Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are facing criticism after calling Christians who were killed on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka “Easter worshippers” on their Twitter accounts.
“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,” Obama tweeted.
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
Clinton wrote, “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.”
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
Columnists are striking back, saying the chosen language is “not just strange and unnatural. It’s a political calculation.”
“It was an attack on Christians. It was an attack on Christianity,” Cheryl K. Chumley wrote in a column for The Washington Times.
“Calling them ‘Easter worshippers’ is a political ploy designed to tamp down realities of radical Islamic terror targeting of Christians and Christianity,” she added.
Obama and Clinton were responding to an attack Sunday in Sri Lanka. Eight bombs at churches and hotels exploded Easter Sunday. Officials arrested dozens in connection with the attacks, who said they were part of the National Thowheeth Jama’ath, a radical Islamic group.
Some 300 people were killed and hundreds more were wounded, according to Fox News.
Tucker Carlson of Fox News said in a monologue about the Twitter comments that Obama and Clinton “went to great lengths to avoid the clear language.”
He said, “‘Easter worshipers.’ Why don't you say Christians?”
Carlson continued, “Nobody worships Easter. There is a reason, of course; euphemisms are never accidental. Our leaders believe Christians are the problem, that they are the dangerous ones. They can't be trusted. Tell them the truth, and they might go crazy and organize a new Crusade – unsheath their swords and march on Jerusalem. You never know with Christians.”
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Carl Court/Staff
