As part of his general antagonism toward most things American, and toward all things Arizonan in particular, Obama offered his usual platitudinous, preachy and clueless reasoning for supporting the building of a Shinto shrine on the sacred ground of Pearl Harbor, in his home state of Hawaii:
Mr Obama expressed his support for the shrine, which will replace a building damaged by the attacks, at a White House meal celebrating the annual Shinto Autumn or Harvest Festival (Aki Matsuri, or Niiname-sai).
He said: ‘Let me be clear: As a citizen and as President I believe that Shintists have the same right to practise their religion as everyone else in this country.
‘That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community centre on private property in Pearl Harbor, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable.’
Obama said it is important to honor thoseKamikaze pilotsspiritual devotees who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and those Nipponese haunted by the memories of their friends who didn’t come home from the war.
Shinto, the original Religion of Peace
Mayor Bloomberg and Fareed Zakaria would undoubted agree with pResident Obama on the Cordobaesque Shinto Shrine slated for Pearl Harbor.
