President Obama pays tribute to the Maccabees
December 16, 2016
At a White House Hanukkah reception, President Barack Obama paid tribute to the Maccabees, who led the Jewish revolt against Hellenistic pagan oppression during the 2nd century B.C.
On December 14—ten days before the beginning of Hanukkah—Obama spoke about “the Maccabees’ unlikely military victory, and of great moral movements around the globe and across time.”
He added:
The first chapter of the Hanukkah story was written 22 centuries ago, when rulers banned religious rituals and persecuted Jews who dared to observe their faith. Which is why today we are asked not only to light the menorah, but to proudly display it…
Everybody in America can understand the spirit of this tradition. Proudly practicing our religion, whatever it might be—and defending the rights of others to do the same—that’s our common creed.
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Posted by: brenda22890 -
Dec. 19, 2016 10:28 AM ET USA
Again, Obama likes to throw stuff at the wall to see if anything will stick. Maccabees is not even included in the Jewish canon. He is so obviously shallow.
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Posted by: R. Spanier (Catholic Canadian) -
Dec. 18, 2016 12:48 AM ET USA
President Obama's creed would therefore defend this religious practice: "'The punishment for homosexuality is death...' Ibn Qudamah said, ‘The companions of the Prophet were unanimous on killing, although they differed in the description, that is, in the manner of killing. Some of the companions of the Prophet stated that [a homosexual] is to be burned with fire. It has also been said that he should be stoned, or thrown from a high place..." 2008 Update: Saudi Arabia’s Curriculum of Intolerance
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Posted by: JimKcda -
Dec. 17, 2016 12:03 AM ET USA
Huh? Is this "fake news"? Why doesn't he respect my religion? Only about 35 more days and we will be rid of this liar! Now, if only I believed that the next guy will treat us any better?
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Posted by: [email protected] -
Dec. 16, 2016 9:52 PM ET USA
What a buffoon. If he lied about freedom of religion anymore his nose would grow like Pinocchio. Amazing what he is saying and what he actually does to harass freedom of religion. Happy for the change in January.
