Easter, Passover, and the Time For Action 

The editorial [from the Desk of the Publisher] and the write-up (CV Weekly, April 18 in Religion) about Passover and Easter are admirable. The two festivals represent an inspiring history of faith, hope, life, freedom and joy.

However, attacks on worshippers and killings take place everywhere. Countless churches in Europe, Africa, Sri Lanka and elsewhere have been targets. On this Easter Sunday, nearly 300 people, including American citizens, were killed in several attacks on churches in Sri Lanka. A synagogue was attacked in San Diego and people killed and injured.

Sadly, former president Obama and frequent White House claimant Hillary Clinton mentioned “Easter worshippers” – not Christians – in their condolence messages.

PI-News, a German news site, recently reported that 1,063 Christian churches and symbols were attacked in France in 2018 – up from 878 the previous year.

In Germany, four churches were vandalized in March alone. The number has increased manifold since Europe opened its doors for unlimited, un-vetted refugee influx.

For Christians and Jewish people in the Middle East, the situation is worsening. Israel ¬– a staunch ally of the United States and the only democratic country in the entire area of theocratic, autocratic and radically intolerant governments – is daily under attack. The number of Christians has gone down from around 30% to 5% in about seven decades.

Even in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, where in 1950 Christians were 86%, they are now only about 12%, according to Mayor Vera Baboun. In all the Muslim countries in the region, Christian population is going down. In Turkey, once a “secular” country, various churches have been vandalized, destroyed or taken over and converted into mosques.

While the world, rightly, condemned loudly the attack on a mosque in New Zealand and the killing of 50, only some might have noticed that 280 Christians were killed in Nigeria in February-March.

The time for action is nowhere seen.

On the contrary, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D- Minn.) has downplayed even the 9/11 attack on America, saying “Some people did something.” That “something” was the death of nearly 3,000 people, injuries to about 10,000 and billions of dollars in economic impact. And she was defended by many other democrat lawmakers and liberals.

That’s the real tragedy.

Yatindra Bhatnagar

Tujunga