To: Sarah Palin and the media
Sarah Palin doesn't speak for Christians
Torture is not a joke or a political punchline. Equating water boarding with baptism is offensive to anyone of good conscience, but especially to Christians for whom baptism is a sacred act. Sarah Palin is blasphemously twisting Christian faith into a weapon of hatred and violence. No media outlet should cover her remarks without reporting on how sincere Christians of all theological and political persuasions are appalled.
Why is this important?
In a speech Saturday to the National Rifle Association, Sarah Palin said that "if I were in charge, they would know that waterboarding is how we baptize terrorists." The audience roared with approval.
This is what we've come to in America: A former candidate for vice-president can equate torture and baptism, and one of the nation's most powerful political lobbies erupts into cheers and applause.
As usual, Palin's remarks are already making international headlines, once again portraying Christianity as a religion of hatred and violence. But of course, sincere Christians like me are appalled by her twisted misrepresentation of our faith -- and anyone of good conscience should be offended by turning torture into a cheap political punchline.
So we're launching a statement to the media, denouncing her remarks and setting the record straight: There's nothing Christian about Palin's hateful remarks.
This is what we've come to in America: A former candidate for vice-president can equate torture and baptism, and one of the nation's most powerful political lobbies erupts into cheers and applause.
As usual, Palin's remarks are already making international headlines, once again portraying Christianity as a religion of hatred and violence. But of course, sincere Christians like me are appalled by her twisted misrepresentation of our faith -- and anyone of good conscience should be offended by turning torture into a cheap political punchline.
So we're launching a statement to the media, denouncing her remarks and setting the record straight: There's nothing Christian about Palin's hateful remarks.