The English language lacks words of sufficient power to express my
contempt and hatred for the usurper who occupies the Oval Office. I am
always surprised to see that he does not pause to wipe feces from his
lips and chin when he spews. His desecration of the National Prayer
Breakfast is no exception. I have selected 30 turds from the spew,
marking them with superscripts linked to my comments which follow the
transcript. Click the superscript to read my commentary, then use your
Backspace key to return to the transcript.
My comments include links to pdf files and other
blog posts which lay out the details with quotes from and links to
Islam's canonical texts.
Remarks by the President at National Prayer
Breakfast
Washington Hilton
Washington, D.C.
9:13 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Well, good morning.
Giving all praise and honor to God
1. It is wonderful to be
back with you here. I want to thank our co-chairs, Bob and
Roger. These two don’t always agree in the Senate, but in coming
together and uniting us all in prayer, they embody the spirit of our
gathering today.
I also want to thank everybody who helped organize this
breakfast. It’s wonderful to see so many friends and faith
leaders and dignitaries. And Michelle and I are truly honored to
be joining you here today.
I want to offer a special welcome to a good friend, His Holiness the
Dalai Lama -- who is a powerful example of what it means to practice
compassion, who inspires us to speak up for the freedom and dignity of
all human beings. (Applause.) I’ve been pleased to welcome
him to the White House on many occasions, and we’re grateful that he’s
able to join us here today. (Applause.)
There aren’t that many occasions that bring His Holiness under the
same roof as NASCAR. (Laughter.) This may be the
first. (Laughter.) But God works in mysterious ways.
(Laughter.) And so I want to thank Darrell for that
wonderful presentation. Darrell knows that when you’re going 200
miles an hour, a little prayer cannot hurt. (Laughter.) I
suspect that more than once, Darrell has had the same thought as many
of us have in our own lives -- Jesus, take the wheel. (Laughter.)
Although I hope that you kept your hands on the wheel when you were
thinking that. (Laughter.)
He and I obviously share something in having married up. And
we are so grateful to Stevie for the incredible work that they’ve done
together to build a ministry where the fastest drivers can slow down a
little bit, and spend some time in prayer and reflection and
thanks. And we certainly want to wish Darrell a happy
birthday. (Applause.) Happy birthday.
I will note, though, Darrell, when you were reading that list of
things folks were saying about you, I was thinking, well, you're a
piker. I mean, that -- (laughter.) I mean, if you really
want a list, come talk to me. (Laughter.) Because that
ain’t nothing. (Laughter.) That's the best they can do in
NASCAR?
(Laughter.)
Slowing down and pausing for fellowship and prayer -- that's what
this breakfast is about. I think it's fair to say Washington
moves a lot slower than NASCAR. Certainly my agenda does
sometimes. (Laughter.) But still, it’s easier to get caught
up in the rush of our lives, and in the political back-and-forth that
can take over this city. We get sidetracked with distractions,
large and small. We can’t go 10 minutes without checking our
smartphones -- and for my staff, that's every 10 seconds. And so
for 63 years, this prayer tradition has brought us together, giving us
the opportunity to come together in humility before the Almighty and to
be reminded of what it is that we share as children of God.
And certainly for me, this is always a chance to reflect on my own
faith journey. Many times as President, I’ve been reminded of a
line of prayer that Eleanor Roosevelt was fond of. She said, “Keep us
at tasks too hard for us that we may be driven to Thee for
strength.” Keep us at tasks too hard for us that we may be driven
to Thee for strength. I’ve wondered at times if maybe God was
answering that prayer a little too literally. But no matter the
challenge, He has been there for all of us. He’s certainly
strengthened me “with the power through his Spirit,” as I’ve sought His
1
guidance not just in my own life but in the life of our nation.
Now, over the last few months, we’ve seen a number of challenges --
certainly over the last six years. But part of what I want to
touch on today is the degree to which we've seen professions of faith
used both as an instrument of great good, but also twisted and misused
in the name of evil
2.
As we speak, around the world, we see faith inspiring people to lift
up one another -- to feed the hungry and care for the poor, and comfort
the afflicted and make peace where there is strife. We heard the
good work that Sister has done in Philadelphia, and the incredible work
that Dr. Brantly and his colleagues have done. We see faith
driving us to do right.
But we also see faith being twisted and distorted
2
used as a wedge -- or, worse, sometimes used as a weapon. From a
school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris, we have seen violence and
terror perpetrated by those who profess to stand up for faith, their
faith, professed to stand up for Islam, but, in fact, are betraying it
3.
