Commentary by PAT MURPHY
Its an illustration of whats known as a left-handed
compliment.
FBI agents hoping to get pictures of Aryan Nations members applied for and
were given press credentials from the Kootenai County sheriffs office. So, posing as
members of the media, the agents showed up at the Coeur dAlene trial of Aryan
Nations founder Richard Butler, whos accused of being responsible for the assault by
two security guards on a woman and her son.
By using media credentials, and posing as journalists, the FBI agents, in
effect, conceded that the media might have more credibility and acceptability than the
FBI.
To his credit, Kootenai Sheriff Rocky Watson revoked the media passes when
journalists protested.
The American media has enough problems trying to overcome public suspicion
about journalists without the FBI or any other law enforcement agency posing as newspaper
photographers.
One of the immediate dangers of this dodge is the public then might well
wonder whether the next photographer or reporter who shows up on their doorstep is from
the media or from the FBI or some other law enforcement agency using deceit to obtain
information.
Surely, with all its sophisticated investigative technology the FBI
doesnt need to costume its agents in counterfeit journalist roles to get information
that is surely as easily available without the deception.
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Well-meaning as they might be, the tireless champions of promoting public
religious prayer wherever they canschool classrooms and football games are the most
popular targeted venues right nowreally raise questions about their sincerity and
their motives.
Why do they believe they need organized public demonstrations of prayer,
rather than simply going off in a corner and beseeching God?
From a surprising source comes some harsh criticism of the public prayer
movementfrom no less than Cal Thomas, perhaps the best known syndicated newspaper
columnist on matters of spiritual faith, religion and public morality.
Taking a crack at the current movement that demands prayers before high
school football games, Thomas wrote:
"Apparently some people have such an inferiority complex about their
faith that they need to see it trumpeted before the world. It is an in-your-face faith
rather than an in-your-heart variety.
"It was Jesus, after all, who frequently separated himself from the
crowds in order to pray in private."
Thomas tells the story of then-White House press secretary Bill Moyers who
was called on by President Lyndon Johnson to say grace at a meal for visitors.
When Moyers prayer was inaudible, President Johnson said:
"Louder, Bill, we cant hear you."
To which, Moyers said to Johnson: "Im not talking to you, Mr.
President."