Viral Email: "Wedding Ring In For Repair"

"Wedding Ring In For Repair"

[Note - all mistakes below are original to the text.]

From: XXXXXXXX@comcast.net
To: XXXXXX@gmail.com
Date: Tue, Apr 19, 2011 at 7:49 AM
Subject: Wedding Ring in for Repair

*Wedding Ring in for Repair

*Folks are we awake yet?

In a press conference last week Obama was not wearing his wedding ring nor was he wearing his watch. When noticed, his staff said his ring was out for repairs. No reason was given for the missing watch.

*So it's just a coincidence that Muslims are forbidden from wearing jewelry during the month of Ramadan. *
*Can't possibly be that, because although he hasn't gone to a Christian church service since entering the White House, we know he's a committed Christian "cause he said so during the campaign!" ...........And I've got a bridge to nowhere to sell you also.*
*This is the same president that spent the Christmas holidays in Hawaii to avoid religious obligations as PRESIDENT at the White House. His children do not receive Christmas presents.*
*Let's just face the facts and quit trying to tell the truth, we have a Muslim for president in the White House, and he has no knowledge of American history.*
*Hey guys, we're not paying attention, Muslims will soon rule the world.*
*Put God first in your life... above all others.... Regardless of who they are!

PASS THIS ON TO BELIEVERS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY AND TO THOSE
WHO ARE STILL IN DENIAL!!

Response

Hey, thanks for sending this my way.

I know there has been a lot of speculation about President Obama's background. It's perfectly normal for people for people to want to know the details of their leader's life, but often, interest in his life has turned into nonsensical conspiracy theories about his faith and upbringing.

Lots of people have convinced themselves that Obama is a Muslim despite the fact that he is clearly a Christian. For instance, Obama did an interview with Pastor Rick Warren during the campaign. During their talk, Obama said: "I believe in -- that Jesus Christ died for my sins, and that I am redeemed through him. That is a source of strength and sustenance on a daily basis. Yes, I know that I don't walk alone. And I know that if I can get myself out of the way, that I can maybe carry out in some small way what he intends. And it means that those sins that I have on a fairly regular basis, hopefully will be washed away."

Don't believe me?  Read the full transcript: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/17/se.01.html

This email is not grounded in truth because the detail about Ramadan is just not factually accurate. In fact, there is no prohibition against wearing jewelry during the month of Ramadan or for that matter, any other month. Islam is foreign to many Americans and, unfortunately, people take advantage of the fact that not many people know enough about Islam to ascribe some pretty sensational conspiracy theories, like this whole business about not wearing jewelry during Ramadan.

It's not just me saying this. The website Snopes has also called this claim false. Check it out: http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/ramadan.asp

Look, we should always expect truth and honestly from our leaders. But this sort of speculation - that's based on a rumor that isn't actually accurate to begin with - doesn't help anyone understand things better.

I hope this clears things up.