Obama and Cameron: Two very different views on Easter and Christians

President Obama took a jab at Christians - yet again - in his remarks at the Easter Prayer Breakfast two days ago:

On Easter, I do reflect on the fact that as a Christian, I am supposed to love.  And I have to say that sometimes when I listen to less than loving expressions by Christians, I get concerned.  But that's a topic for another day.  (Laughter and applause.) 

The president is certainly correct to note that Christians are not always loving to each other or to non-Christians, but he seems to forget two things: first, that he himself - by his own admission, a Christian - is not always loving towards others, and that, second, disagreement need not mean a lack of love.

One might also question the appropriateness of his remarks - made in passing and seemingly only for a laugh - at such an event, especially after giving a brief reflection about Jesus who, by "Embracing those who were different; serving the marginalized; humbling Himself to the last," gave us "the example that we are called to follow." The president's condescending remarks do not seem to follow Jesus' example of humility.

Just a few moments after I read President Obama's remarks, Father Dow, with whom I have been staying here in Bonnybridge, showed me the Easter greetings of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron. It would be difficult to find a greater contrast between the two:

Obama: "Things in Middle East "less dangerous now than they were" 20 - 30 years ago. Really, Mr. President?

Assuring supporters at an event held by the Democratic National Committee Party last evening, President Obama said, regarding the present situation throughout the Middle East, "I promise you things are much less dangerous now than they were 20 years ago, 25 years ago or 30 years ago." Really, Mr. President?

This statement comes just after he announced to the world while answering questions from reporters following a televised statement that "we don’t have a strategy yet" when it comes to dealing with the Islamic State. How is this even possible?! He has known about the growth of the Islamic State since at least January 2014 when, in an interview with The New Yorker, he compared ISIS to a junior varsity football team. Seven months later, he still has no idea what to do.

If things are, in fact, much less dangerous now, perhaps the President would consider making a visit to Iraq and Syria to comfort the tens of thousands of Christians suffering as refugees who are also mourning the deaths of relatives and friends by beheading and crucifixion and assure them that things are better now.

Better instead that President Obama start listening to Prime Minister David Cameron who yesterday said in a press conference that "what we are facing in Iraq now with ISIL is a greater threat to our security than we have seen before."