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LMAO...ouch. I knew about the Jewish stuff, but not Vietnam!!
Billy Graham was very anti communist and supported US foreign policy to stop the spread of communism. That’s really about as political as he got. He was also very anti lgbt. I think his couple Jewish remarks in private conversation can be forgiven since he was very friendly to Jews through out his life. With the exception to the more modern movement of lgbt rights, Graham was a positive in the civil rights movements.
Graham was a religious advisor to every president for what, 50 years? I think it’s fine if they let him lie in honor at the Capitol, he had a huge impact on this country and our world, whether someone likes him or not. I’m not a Christian, but I don’t have a problem with this.
The separation of church and state in American only applies to "those other religions" - it's OK for a "religious" pastor who was worth $25 million at the time of death to lie in state because he's the "right" religion.
Hypocrite graham and his right wing nut son shouldn’t be given any special favors by the government. He mentioned to Nixon about his hate for the Jews. The man had issues.
You have the right of freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.
So long as the "religious" keep their religion out of my government and laws, I don't care what they do. Sadly, they seem unable to do that, particularly these days.
"The Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol has been considered the most suitable place for the nation to pay final tribute to its most eminent citizens by having their remains lay in state or in honor"
There is no mention of politics or religion as 'selection criteria' . Congress allows use of the Rotunda for those chosen. Henry Clay was the first in 1852, followed by Abraham Lincoln and others. Presidents, generals, unknown soldiers from major wars, civil rights leaders (Rosa Parks and the only woman), congressmen, law enforcement officers and now Billy Graham.
"By regulation and custom, only Presidents, military commanders, and members of Congress are granted the honor of lying in state. Except for Presidents and former Presidents, the honor is not automatic. Not all those entitled to the honor have it accepted by their survivors. The first leader to receive this honor was Henry Clay, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, when he died in 1852. Since then, the honor has been extended to thirty-one people, including eleven Presidents." Wiki
There is a distinction between 'lain in state' and 'lain in honor'.
Two capitol guards, Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson, Rosa Parks, and Billy Graham have or will be lain in honor.
Billy Graham was very anti communist and supported US foreign policy to stop the spread of communism. That’s really about as political as he got. He was also very anti lgbt. I think his couple Jewish remarks in private conversation can be forgiven since he was very friendly to Jews through out his life. With the exception to the more modern movement of lgbt rights, Graham was a positive in the civil rights movements.
Graham was a religious advisor to every president for what, 50 years? I think it’s fine if they let him lie in honor at the Capitol, he had a huge impact on this country and our world, whether someone likes him or not. I’m not a Christian, but I don’t have a problem with this.
Why should his Jewish remarks be forgiven? Nah..hell no.
Jesse Jackson said Hymietown...it’s still used against him. Sharpton said “diamond merchants” once. Still used against him.
You don’t get a break because you’re white.
And what pastor would push the idea of killing people in a foreign nation that never did anything wrong to his country?
I had nothing against the man personally, but Billy Graham was a private citizen and religious figure not a politician, so why is he being afforded a priviledge normally reserved for Presidents and National political leaders?
One can argue that he doesn't deserve the honor, but it certainly is NOT a Constitutional issue. Separation of church and state is not a phrase that appears anywhere in the Constitution. It is the upshot of the First Amendments freedom of religion clause, though. What it means is that there is not to be any sanctioned state religion. It does not mean that religious figures cannot be part of government. It does not mean that prayers cannot be offered at government functions. It certainly doesn't mean that a pastor of a church cannot be given the honor of a viewing at the Capitol when he dies.
There is a second clause in the First Amendment that deals with religion, one often forgotten about by those who espouse separation of church and state. That is of course the free exercise clause. The Federal government cannot promote any specific religion, but via this free exercise clause, it cannot punish anyone or sanction them because of their practice of a particular religion either. Government cannot sanction religion, but nor can it be anti-religion either. If a person like Graham would receive an honor, but he is denied that honor simply because he's a pastor, then that would seem to me to be a violation of the free expression clause.
To the OP's point, the US Constitution is not violated by honoring a religious man at the US Capital for the good he brought to many 10s of millions.
To the complainers, lighten up. Being constantly outraged and miserable isn't good for your health.
But you know what, if they didn't have that they wouldn't have anything.
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