Editorial: "Don’t Judge Islam, Christianity by Extremists"

August 26, 2005

Source: Lexington Herald-Leader

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/editorial/12480532.htm

On August 26, 2005 the Lexington Herald-Leader ran an editorial stating, "Few conservative political and religious leaders have condemned the Rev. Pat Robertson's call for assassinating Venezuela's leader to prevent him from using the country as a 'launching pad for communistic infiltration and Muslim extremism.' The televangelist first denied saying it and then apologized. But an apology has never stopped conservative groups from demanding redress from anyone they consider guilty of hate speech. The irony of Robertson's statement is that it occurred at a time when American Islamic groups are taking a strong stance against violence... The Rev. Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, did condemn Robertson's comments. The Colorado pastor is worried that the comments would increase the danger for missionaries in Venezuela. 'Pat doesn't speak for evangelicals any more than Dr. Phil speaks for mental-health professionals,' Haggard told The Philadelphia Inquirer. How odd. That's precisely the point Muslim groups try to make about extremists who distort Islam."