Tuesday, June 16, 2009

A Praying President

Sixty-five years ago, on June 6, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a national radio address during which he prayed for Allied troops as they invaded German-occupied France.

I wonder what the reaction would be today if President Obama prayed for Allied troops in Iraq and Afghanistan? It would likely be political suicide if he did. But back then, public prayer by a national leader was not only acceptable, it was desirable. “Many people,” Roosevelt noted, “have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer.”

If you are interested in reading FDR’s prayer, here is a link to it:

http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/fdr-prayer.htm.

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