Criswell's speech called 'inappropriate' (Because of attacks on media bias)

Tuesday's Volunteer Center of Collin County lunch was not the appropriate place for former longtime local TV news anchor John Criswell to make statements about personal religious beliefs, the center's executive director said.

[Criswell] spoke primarily about the benefits of faith and how he believes today's news media is biased against religious people.

I considered posting this to religion, but it touches on the broader issue of media bias within the context of an attack on a Christian speaker. There was apparently one complaint and it gets blown up into a front page story.

Criswell was a longgime TV anchor, so he knows about media bias, but the media launches a brutal attack when he points it out during a speech.

The story (not the speech) ended with this quote from Criswell: "" I, of course asked, if her indignation is limited to Christian speakers or she would also complain if the speaker had been open about being Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or atheist," he said in an e-mail. "It was not a pretty moment, but I made my point. It seems these days it is perfectly fine to be anything except openly Christian, and in fact very much in vogue to attack Christians. What a shame that "tolerance" can be so selective."

" I, of course asked, if her indignation is limited to Christian speakers or she would also complain if the speaker had been open about being Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or atheist," he said in an e-mail. "It was not a pretty moment, but I made my point. It seems these days it is perfectly fine to be anything except openly Christian, and in fact very much in vogue to attack Christians. What a shame that "tolerance" can be so selective."

Talk about hitting the nail on the head! I applaud him for his deeds, his community service, but most of all, his conviction! I'm tired of Christians having to hide their faith while people of other faiths are allowed to openly display theirs. More liberal double standards!

This is pretty outrageous stuff!

Criswell, a deacon at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano who has been involved in faith-based marriage counseling programs, Christian broadcasting and other activities after leaving the anchor chair at KDFW-TV (Channel 4) in 1997, spoke primarily about the benefits of faith and how he believes today's news media is biased against religious people.

"I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, every word of it," Criswell told almost 600 attendees.. "Like many other evangelical Christians, I understand that my only purpose on earth...the only reason I take up space and breathe in air...is to add to God's Kingdom, and when that purpose has been completed. I know where I will be for eternity."

[sarcasm off]

"Modern man is a hard-working human. Throughout the day his mind and his muscles are busy at building the modern world and its business administration. His clothing is rough, coarse, starched, according to the specifications of his accepted job. At home, what does man have to look forward to for his body comfort? The things provided for his home. A wool or flannel robe, his feet encased in the same thick, tight-fitting leather that his shoes are made of...these are the things provided for his home comfort. It doesn't look so comfortable, does it? And get the hat - or better still get the receeding hairline. Men's hats are so tight they cut off the blood flow to the head, thus cutting off the growth of hair. Seven out of ten men wear a hat, so the advertisements say. Seven out of ten men are bald. But what about the ladies? Yes, modern woman is a hard-working individual also. But when modern woman's day of work is done, that which is designed for her comfort IS comfort. Hats that give no obstruction to the bloodflow, hats that do not crush the hair. Interesting thought, isn't it? Just for comparison, let's go native. Back to the animal instinct. There in the lesser civilized part of the world, it's the male who adorns himself with the fancy objects, such as paints, frills, and masks. The true instinct. The animal instinct. Bird and animal life. Is it not so that it's the male who is the fancy one? Could it be that the male was meant to attract the attention of the female? What's so wrong about that? Where is the animal instinct in modern civilization? Female has the fluff and the finery, as specified by those who design and sell. Little Miss Female, you should feel quite proud of the situation. You of course realise it's predominantly men who design your clothes, your jewelry, your makeup, your hair styling, your perfume. But life, even thought it's changes are slow, moves on. There's no law against wearing such apparel on the street, as long as it can be distinguished that man is man and woman is woman. But, what is it that would happen were this individual to appear on the street? You're doing it now - laughing. Yet, it's not a situation to be laughed at. Thus, the strange case of Glen, who was Glenda, one and the same person. Not half man-half woman, but nevertheless, man and woman in the same body, even though by all outward appearances Glen is fully and completely a man. "

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