Submitted by Laura George on Fri, 07/08/2011 - 12:55 pm

How can Religious Freedom be at Risk in a Town called Independence?

Today, the Washington Post carried the story of the Grayson County government denying our permit to build the Peace Pentagon. The interview took place months ago, so I have had plenty of time to ponder the pros and cons of making this story more public. The article is well-written and balanced … but you can make up your own mind on that score: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/proposed-interfaith-retreat-center-i... As a result of this article, I have been contacted by a number of people, including: a member of Iraq Veterans for Peace (http://www.veteransforpeace.org/); a woman who wrote the Daily Show and The Colbert Report to get me on TV; another woman who recounted her most recent encounter with an intolerant Evangelical; and the producer for Radio Islam in Chicago, who has invited me and John Whitehead of The Rutherford Institute to be on the air tonight at 7:00 pm (Eastern time) (http://www.radioislam.com/). Sadly, however, I have not heard from anyone in Independence, except for a few brave friends who have courageously stood beside me since this controversy first erupted in June, 2010. Incidentally, when I say a “few brave friends” I am talking less than a dozen people! So I ask: How can Religious Freedom be at Risk in a Town called Independence? While I certainly appreciate the calls and emails of support from around the country, I am still puzzled that the people of Independence cannot find their way to support Oracle’s Constitutional right to build an interfaith retreat center. I pray for the day when people of all faiths are able to embrace one another in spiritual unity. And as Americans, we should pledge to lead the way. But first, we will have to accept the Truth set forth in Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s upcoming book: God Is Not a Christian (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/desmond-tutu/god-is-not-a-christian_b_8699...). Please help Oracle build the Peace Pentagon: http://theoracleinstitute.org/donation