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Politics, Religion and Universities |
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Prayer-Soldier writes "The Colorado Springs Gazette reported on 24 Apr 09 that the appearance of evangelical Christian, Maria Anne Hirschmann, who was scheduled to speak at the Air Force Academy's 2009 "National Character and Leadership Symposium," was canceled. The cancellation was apparently the result of protests from several unnamed advocacy groups. The apparent controversy is that the symposium is mandatory attendance for cadets and the appearance of an evangelical Christian would violate the First Amendment of the United Stated Constitution which states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion....”
According to the 28 Jan 09 Air Force Academy advertisement of the event, Hirschmann was scheduled to speak upon "The Insecurity of Freedom." The topic summary stated, “Maria Anne Hirschmann, better known as Hansi, was brainwashed under Hitler as a Nazi Youth Leader, believing with all her heart that Hitler had the answers for a troubled world. At the end of WWII she learned otherwise and when she immigrated with her family to America, she fell in love with Freedom. But freedom is not free; it demands vigilance!”
The Air Force Academy's announcement of speakers stated that “This year's speakers were chosen with the theme "Answering The Nation's Call...Our Legacy In The Making" in mind.” While Hirschmann's topic and story appears to be consistent with a message of inspiration for the future defenders of freedom, the controversy is not her lessons learned from her youth under Hitler's socialist government and her subsequent journey to freedom; the controversy is that in the process she converted to and is now a representative of Christianity.
According to the hansiministries.org web site, Hirschmann is the recipient of several honors, including the Daughters of the American Revolution American Medal and a gold medal from the Sons of the American Revolution. Maria Hirschmann, however, has stirred controversy from her observations of current events and warnings as to the similarities to events that lead to the rise of Hitler and a socialist Germany.
The Gazette article reported, that in Hirschmann's November 2008 newsletter, she said that “Obama, like Hitler, is 'a charismatic leader who promises full pocketbooks.' Obama's pro-choice stands, she writes, resembles those of Hitler, who 'brought abortion to a systematic level and declared the killing of unborn babies a national duty.'"
In her April 2009 newsletter, Hirschmann states she is not comparing Obama to Hitler, rather she sees “trends in America that led Germany into disaster...” She goes on to ask, “Is this unlimited new spending and reckless printing of paper money similar to the economic recovery of Nazi Germany? Yes, it is and it made the German people jubilant because Hitler turned the economy around within four years. Nobody saw that the next four years prepared for World War II, and within 12 years most of Germany was in ashes and Europe nearly destroyed.”
The 80 year old Hirschmann states that she is not a prophet, but a woman to which God gave common sense. She points out, “It does not make any sense to me that our government will “save” the economy by spending more money than is available...”
Hirschmann's removal from the NCLS speaker list comes at a time when many Catholics are calling that an invitation be rescinded for President Barak Obama to be the commencement speaker at the University of Notre Dame. The invitation was extended as part of a tradition of the university to invite new Presidents to speak at the commencement exercises.
As one of the most famous universities associated with the Catholic faith, the issue is that the works of the man are so fundamentally opposed to the teachings of the Catholic faith. Since taking office, President Obama has reversed the Executive Orders of the Bush administration which prohibited the use of federal funds for embryonic stem cell research and to fund organizations that perform and promote abortion in developing nations.
From the first century teachings of Christianity to “The “EVANGELIUM VITAE (The Gospel of Life)” by Pope John Paul II, one of the fundamental elements of the Catholic faith is the respect for life. The introduction of the “EVANGELIUM VITAE” states, “THE GOSPEL OF LIFE is at the heart of Jesus' message. Lovingly received day after day by the Church, it is to be preached with dauntless fidelity as "good news" to the people of every age and culture.”
In the “Didach,” a first century writing also known as the “The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations,” it states in the first chapter, “There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to you.” In the second chapter, entitled, “The Second Commandment: Grave Sin Forbidden,” it includes the commandment that, “you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is born.”
While many Catholics are impassioned against a Catholic university becoming the pulpit for one with the stated purpose of signing the Freedom of Choice Act, legislation designed to remove most limitations to abortion; it is unlikely the university's invitation will be rescinded. The position of university officials is despite criticism obymore than two dozen Catholic Bishops and the more than 334,000 signers of a petition to the President of the University to rescind the Presidential invitation.
According to the “Chicago Sun-Times,” “Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins says the invitation to Obama should not be taken as condoning or endorsing his positions on specific issues regarding the protection of human life.”
There is an apparent difference between Catholic universities and military academies. In the former, the appearance of a speaker should not be viewed as to the endorsement by the institution of the speaker's views, but in the later, to allow the appearance of a Christian may be considered as an endorsement of that person's views and is prohibited by the Constitution of the United States. The amendment reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”"
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Posted on Sunday, April 26 @ 21:34:30 MDT by drbonebrake
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