We see ISIL, a brutal, vicious death cult
4 that, in the name of
religion, carries out unspeakable acts of barbarism --
terrorizing religious minorities like the Yezidis, subjecting women to
rape as a weapon of war, and claiming the mantle of religious authority
5
for such actions.
We see sectarian war in Syria, the murder of Muslims and Christians
in Nigeria, religious war in the Central African Republic, a rising
tide of anti-Semitism and hate crimes in Europe, so often perpetrated
in the name of religion
6.
So how do we, as people of faith, reconcile these realities -- the
profound good, the strength, the tenacity, the compassion and love that
can flow from all of our faiths
7, operating alongside
those who seek to hijack religious for their own murderous ends
8?
Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human
history. And lest we get on our high horse and think this is
unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the
Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ
9.
In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified
in the name of Christ
10. Michelle and I
returned from India -- an incredible, beautiful country, full of
magnificent diversity -- but a place where, in past years, religious
faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples
of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs -- acts of
intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to
liberate that nation.
So this is not unique to one group or one religion
11. There is a
tendency in us, a sinful tendency that can pervert and distort our faith
12.
In today’s world, when hate groups have their own Twitter accounts and
bigotry can fester in hidden places in cyberspace, it can be even
harder to counteract such intolerance
13. But God compels us to
try. And in this mission, I believe there are a few principles
that can guide us, particularly those of us who profess to
believe.
And, first, we should start with some basic humility. I
believe that the starting point of faith is some doubt
14 -- not being so full of
yourself and so confident that you are right and that God speaks only
to us, and doesn’t speak to others, that God only cares about us and
doesn’t care about others, that somehow we alone are in possession of
the truth.
Our job is not to ask that God respond to our notion of truth -- our
job is to be true to Him, His word, and His commandments
15.
And we should assume humbly that we’re confused and don’t always know
what we’re doing and we’re staggering and stumbling towards Him, and
have some humility in that process. And that means we have to
speak up against those who would misuse His name to justify oppression,
or violence, or hatred with that fierce certainty
16. No God condones
terror
17.
No grievance justifies the taking of innocent lives, or the oppression
of those who are weaker or fewer in number
18.
And so, as people of faith, we are summoned to push back against
those who try to distort our religion
19 -- any religion -- for
their own nihilistic ends. And here at home and around the world,
we will constantly reaffirm that fundamental freedom -- freedom of
religion -- the right to practice our faith how we choose, to change
our faith if we choose, to practice no faith at all if we choose, and
to do so free of persecution and fear and discrimination
20.
There’s wisdom in our founders writing in those documents that help
found this nation the notion of freedom of religion, because they
understood the need for humility. They also understood the need
to uphold freedom of speech, that there was a connection between
freedom of speech
21
and freedom of religion
22. For to infringe
on one right under the pretext of protecting another is a betrayal of
both.
But part of humility is also recognizing in modern, complicated,
diverse societies, the functioning of these rights, the concern for the
protection of these rights calls for each of us to exercise civility
and restraint and judgment. And if, in fact, we defend the legal
right of a person to insult another’s religion, we’re equally obligated
to use our free speech to condemn such insults -- (applause) -- and
stand shoulder-to-shoulder with religious communities, particularly
religious minorities who are the targets of such attacks. Just
because you have the right to say something doesn’t mean the rest of us
shouldn’t question those who would insult others in the name of free
speech. Because we know that our nations are stronger when people
of all faiths feel that they are welcome, that they, too, are full and
equal members of our countries.
So humility I think is needed.
And the second thing we
need is to uphold the distinction between our faith and our governments
23 Between church
and between state. The United States is one of the most religious
countries in the world -- far more religious than most Western
developed countries. And one of the reasons is that our founders
wisely embraced the separation of church and state. Our
government does not sponsor a religion, nor does it pressure anyone to
practice a particular faith, or any faith at all. And the result
is a culture where people of all backgrounds and beliefs can freely and
proudly worship, without fear, or coercion -- so that when you listen
to Darrell talk about his faith journey you know it's real. You
know he’s not saying it because it helps him advance, or because
somebody told him to. It's from the heart.
That’s not the case in theocracies that restrict people’s choice of
faith
24.
It's not the case in authoritarian governments that elevate an
individual leader or a political party above the people, or in some
cases, above the concept of God Himself. So the freedom of
religion is a value we will continue to protect here at home and stand
up for around the world, and is one that we guard vigilantly here in
the United States.
Last year, we joined together to pray for the release of Christian
missionary Kenneth Bae, held in North Korea for two years. And
today, we give thanks that Kenneth is finally back where he belongs --
home, with his family. (Applause.)
