Bethlehem no longer safe for Christians
posted at 2:36 pm on December 17, 2006 by Allahpundit
The town’s Christian population has dwindled from more than 85 per cent in 1948 to 12 per cent of its 60,000 inhabitants in 2006.
There are reports of religious persecution, in the form of murders, beatings and land grabs…
The situation has become so desperate that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, are to lead a joint delegation to Bethlehem this week to express their solidarity with the beleaguered Christian populace.
Palestinian Christians pay the price for Islamist savagery in more ways than one. Tourists can’t get to the town easily because of the wall, which Sharon put up to block the wave of bombers who were using the town as a crossing point into Israel. No doubt the propaganda angle factored into that heavily: get the Jews to fence off Christ’s birthplace and paint it as “apartheid” against Christians. Our useful idiot former president bought it hook, line, and sinker:
[T]he security fence itself is a crime against Christianity, according to Carter; it “ravages many places along its devious route that are important to Christians.” He goes on, “In addition to enclosing Bethlehem in one of its most notable intrusions, an especially heartbreaking division is on the southern slope of the Mount of Olives, a favorite place for Jesus and his disciples.” One gets the impression that Carter believes that Israelis — in their deviousness — somehow mean to keep Jesus from fulfilling the demands of His ministry.
No tourists, no money, no future for the community.
Blowback
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While we were in Israel this past February, Bethlehem was one of the only places off limites because of safely issues from Muslims. Sad but true, that as much as Jewish communities give (appease)to Palestineans/Muslims in Israel the more they get it shoved back in their faces. Hard to believe, Judaism and Christianity’s most holy sites in Jerusalem are controlled by those who would destroy us all. Shocking.
Webutante
Webutante on December 17, 2006 at 2:54 PM
Wow. The irony is that the US and a vast majority of the West hasn’t really been all that safe for Christians since Comrade Carter’s reign of incompetence.
Can anyone please do a simple timeline that compares Jimmy’s time as a pseudo-President against the rise of Islamo-terror? My guess, as an average guy on the street: this thing was lost the minute he put his hand on the Bible in front of the Chief Justice and said “so help me God.”
Jimmy Carter – the best argument for retroactive birth control the world has ever known!
SailorDave on December 17, 2006 at 2:58 PM
Stepping onto a bus and looking at all of the children’s faces before you blow them up is a crime against humanity, Mr Carter. The wall was put up in response to these homicide bombings. The Palistinians can blame themselves for it.
jman on December 17, 2006 at 3:06 PM
I AM OUTRAGED!!! Sad sad days.
Lets take it back.
shooter on December 17, 2006 at 3:13 PM
I sit here listening to some John Lennon music and (admittedly) a few Grolsch beers to the wind on a Sunday afternoon.
I have a hard time explaining Imagine to my kids. It represents the best hopes for our world. But it also repesents the worst of our delusions. All I can tell them is that it is a song about the kind of world God wants us to build for ourselves. He wants us to secure peace for our own sake.
How do I explain to small children that the birthplace of our Savior is a centerpoint of such hatred? Jesus told us to turn the other cheek only once. At what point do we consider that Christian obligation satisfied?
SailorDave on December 17, 2006 at 3:25 PM
There is not a leader left in the USA to do the ass-kicking needed to win a war. We have NO LEADERS, ONLY POLITICIANS.
Wade on December 17, 2006 at 3:28 PM
This is common throughout the Arab world. Muslims are pushing out Arab Christians through persecution and demographics. Copts are under pressure in Egypt. The Christian community in Lebanon is dominated by Shi’ites and their allies. Christian Iraqis are emigrating in droves. Even within pre 1967 Israel the Christian community of Nazareth is shrinking and the new mosque dominates the old city there.
Of course, when they get rid of all the Christians, then the Sunnis and the Shi’ites will go hammer and tong against each other. Or maybe Hamas vs Fatah. The children of Ishmael seem to always have their hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against them.
rokemronnie on December 17, 2006 at 3:30 PM
I’m convinced Carter is the anti-Christ.
EF on December 17, 2006 at 3:34 PM
SailorDave, Imagine is arguably Lennon’s worst song. Nihilistic dreck. I can’t stand the lyrics. Jealous Guy, on the other hand, is a masterpiece.
rokemronnie on December 17, 2006 at 3:34 PM
Oh, and if you want to strike a blow for Christians vis a vis the jihadis, buy a Christian Infidel shirt or hat.
AP shouldn’t object to the spammage – I’m already an advertiser.
rokemronnie on December 17, 2006 at 3:38 PM
Roke:
I’m not going to debate that point. It’s a beautiful song with misguided content. If I were to pick a favorite Lennon song, it would be Beautiful Boy. My boy (my guy among three daughters) makes me really like that song. I love all my kids. But having only one son makes me a sentimental sucker for it.
