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Mar 25th, 2025
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http://www.antiochian.org/metropolitan-philips-letter-president-obamaDecember 7, 2013 The President and Mrs. Obama; The White House; 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW; Washington D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President and Mrs. Obama, Greetings and best wishes to you and to your two precious daughters in the spirit of this Holy Christmas season. I was honored to receive your invitation to attend a White House holiday reception on Friday, December 6th, 2013. I remember fondly my attendance at the White House reception two years ago. The photograph which we took together on that auspicious occasion continues to adorn my office. Unfortunately Mr. President, I did not attend your holiday reception this year because while I do have the joy of Christmas, I do not have the peace of Christmas. This is the peace which the angels proclaimed on that Holy Night "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men" (Luke 2:14). Although I am Lebanese by birth and a proud American citizen for the past fifty-seven years, I received my secondary education in the cities of Homs and Damascus, Syria. Mr. President I do not have the peace of Christmas because there is no peace either in Lebanon or in Syria. During the time which I spent in Syria as a student and secretary to the late Patriarch Alexandros Tahan, I ate the bread of Syria, I drank the water of Syria, I breathed the air of Syria and I enjoyed the most generous hospitality of the Syrian people. No Mr. President, I do not have the peace of Christmas while two of my brother archbishops Boulos Yazigi and Youhanna Ibrahim are still in captivity in northern Syria with no news since their abduction. Actually Mr. President, we do not know whether they are alive or dead. Two weeks ago, Mr. President, twelve of our Orthodox nuns were abducted from the convent of St. Thekla of Maaloula, Syria. These nuns are innocent women who care for some orphans in the convent. These peaceful women do not have arms and do not fight but pray for peace every day and night. I contacted the State Department and spoke to Ambassador Ford who promised me that he is doing everything possible to gain the release of the two abducted Archbishops and the nuns, but to no avail. Recently a video appeared on Al-Jazeera network which reportedly showed the nuns and the Abbess of the convent, Mother Pelagia in captivity, and she said that they were living in a villa. What a mockery! If the abductors wanted the nuns to escape the bombardment of Maaloula, they could have sent them to the Orthodox Patriarchate in Damascus, which can accommodate one hundred nuns. We know the truth Mr. President. The truth is that the video was made under extreme psychological pressure, which these nuns are enduring every day. There is every reason to fear for their safety. Finally Mr. President, anything that you can do as the leader of the free world to stop the bloodshed and destruction in Syria will be very deeply appreciated. May the peace of Christmas which this broken world does not understand dwell in your hearts and in the hearts of your family forever. Sincerely yours, Metropolitan PHILIP (Saliba) Kudos to Met +Phillip!
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I don't know if this qualifies as a "blast" of Obama, but certainly, if Obama is smart enough to read between the lines, he can figure out that this is hardly a congratulatory letter.
Of course, he will probably think this letter means he is doing a great job in Syria~!
Last edited by Irish Melkite; 12/11/13 04:13 PM. Reason: edit inflammatory text
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Courage of a lion!
May God grant our faith-filled shepherd's many years,
~s.
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Joined: Jan 2003
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I just read this letter in my emails.
I don't think that the President is a particularly spiritual man, so I do not know if the message reaching out to that side of him will touch him. I hope that I am wrong.
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A reminder, while individual opinions about particular politicians vary, it is expected that posters will remain civil in their characterization of such persons.
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
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Come on, Neil!! Are you telling me that stating a fact about a person (i.e., he's a narcissist who takes "selifies" of himself at the funeral of another world leader) is on the same par as calling him a
#(*$YPIUG%#OP*&TPI#GO#U*TP(*&$*(!
Really????
Tell me how stating facts that are obvious to everyone qualifies as being "uncivil?"
Thank you.
Last edited by Irish_Ruthenian; 12/11/13 04:33 PM.
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Alice, I think he has a spirituality, it just isn't like ours. He is, I believe, a member of the United Church of Christ. That is, in my estimation, the most liberal church in the country. They don't see the world through an Orthodox or Catholic lens - or anything even close to it.
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Alice, I think he has a spirituality, it just isn't like ours. He is, I believe, a member of the United Church of Christ. That is, in my estimation, the most liberal church in the country. They don't see the world through an Orthodox or Catholic lens - or anything even close to it. Actually I meant a Christian lens, but yes I understand what you mean by the philosophy of the United Church of Christ. Of course, none of us know a person's heart, but of all the Presidents I can remember in my life, Republican and Democrat, he seems the least compassionate to Christians and the least spiritually Christian. African Americans are generally *very* feeling and spiritual Christians, but the influence of the Reverend Wright isn't exactly the Reverend Billy Graham! LOL! He didn't grow up in the traditional African American Christian environment, so I guess it is understandable. Anyway, that is just my opinion, for what it is worth. 
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Still waiting for an answer to my question!
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African Americans are generally *very* feeling and spiritual Christians, but the influence of the Reverend Wright isn't exactly the Reverend Billy Graham! LOL! Nor is it the influence of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Are you telling me that stating a fact about a person (i.e., he's a narcissist who takes "selifies" of himself at the funeral of another world leader) That statement is not "fact", but opinion.
Last edited by Siddhazen; 12/14/13 07:24 AM.
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Are you telling me that stating a fact about a person (i.e., he's a narcissist who takes "selifies" of himself at the funeral of another world leader) That statement is not "fact", but opinion. You either are denying the picture that has been circulating around the Internet, or you have a very poor grasp of human psychology.
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Are you telling me that stating a fact about a person (i.e., he's a narcissist who takes "selifies" of himself at the funeral of another world leader) That statement is not "fact", but opinion. Fact is: he took a selfie Opinion is: he is a narcissist Fact (or maybe opinion?): probably anyone who is on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (some of them are my best friends, family, clergy, etc.) is probably somewhat narcissistic, but that is today's norm and today's world of social media. I think the point here is that just as we did not allow statements (opinions) many years ago like: "Bush is evil" on this forum, we cannot allow statements (opinions) about Pres. Obama either. Please don't take it so personally. I am sure there are many here that agree with you but... It is our policy to keep the forum peaceful and to maintain a Christian spirit here. Have a blessed day and safe (if you are in snow's way) weekend... In Christ, Alice, Moderator
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