"Kansas," Mixed Media, Copyright by Sharon McEachern
Christian ethics, for some in Kansas, include calling President-Elect Barack Obama America's "Muslim president" and a "sin against the Lord." The Spirit One Christian Center in Wichita, KS. has a huge marquee sign in front of the church, the kind usually seen at entertainment venues like movie theaters, which is taller than the church roof.
This "moral" marquee has in the recent past emblazoned messages against gays, against planned parenthood clinics, against Muslims, against Mohammed and against Allah.The same church has spent money on large billboards promoting similar messages of hate.
The exact message on the church sign currently reads: "America we have a Muslim president. This is sin against the Lord." The preacher says he will not remove the message, despite the fact that Obama is a Christian, he told Fox News Kansas City.
It's ironic that Obama's mother was a Christian from Kansas.
"The main point of the marquee is to cause Christians to understand he's not a Christian," said Preacher Mark Holick, as reported by Wichita TV station KSN. "They call and tell me he's not a Muslim, he's a Christian. That's not the point. The point is he's not a Christian."
WHAT IS IT ABOUT KANSAS AND ETHICS?
Doesn't make sense, does it? What is it about Kansas? There was something about the state which helped to instill virtues and values in a mother and grandmother who raised a bi-racial boy with the qualities to become President of the United States, raising the hopes of a nation wanting equality, justice and diversity.
And yet, something about the state not only allows a Wichita preacher full of hate-messages to grow a congregation there, but also allows a Fred Phelps Sr. You know Fred. He's the Topeka, KS Baptist minister who gained national notoriety by picketing the 1998 funeral of Matthew Shepard, the gay University of Wyoming student murdered because of his sexual orientation. Phelps is 70 years old now, but hasn't mellowed. In addition to showing up at funerals of gay persons, he also pickets funerals of American soldiers killed in Iraq. I forget what his justification is for adding to the heartbreak of American parents and families losing a son, by picketing at their sons' funerals. Oh, it's some kind of sin in his mind, I'm sure.
SAME MOLD, LACK OF ETHICS
Both of these preacher men seem to enjoy raising ire and eyebrows. They love media attention. In Wichita, Holick has a history of creating controversy with his politics and marquee messages outside his church. Just this summer, for the second consecutive year, Holick was arrested at Wichita's gay pride paradeand festival -- first for criminal trespassing and this year for suspicion of battery.
I went to the Spirit One website and the welcome message says the church is "a friendly, friendly, friendly church! Come just as you are."
I wonder. Does that mean come gay? How about come Arab or bring your Pro Choice-self right on down? Somehow, I don't think so.
Pray for Kansas.
TO READ "Great White Hope: Metaphor for Racist Kansas Politician" CLICK HERE.
TO READ "N.Y. Post's Racist Cartoon: Cops Assassinate Chimp Symbol of Obama," CLICK HERE.
TO READ "Hatemongers Exploit Racial Fears After Obama Election," CLICK HERE.
TO READ "Raccoons at White House: America Still Waits for Post-Racism," CLICK HERE.
By Sharon McEachern
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