"John D. Giorgis" wrote:
>
> At 01:45 PM 9/14/01 -0700 Jeffrey Miller wrote:
> >Seriously, though, as someone who's not a member of any of the religions
> >you listed, I'm pretty well used to being ignored, but in a ceremony
> >very carefully orchestrated and choreographed (who ISN'T surprised they
> >had the Muslim cleric's service first?) I can't help but feel cynicism
> >about the whole thing - plastic packaged redemption and healing,
> >mass-marketed and targeted at the correct demographic.
>
> Color me surprised.
>
> I'm not sure how often US Presidents have visited mosques or had a Muslim
> cleric at National Cathedral, but I cannot think of any examples.
>
> To invite a Muslim cleric to an inherently Christian institution, to a
> place of considerable national pride, and to ask him to speak first, is in
> my mind, wholly laudatory. Indeed, I can think of few other countries or
> times where this would have happened.
I'm not saying it isn't a Good Thing (tm) - I'm just saying that it
didn't surprise me at all to see that happen; it was Good Showmanship.
-j-
