Watch Obama give his speech about education.
Is there a more important topic for our nation?
http://www.evtv1.com/evtv1_newads.aspx?u=14799&c=393&a=100226
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A Personal Message from Father Elias Zahlawi, a Syrian
Catholic priest to Pastor Terry Jones
Respected Pastor Terry Jones,
I have read your worldwide call for the burning of the
Quran on this coming 11th of September. Your message
stated that you are a pastor of one of the churches in
Florida in the United States of America.
As an Arab Catholic priest from Damascus (Syria), I wonder-
ed what would be your objective, as an American pastor,
for such a call?
I wondered, and I ask you: What are your responsibilities
as a pastor?
Are you really a Christian pastor serving God in a church
in America?
Or are you merely a layperson from America who is pretend-
ing to be in the service of Christ?
Did you give in to your nationalism (Americanism) rather
than giving in to your Christianity?
What is your aim with that call?
(Do you wish) to further fuel hatred among people? Is
that consistent with (the teachings of) Jesus, whom you
represent in your eyes and the eyes of many others?
Tell me, is there in the character of Jesus, in his words
or in his actions anything that would remotely justify
even a hint of promoting disdain and hatred among people?
Have you forgotten that Jesus was completely for love,
forgiveness and peace? Have you forgotten what he taught
us when he told his disciples and the people after them
to tell God the heavenly Father of all to "forgive us our
sins as we forgive those who wrong us"? You overlooked or
forgot that when Jesus was hanging on the cross and being
subjected to insults and vile words, he raised his voice,
saying, "O Father, forgive them, for they know not what
they do."
Who, then, do you represent or who are you trying to guide
with this call of yours?
Isn't it enough what has been happening since September 11,
2001: the killing, destruction, displacement and starvation
of hundreds of millions of people throughout the world,
from Palestine ? the land of Jesus ? by your leaders in
particular, headed by George Bush, who was claiming direct
communication with God?
Wouldn't you agree with me that with your call (to burn
the Quran), you have demonstrated that you are really
unfamiliar with Jesus and that you desperately need to
re-discover him again to be a true Christian pastor who
calls, like Jesus, for the comprehensive love and full
respect for every human being and a commitment to the
full and wonderful teachings that call upon all believers,
without exception, to always stand beside the poor, the
oppressed and the disadvantaged?
My brother Pastor Terry Jones. Can you tell me, honestly,
if Jesus came today, whose side would he take?
Is it the side of the powerful and arrogant oppressors who
dominate the world and endlessly plunder its resources,
violate its laws and international treaties, and kill
people in their countries and destroy houses on top of
their owners and turn them into refugees across the earth?
Or is it the side of those who are oppressed, the dis-
advantaged, hungry, and homeless?
Did you forget what Jesus himself would say on the Day of
Judgment to each person in front of him: "All that you did
to one of my brothers, you actually did to me"?
I wonder if you have overlooked or forgotten that Jesus
did not point in that speech on the Day of Judgment to
the religion of any of those mistreated persons. He only
referred to everyone as belonging to the human race and to
his standing with the deprived, the weak, and the oppressed
in this world.
So how could you as an American Christian pastor stand with
the oppressors from your country whose injustice has spread
around the world?
Aren't you afraid of when you appear before Jesus on
Judgment Day and you are burdened with a heavy conscience,
like your leaders who are blinded by the gods of power,
money, control and greed?
My brother Pastor Terry. Do you think I am being unfair if
I conclude that your hatred toward Islam is what drove you
to such a reprehensible call for the burning of Islam's
holy book, the Quran?
But let me ask you, as a Syrian Roman Catholic priest: What
do you know about Islam? It appears to me from your call
to burn the Quran that you are ignorant of Christ and
Christianity, and that makes me believe that you are also
ignorant of Islam and Muslims.
Believe me, it is not my intention to indict you and it is
not my intention to engage with you in a religious debate
about Christianity or Islam. However, after I prayed for a
long time, let me suggest for both of us to make a joint
effort on this coming September 11.
You might ask me what effort can we do jointly when you
are in Florida and I'm in Damascus?
Here is my suggestion.
I invite you to visit Syria, where you will be my guest
and the guest of many of my Muslim and Christian friends.
Syria is a country populated mostly by Muslims and in
which Christians are indigenous to the land and have lived
side-by-side with Muslims for centuries and centuries.
Come and don't worry about anything.
Come and you will find out about Islam and Muslims what
will comfort you, please you, surprise you, and even lead
you, from where you are today in Florida, to invite all
people to live in respect, love and cooperation among all
people.
This is what people need rather than the un-Christian call
to fuel the sentiment of hatred and division.
Come to Syria and you will be amazed by the good nature of
people and their faith, their relations, friendly cooper-
ation and openness toward all strangers.
Come to Damascus to witness and live an experience that is
not in your mind nor the mind or expectation of all the
churches of the West or their bishops, pastors, and clergy-
men.
Come to see and hear two choruses, Christian and Muslim,
singing together during Christian and Islamic holidays to
praise Allah, the One God, who created us all, and to whom
we all return.
My brother Pastor Terry.
I call you my brother and I am serious about calling you
brother and about my invitation to you. I await a word
(of reply) from you. Trust me that you will find a brother
in Damascus, actually many brothers.
Please contact me and don't delay. I am waiting for you in
Damascus.
I ask God to make our anticipated meeting the beginning
of a long and interesting path that we undertake together
with other brothers in Damascus and around the world.
How desperate is the need of our world for bright roads.
Come, the road to Damascus is waiting for you.
Father Elias Zahlawi
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