wow... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_alabama_governor_christians/print New Ala. gov: Just Christians are his family By JAY REEVES Jan 18, 11:39 pm ET BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley told a church crowd just moments into his new administration that those who have not accepted Jesus as their savior are not his brothers and sisters, shocking some critics who questioned Tuesday whether he can be fair to non-Christians. "Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother," Bentley said Monday, his inauguration day, according to The Birmingham News. The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday called Bentley's remarks shocking. "His comments are not only offensive, but also raise serious questions as to whether non-Christians can expect to receive equal treatment during his tenure as governor," said Bill Nigut, the ADL's regional director. Speaking at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church after the official inaugural ceremony, Bentley told the crowd that he considered anyone who believed in Jesus to be his brothers and sisters regardless of color, but anyone who isn't a Christian doesn't have that same relationship to him. "If the Holy Spirit lives in you that makes you my brothers and sisters. Anyone who has not accepted Jesus, I want to be your brothers and sisters, too," Bentley said. After his speech, Bentley said he did not mean to insult anyone. Responding to questions about it, Bentley's office released a statement Tuesday saying he believes "he is the governor of all of Alabama." "The governor clearly stated that he will be the governor of all Alabamians — Democrat, Republican and Independent, young, old, black and white, rich and poor. As stated in his (inaugural) address, Gov. Bentley believes his job is to make everyone's lives better," the statement said. Ashfaq Taufique, president of the Birmingham Islamic Society, told The Birmingham News he wasn't sure how Bentley's remarks were intended. "Does it mean that those who according to him are not saved are less important than those who are saved?" Taufique said. "Does he want those of us who do not belong to the Christian faith to adopt his faith? That should be toned down. That's not what we need. If he means that, I hope he changes it. We don't want evangelical politicians. They can be whatever in their private life." The official with the Anti-Defamation League, which fights discrimination against Jewish people, said it sounded like Bentley was using the office of governor to advocate for Christian conversion. "If he does so, he is dancing dangerously close to a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which forbids government from promoting the establishment of any religion," Nigut said.
I wish I could say I'm surprised. I guess the only thing that surprises me is that he didn't say you're only his brother if you're a Republican Christian.
Seriously, what is the big deal? He didn't say others would not get a fair shake..... Nor, did he say, he would not tolerate others.... This seems like sound and fury signifying nothing....to me. DD
Elected official shows favor to one group of people = big deal (particularly when it involves religion)
And what the reaction if a Muslim politician said that all non-muslims are not his "brothers or sisters?" You are right... there's really nothing wrong with it. However, his choice of words was poor and deserves discussion because he's a politician. Do we want people in power who judge others based on their religion?
I saw that article earlier today and I am inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt but it wasn't a smart thing to say and will put many of his decisions under scrutiny regarding bias.
Scrutiny? LOL, he's the governor of Alabama, and you obviously haven't seen the recent "Auburn fans at Wal-Mart" photo essay.
Maybe what he meant to convey is something along the lines of "by my religious definition you are not my brothers and sisters, but as your governor I will consider you to be." If so, it was horrendously worded.
Gee, you don't think the media would take his words out of context to create a story, do you? I mean, that NEVER happens. <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qlIU-2N7WY4?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qlIU-2N7WY4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
This is the whole problem with religion: it is, by it's nature, exclusionary. It is the very definition of "us vs them", and that's the main reason it has no place in politics or government. There's no way he could phrase this where he's NOT basically looking down his nose at those who don't share his faith. It's condescending, rude, and exclusionary. As an elected official, he should know better.
stupidly worded but not with malicious intent. thoughtless. i guess when you're in a church you forget that people will remember what you say.
Judging people based on what they look like, Sam? I guess it's the New Yorkers' rights to look down upon others.
