Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton Slammed for Their Responses to Sri Lanka Attack
The devastating terrorist attack in Sri Lanka left hundreds of people dead or injured over the Easter weekend. Responses from Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama caused outrage among Christians when they referred to the victims as “Easter worshippers.”
Both Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton shared messages on Twitter after eight bombs exploded at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with Barack Obama at an election eve rally on November 7, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. | Source: Getty Images
Another attack followed outside a church on Monday when a van packed with bombs exploded. The aftermath of the attack left almost 300 dead with another estimated 400 people injured.
WHAT CAUSED THE OUTRAGE
“The attacks on tourists and Easter worshippers in Sri Lanka are an attack on humanity, Barack wrote in part on Twitter:
The attacks on tourists and Easter worshippers in Sri Lanka are an attack on humanity. On a day devoted to love, redemption, and renewal, we pray for the victims and stand with the people of Sri Lanka.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 21, 2019
Hilary Clinton posted a similar message as she wrote, “I'm praying for everyone affected by today's horrific attacks on Easter worshippers and travelers in Sri Lanka.”
On this holy weekend for many faiths, we must stand united against hatred and violence. I'm praying for everyone affected by today's horrific attacks on Easter worshippers and travelers in Sri Lanka.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 21, 2019
Their posts soon caused confusion and outrage as the term “Easter worshippers” became a euphemism for people “who don’t want to say ‘Christians.’”
WHY CHRISTIANS ARE UPSET
But it went far beyond that as Democrats are being accused of having little concern for Christians as a persecuted identity group. Barack and Hilary also faced criticism for not including the identified radical Islam group as the source of the attack.
An explosion detonated on Monday in a van near the church in Sri Lanka while scores were killed on Easter Sunday.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 22, 2019
Get the latest on the Sri Lanka attack here: https://t.co/NJIZWLa5VF pic.twitter.com/HEyaa3xzG3
On Monday the Sri Lankan government arrested numerous people in connection with the attacks and identified the radical Islamic group, Thowheeth Jama’ath, as the ones who carried out the devastation while working in “an international network,” as reported by the New York Times.
PREVIOUS WORDS ON ISLAM MADE BY BARACK OBAMA
Soon previous words spoken by Barack during an address to the National Prayer Breakfast in 2015 got referenced as the basis of the argument that the former president is a “Muslim apologist.”
During his speech, Barack compared the torturous deeds of ISIS to those of deeds done by Christians during medieval times and urged Americans not to “get on our high horse” about the Islamic State, since “people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ” for centuries.
PERCEPTIONS
Another interpretation suggested the term “Easter worshipper” implied that Christians worship the holiday of Easter as Laura Ingraham responded to Barack’s post:
Some went further, interpreting the term Easter worshipper as a false claim that Christians worship the holiday of Easter.
Christians. We don’t worship Easter. We worship Jesus Christ. https://t.co/CURZWuTXvw
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) April 22, 2019
Others, including a writer at the National Review, took offense that Hilary used the controversial term instead of drawing the distinction in her post:
Yeah we’re actually called Christians not “Easter worshippers” wouldn’t hurt to maybe just say that pic.twitter.com/amw0Zkwh1e
— Alexandra DeSanctis (@xan_desanctis) April 22, 2019
However, Easter is by far the most important date on the Christian calendar, and the word “Easter” has no other meaning, or another context apart from being inexplicably tied to Christianity.
The reference, “Easter worshippers” automatically include and imply members of the Christian faith worshipping on the holy day of Easter.
Seen in that light, it puts extra emphasis on the religious nature of the attack against Christians on their most sacred day. Those two short words imply that not only did a radical Islamic group attack Christians, but they also did so on Easter of all days.
The foreigner who lost his wife from the attack whom also built the children’s hospital in Ratnapura spoke to News First and said that he brought his family down this time to Sri Lanka to show and embrace that people are really using the facilities.
— Waz Tennakoon ✨ (@imWazNotWas) April 22, 2019
I couldn’t stop my tears 💔 pic.twitter.com/bL5HJsqNBt
President Trump also reacted to the attacks and made a mistake during his initial reaction that horrified everyone who heard. Even though the error got corrected about a half an hour later, it still got seen by millions.
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