So now we’re told that President Obama has decided not to release any photos of Osama bin Laden’s dead body. No matter that it would put to rest all the conspiracy theories that have grown like topsy since Sunday night. No matter that it would prove to Al-Qaeda that their leader is now painfully aware of the fact that the 72 virgins that were supposed to meet him apparently didn’t get the memo.
It’s almost as if Obama is trying to make sure the conspiracy crowd has enough fodder to make their theories of how none of this really happened seem quite plausible — or, at least, to claim that it is not like they said it was.
The administration is all of a sudden concerned that releasing the picture might stir up the passions of the Muslim community — as if they aren’t stirred up already. One official said that they decided not to do this since it is contrary to Islamic law (hey, but we’ve also learned that the burial at sea was contrary to Islamic law too — so what’s the problem?).
We’re all just supposed to take the word of the President and his spokesmen. In spite of the fact that they have already given at least 3 or 4 versions of what went down on Sunday at the bin Laden fortress and have had to retract numerous misstatements and errors that official spokesmen (who are supposed to know the facts) passed along.
Does anyone in this administration understand how arrogant this looks? Does anyone realize what most of us learned in the second grade — that when you have a reputation for lying, people don’t tend to believe you when you tell the truth (the old Peter and the Wolf story, you know the one). Liars have to prove their statements before they can expect to be believed.
Does anyone in the White House understand the phrase “You can’t have it both ways”? That is, you can’t mock and deride the conspiracy theorists and refuse to prove your claims.
But this one’s not hard to resolve. Just show the pictures. Show the video of the attack. It’s simple and that would settle the matter for most people.
But the longer you wait, the more time you have to “doctor” the evidence (whether you’re doing it or not) so that when you finally realize how stupid this decision is, you’re not going to be believed anyway, no matter how much evidence you pull out.
This isn’t calculus guys, it’s an easy fix: just show us the pictures. lt’s as easy as proving that you have a birth certificate . . . . . . uh, oh well, nevermind.
What kind of church is this? Why would showing graphic photos of a man with half his head blown off prove anything to suspicious minds like yours? I’m pretty sure you’d just claim it was photoshopped. Does the fact that his 12 year old daughter verified that he was Osama Bin Laden and that, yes, he was dead, sooth your worried mind? What kind of Christian are you?
Have you ever been in the heat of a firefight? Have you even been in a car accident? Had your pulse racing and mind frantic? Think you might have forgotten things in the drama of the moment?
I’m sorry that you felt such unkind things belong on a blog of a Presbyterian church. Glad my church would only be thinking about important things, like getting relief to Alabama.
Wow! k m bettin actually said she [he?] was “sorry.” It’s so hard to find nice, humble Christians who are willing to admit that in the “drama of the moment.”
K. M. Bettin, (or are the small caps necessary?) To answer your numerous questions:
“What kind of church is this?”
This is not a church, it is my blog.
“Why would showing graphic photos of a man with half his head blown off prove anything to suspicious minds like yours?”
Uh, well, you see, I’m not suspicious. I actually believe the reports we’ve received of bin Laden’s death. My point in the post was that the actions of the Administration are inadvertently supporting the same people they’re always complaining about (the conspiracy theorists). I think they should have immediately produced proof of his death so as to short-circuit the criticism which they are now (again) receiving. Now, as I mentioned, it’s too late. I would not be the one to claim that the photos were “photoshopped” but you can bet that there would be plenty of people who would.
“Does the fact that his 12 year old daughter verified that he was Osama Bin Laden and that, yes, he was dead, sooth your worried mind?” No, because I’m not “worried” about this. I really don’t need “soothing” but I do appreciate your concern. But again, you miss the point. For the administration simply to claim that the daughter did this is not sufficient to undermine the conspiracy theorists. The Administration has lied in the past and when you lie, you need to confirm your word if you want to be believed.
“What kind of Christian are you?”
Well, sort of like the normal kind. Though I try not to jump to conclusions about other Christians like some seem to do.
“Have you ever been in the heat of a firefight?”
No, and I would be completely worthless if I were caught in the midst of one — I’ve never been trained to respond to a firefight so I greatly appreciate those who are.
“Have you even been in a car accident? Had your pulse racing and mind frantic? Think you might have forgotten things in the drama of the moment?”
let’s see, I must answer, yes, yes, and yes! (so I must be a normal Christian, hooray!)
“I’m sorry that you felt such unkind things belong on a blog of a Presbyterian church.”
Well, again, this is not the “blog of a Presbyterian Church” but I fail to see what is unkind about it? I’m expressing amazement over the arrogance of the present administration. I’m not mad, I’m astonished.
“Glad my church would only be thinking about important things, like getting relief to Alabama.”
You know what? I’m glad too. We sent some guys to Alabama last weekend to take a load of supplies and help with cleanup and we’re planning to take another donation next week. Your church sounds just great! But y’all need to be more careful about making rash judgments of others.
So glad I saw this blog post. Was considering visiting this church. Definitely will NOT attend now. So much anger and hate.
Praying that you will find compassion and peace….
aww catherine, come on! We’d love to have you visit. Pharisees and Sadducees are always welcome!
Items like this belong on a personal blog, not on a church blog.
Lots of people want to see the pix, lots don’t.
In this day and age, pix don’t prove a think. This blog post smacks of politcal bias. Since the Church is the Body of Christ, does this post represent the voice of Christ through one of His servants?
Harry, (and, by the way, thanks for the capital letters!) This IS a personal blog. It comes FROM Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church because that’s where I am.
You’re absolutely right about “pix” in this day and age. But most reasonable people would accept them as evidence.
you say, “This blog post smacks of political bias.” How? I’m as unbiased as NPR, NBC, CBS, Fox News, ABC, the NY Times, Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal — nearly all of whom have had journalists make the same point I tried to make.
“I’m as unbiased as NPR, NBC, CBS, Fox News, ABC, the NY Times, Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal” ——– kind of makes the point I intended.
Politics FROM (as you put it) church websites just seems a little Falwellian to me.
Nonetheless, I would love to visit AAPC there in Monroe.
HT
thing
Thanks for posting this. Good stuff.
Nevermind the “yahoos”…
Harry, once more, this is not a Church web site. It is a place where I can put up some personal observations and opinions and comment on what’s going on. I’m NOT giving the Church’s position on this (the church doesn’t have a position on this! and I’m sure we’d find quite a wide range of opinions on these sorts of things if we polled the membership) — this was just my view. It’s a freedom of speech type of thing. So I’m mystified by your “Falwellian” comment — unless you think I shouldn’t state my opinions.
and, I hope you’ll come visit sometime!