah, when you are executed under Sharia Law for converting from Islam to another religion, it is not called heresy, but apostasy.
Kerry, if I gave up what I own to someone who needs it, I would become the needy. Would that person then give me back my stuff?
If you are a true Christian you must be very poor, rich, poor, rich, poor…
JimR –
If you give up the material things that you have for someone who needs it, you may be poorer in terms of material wealth, but you have gained something infinitely more valuable. (And I have yet to see someone who has given much in faith not be rewarded).
Now in fairness, I haven’t given up everything that I have (by any means), but I get the point. I try to overcome my own selfishness and pride, especially when I encounter those less fortunate than I am. And I’m getting better at it.
Where can I go wrong by giving? I am happier by having less, and have helped improve someone else’s position.
If we had that attitude as a nation, we might not be in this position in Iraq, and assuming that we were, we might be in a better position to pull ourselves out of it.
Maybe it’s time to bring back The Flying Nun. Put SJ in a black wig and send her to Baghdad or Pyongyang. We’d then find out in sitcom-space whether the timeless message of “Love Thy Neighbour…”… before trying it in the big bad world. Syndication profits (sic) could go to a fund to teach the Iraqis Aramaic (akin to teaching early English so that students can read Chaucer) so that they can read the Gospels in the original.
The world’s best comedic minds could be challenged by trying to make the situation funny.
And a question: are U.S. politicians ever subjected to anything akin to Marg, Warrior Princess? I think it could be a fruitful interaction. But fear that Marg would be shot by a zealous security agent.
#18 – Kerry said:
“#16 – Muslims start with the Bible, but the Q’uran was not written down for many centuries after Jesus lived. Who better to speak on the subject, his contemporaries or those 5 centuries removed?”
So by your rational the New testament is not much better than the Q’uran since nothing in the New Testament was written by a contemporary of Jesus. The earliest written book, Mark, did not come for over 50 years after the death of Christ. The Gospel John was not written until over 250 years so really the New testament quotes and paraphrases in the Q’uran cannot be that inaccurate since Jesus was considered a great figure by Muslims.
[edit: comment guide]
Kerry, why is supporting the needy with material things better than keeping your wealth and helping the needy (who are able) to support themselves by investing in infastructure, education and job creation? If there are no wealthy, the alternative isn’t that everyone will not be needy. Quite the opposite. If it wasn’t for profit and wealth, there would be no improvement to quality of life. We would still be riding donkeys and dying from Polio and isolated in distant communication. It may have been barely adequate advice for the times, but shortsighted and ignorant of a larger more complex population.
Say, everyone by 50 AD had followed Jesus advice/threat. All wealth would have been distributed evenly no matter who deserved it, worked for it, accumulated it, or did nothing for it. When distributed evenly, the wealth of vthat time would not have gone far. Then what?
#26, Jim,
I like it when I can agree with a Canadian. It makes me feel so,… so,… well, warm and fuzzy inside. I suppose if Christ ever came back, he would probably come to Canada. Everyone uses his name so much it’s like calling him home.
I would predict he would be born again in Dildo Newfoundland. Lot’s of good fisher folk, hard scrabble existence, he could take the first bus to Toronto when he comes of age.
That is still a good comment though.
Go Leafs Go !!!
How on earth do morons like Robin Hayes get elected to Congress?
Please publish his email address so I can kindly tell him to kiss my ass.
Mr. Fusion, the feeling is mutual. It must be that warm fizzy time of year.
Yes Jesus would find a nice home in sleepy, naive, agreeable Canada. He would play hockey of course…. “Here take the puck, you need it more than I do…”
You’re right, Dildo, Newfoundland is the kind of town Jesus likes. In 2000 years no one will be sure it ever existed.
Have a nice holiday Mr. Fusion. Give those protons a rest. 😉