He was a profoundly important person of the 20th Century. He counseled every President for many decades. Save the outrage that his dead body will lie in state for a few days before he is buried.
Although I am a Christian and have respect for Billy Graham’s missions, I’d prefer more separation of Church and State. It would seem reasonable to leave the lie-in-state honors to elected officials.
Please. Don’t go there.
It used to say E Pluribus Unum, which I, for one, still consider to be the REAL motto of the USA. I dearly wish that we would return to it, and also expunge “under god” from the pledge of allegiance. Some people need to reread the gospel about the man praying loudly up front vs the one praying quietly in the back.
I don’t have a big problem with this man having that honor if so many people think it is warranted, although I am not an admirer. It was last granted to Rosa Parks. That’s fine with me too, although I am absolutely certain that MANY who adore BG objected to that!
As you can imagine, he is a very big deal around these parts (Charlotte area, North Carolina). Tomorrow, Saturday, they are driving him from Asheville to Charlotte. On Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 26-27, Mr. Graham will lie in repose inside the Graham Family Homeplace on the Billy Graham Library grounds. His casket will remain closed. The line will be open to the public 8 am to 10 pm. (I will not be going) I don’t know how they are taking him to Washington D.C. but he will lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda 2/28 and 3/1. 1 pm to 8 pm Weds and it ends Thursday at 10 am. (I will not be going there either) Then it’s back to Charlotte for a private (invitation only) funeral Friday 3/2 and burial at the Billy Graham Library (I wasn’t invited)
There is no reason that he should “Lie in Honor” at the Capital
His stand on gay rights was wrong. On Civil Rights, he was squishy at best.
No to derail, but for anyone who thinks it’s just about cakes and flowers, it’s not:
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/37581493/hawaii-appeals-court-upholds-ruling-against-bed-and-breakfast-that-wouldnt-serve-lesbian-couple
Kudos to the appeals court. Graham can start rolling over in his grave next week.
Exactly, @romanigypsyeyes. Of course, one of these days we’ll have a religious figure who also held a high political office, and then it will really get confusing. But this time, it isn’t confusing at all, at least to me.
Are there really people “outraged” that Billy Graham will lie in-state-or-whatever? Not a Billy Graham fan but man, if true, this is really tempest in a tea cup…
Thank God for Billy Graham and his clear stand for biblical truth. He will be missed.
Tempest in a teapot indeed. There is a small amount for which everything is offensive that does not align with their viewpoint…even a religious figure. That’s America…a week will bring something new to be offended about.
Thank God for Dane Rudhyar and his clear stand for astrological truth. Someone misses him.
Who said they were ‘outraged’? Someone mentioned ‘inclined to be offended’.
I’m wondering where the Reverend Martin Luther King fits in this, considering that we have a day in his honor, a national memorial, and numerous streets and schools named after him.
There is already a cracker named after BG. Right? The graham cracker. Oh, wait…
Billy Graham impacted so many people’s lives. He will be missed. He worked so hard to spread the message of hope for everyone.
My only concern about BG lying in state at the capitol is that some people will use it as “evidence” that we are “a Christian nation” and the separation of church and state doesn’t apply to them…or is even a bad thing in general.
If people would concentrate on what he meant to them, personally and spiritually, that would be fine. But I think it almost certain that it will be used as a stick to beat the rest of us with. That is not fine.
I’m outraged by the message it sends. There is supposed to be a clear line between church and state. They’re already too muddled and this is further muddying the waters.
Only 4 people have ever had a lying in at the capitol. Rosa Parks, 2 police who were killed there, and now BG. You’ll excuse me if I don’t put him on the same level as Rosa Parks.
Do whatever you want with him, I don’t care. I don’t want him being praised by the capitol like he was actually a positive force in this country. For millions of us, he wasn’t. That’s what I’m outraged about.
So religious figures can’t offend people?
Romani, you’re going to give yourself an ulcer being outraged about everything. X( Chill.
Just because Billy Graham wasn’t a positive force for “millions of us”, you don’t want him being praised by the capitol. Did it ever occur to you that he was a positive force for millions of others? Don’t those people have a say?
Not when there is supposed to be a separation of church and state, no.
Outrage is fine when warranted and given that BG spoke out against the rights of groups of people, I’d say it is warranted that people in those groups and their supporters feel some outrage. As is his religious freedom, BG is free to practice his faith and expose his religious beliefs but it should also preclude his lying in honor in the Capitol Building.
I’d rather have outrage than apathy.