Last year, we prayed together for Pastor Saeed Abedini, detained in
Iran since 2012. And I was recently in Boise, Idaho, and had the
opportunity to meet with Pastor Abedini’s beautiful wife and wonderful
children and to convey to them that our country has not forgotten
brother Saeed and that we’re doing everything we can to bring him
home. (Applause.) And then, I received an extraordinary
letter from Pastor Abedini. And in it, he describes his
captivity, and expressed his gratitude for my visit with his family,
and thanked us all for standing in solidarity with him during his
captivity.
And Pastor Abedini wrote, “Nothing is more valuable to the Body of
Christ than to see how the Lord is in control, and moves ahead of
countries and leadership through united prayer.” And he closed
his letter by describing himself as “prisoner for Christ, who is proud
to be part of this great nation of the United States of America that
cares for religious freedom around the world.” (Applause.)
We’re going to keep up this work -- for Pastor Abedini and all those
around the world who are unjustly held or persecuted because of their
faith. And we’re grateful to our new Ambassador-at-Large
for International Religious Freedom, Rabbi David Saperstein -- who has
hit the ground running, and is heading to Iraq in a few days to help
religious communities there address some of those challenges.
Where’s David? I know he’s here somewhere. Thank you,
David, for the great work you’re doing. (Applause.)
Humility; a suspicion of government getting between us and our
faiths, or trying to dictate our faiths, or elevate one faith over
another. And, finally, let’s remember that if there is one law
that we can all be most certain of that seems to bind people of all
faiths, and people who are still finding their way towards faith but
have a sense of ethics and morality in them -- that one law, that
Golden Rule that we should treat one another as we wish to be
treated. The Torah says “Love thy neighbor as yourself.” In
Islam, there is a Hadith that states: "None of you truly believes until
he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.
25” The Holy Bible tells
us to “put on love, which binds everything together in perfect
harmony.” Put on love.
Whatever our beliefs, whatever our traditions, we must seek to be
instruments of peace
26,
and bringing light where there is darkness, and sowing love where there
is hatred. And this is the loving message of His Holiness, Pope
Francis. And like so many people around the world, I’ve been
touched by his call to relieve suffering, and to show justice and mercy
and compassion to the most vulnerable; to walk with The Lord and ask
“Who am I to judge?” He challenges us to press on in what he
calls our “march of living hope.” And like millions of Americans,
I am very much looking forward to welcoming Pope Francis to the United
States later this year. (Applause.)
His Holiness expresses that basic law: Treat thy neighbor as
yourself. The Dalai Lama -- anybody who’s had an opportunity to
be with him senses that same spirit. Kent Brantly expresses that
same spirit. Kent was with Samaritan’s Purse, treating Ebola
patients in Liberia, when he contracted the virus himself. And with
world-class medical care and a deep reliance on faith -- with God’s
help, Kent survived. (Applause.)
And then by donating his plasma, he helped others survive as
well. And he continues to advocate for a global response in West
Africa, reminding us that “our efforts needs to be on loving the people
there.” And I could not have been prouder to welcome Kent and his
wonderful wife Amber to the Oval Office. We are blessed to have
him here today -- because he reminds us of what it means to really
“love thy neighbor as thyself.” Not just words, but deeds.
Each of us has a role in fulfilling our common, greater purpose --
not merely to seek high position, but to plumb greater depths so that
we may find the strength to love more fully. And this is perhaps
our greatest challenge -- to see our own reflection in each other; to
be our brother’s keepers and sister’s keepers, and to keep faith with
one another. As children of God, let’s make that our work,
together.
As children of God, let’s work to end injustice -- injustice of
poverty and hunger. No one should ever suffer from such want
amidst such plenty. As children of God, let’s work to eliminate
the scourge of homelessness, because, as Sister Mary says, “None of us
are home until all of us are home.” None of us are home until all
of us are home.
27
As children of God, let’s stand up for the dignity
28 and value of every woman,
and man
29,
and child, because we are all equal in His eyes, and work to send the
scourge and the sin of modern-day slavery and human trafficking
30,
and “set the oppressed free.” (Applause.)
If we are properly humble, if we drop to our knees on occasion, we
will acknowledge that we never fully know God’s purpose. We can
never fully fathom His amazing grace. “We see through a glass,
darkly” -- grappling with the expanse of His awesome love. But
even with our limits, we can heed that which is required: To do
justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.
I pray that we will. And as we journey together on this “march
of living hope,” I pray that, in His name, we will run and not be
weary, and walk and not be faint, and we’ll heed those words and “put
on love.”
May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may He bless this precious
country that we love.
Thank you all very much. (Applause.)
END
9:37 A.M. EST