I’ll be tougher once this devil’s brew wears off.
SailorDave on December 17, 2006 at 3:42 PM
Maybe we should leave them out of it…..
You know, outside of the middle east and ‘asia parts’ Christianity is the fastest growing belief in the world. 175,000 new Christians DAILY.
shooter on December 17, 2006 at 3:45 PM
I just love how people completely over look the actual issues in situations like these to suit their own political agendas.
My father told me carter was a horrible president. I wasn’t old enough to really understand what was going on or even remember much of it, but now I completely understand.
One Angry Christian on December 17, 2006 at 4:05 PM
We’re only watching the introduction, folks. Exposition. Eventually, it will come to a head. God help us all when it does.
spmat on December 17, 2006 at 4:07 PM
I’m listening to Handel’s Messiah over and over in my head while becoming enraged.
Not very Christ-like, but that’s the way it is for me.
Advent rage?
Merry Christmas! – Jan
forest on December 17, 2006 at 7:17 PM
Admittedly, let’s say for the sake of argument (agreeing to disagree a little – I liked most of the album, myself) that the album that both are off of, is at least one of his best albums – there was at least one other good song off of that one too – Gimme Some Truth.
Just what we need now all around, wouldn’t you agree?
Emmett J. on December 17, 2006 at 9:39 PM
In other news unrelated this post,
we interrupt our regularly scheduled program for…
THE WIND STORM OF THE CENTURY!
Sorry people — I’ve been incommunicado for the past three days. 110+ mph winds in the Seattle area knocked most of us off line last Thursday night. Millions in the northwest just made it through several days of below freezing
weather with no electrical power and in many cases with no heat in their homes. It was 49 degrees Fahrenheit inside my abode this morning when I woke up.
Obviously, my power is now back on (or I wouldn’t be posting this). Inside temperature is now up to about 56 degrees F in here right now, so even though it’s a bit difficult to type, I’m back with a vengence!
So. I guess I owe several people some answers regarding my previous post (a few days ago), where I made the following extraordinary (shocking?) claim, viz.
This post of mine seems to have caused a bit of a stir. (I am aware that extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.) In short, I know of a marriage broker that has a remarkable success rate finding young wives for older single and divorced men. The women that this broker recruits are Christian, speak English, and reside in many different countries around the world (other than the U.S.A.). The only (initial) requirement is that you confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and that you can come up with the cash to pay this guys fees. (What? Did you think it was free? This is a capitalist country, remember?) If you are still interested, you can contact me (to ask more questions) at:
CyberCipher@comcast.net
The following individuals seemed to express an interest:
Bob’s Kid (Sorry that I can’t be more helpful to your daughters. This broker serves guys only.)
SnakeintheGrass (Most of the clientele are older guys, but there’s no age floor, as far as I know.)
VikingGoneWild
(Perhaps there are others, as well.)
CyberCipher on December 17, 2006 at 9:43 PM
Let me get this straight: Carter objects to the Wall’s putting of Bethlehem into Muslim hands? But surely our good Mahometan brethren will be very diligent and helpful when it comes to keeping this Christian shrine available. I mean, remember the glorious times of the Caliphate, when members of all religion lived in perfect harmony under sharia!
Tzetzes on December 17, 2006 at 9:44 PM
I finished up basic during the Carter administration and we all figured we were going to Iran to rescue hostages. My bad. Silly me. Not to mention the 23% interest rates…Oh well, never again!
serenity on December 17, 2006 at 10:00 PM
The History of Jihad
Prophet Of Doom
Tim Burton on December 17, 2006 at 10:47 PM
Really strange and amusing post, forest. The Hallelujah Chorus normally defuses my rage; maybe you should try listening to Bread, instead?
Jaibones on December 18, 2006 at 9:27 AM
Don’t think it can happen here? Bethlehem was 85 percent Christian (But, but, that’s just a city!) Lebanon was over 85 percent Christian (But, but that’s just a small country!) The United States is, and the individual states are 85 percent Christian. (But, we’re a much bigger nation than Lebanon and our cities are much bigger than Bethlehem!) Wake up people! Look at the history of islam and how it spreads. They will start with Dearborn (Bethlehem) and spread. Then they will take Detroit (Beruit) and spread. Then they will take Michigan (Lebanon) and spread.
Don’t think it can happen here? It will take several generations, but it will happen. It will take a hundred years, but someday they will be the majority in the country and then they will replace the Constitution with the Koran.
Tony737 on December 18, 2006 at 9:29 AM
Nah, the Anti-Christ is impressive enough to fool many of the “elect.” Carter is a ‘tard. He isn’t fooling anyone.
urbancenturion on December 18, 2006 at 10:32 AM
Jailbones, I think he was talking about Bill Handel.
right2bright on December 18, 2006 at 10:34 AM