Sunday, April 19, 2009

Religious Symbols Covered Up at Georgetown. Conspiracy in Open.

Jesus Missing From Obama's Georgetown Speech | NBC Washington

This has got to be one of the most outlandish conspiracy ideas I have seen in a long, long time.

President Obama spoke at Georgetown University. The White House requested the standard backdrop of a dark blue drape with lots of American flags. We've all seen that before. Nothing major.

But some folks just can't help but find something to gripe about. This time they are complaining because that backdrop covered up some religious iconography --- a cross &
IHS. The sinister plot they say exists is that Obama is trying to cover up Jesus; get rid of Christ. The other things they say are even worse.

Some say Georgetown itself should be ashamed for allowing this to happen.

Honest, I wonder what rock some people came out from under.

First, this was a backdrop & is standard for presidential speeches.

Second, the Georgetown press release covered this already:

Julie Bataille from the university's press office e-mailed me that the White House had asked that all university signage and symbols behind the stage in Gaston Hall be covered.

"The White House wanted a simple backdrop of flags and pipe and drape for the speech, consistent with what they've done for other policy speeches," she wrote. "Frankly, the pipe and drape wasn't high enough by itself to fully cover the IHS and cross above the GU seal and it seemed most respectful to have them covered so as not to be seen out of context."


Note the reason for the iconography to be covered: the pipe & drape were not high enough. Nothing sinister there.

Second, Obama was speaking as the President. What he says, where he says it is important. He is speaking on behalf of the entire nation. The iconography around him says something too. When he speaks, he is representing all Americans. The iconography should have been covered, just like it should have been covered if he speaks at an Islamic Center, a Buddhist Temple, or a Baptist Center. The President cannot give the impression that there is an official, Most Favored Faith. If the school won't comply to be mindful of all other faiths/Americans when the President speaks, then the President shouldn't speak at the school. In Iran, there are Islamic symbols all around when their president speaks. We don't do that in America --- Fascists want that but we don't do that.

Third, the whole thing is blown out of proportion. It is a conspiracy theory looking for something to hang onto. It is just dislike for the guy because there is nothing to the claim. As one attendee to the speech said:

I was there. Clearly to the right and left of Obama's head you could read: "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam inque Hominum Salutem." This Jesuit saying translates to "for the greater glory of God and the salvation of humanity." If Obama hates Christians, why wasn't that covered up? Or what about the 25 other IHS's in the room, or the 20 crosses in the room? Hmmmm. Maybe it's because they weren't on top of his head!!!!!! The people making a big deal out of this would rather spin their phony outrage than actually live out Christ's message of love, hope and charity. Had they not covered the gilded IHS over his head, these same people would be railing about an Obama messianic complex! Let's get real people.
Don't these people have an Art Bell show to listen to or something?

1 comment:

Georgia Mountain Man said...

Typical right-wing demagoguery and nothing else. It is amazing that this man and his family are rather devout Christians, but this bunch of wackos continue to try to portray them as "Muslim" extremists. Just another step in the continued Republican self-destruction. Of course, if you only watch FOX News and read right wing propaganda, you probably do not know that the President is a Christian to begin with.