Posted by yxibow on November 13, 2008, at 2:09:48
In reply to Re: So when will a Muslim become President?, posted by Deneb on November 12, 2008, at 21:11:01
> Aw man, atheists are never going to be president. LOL
>
> Wow, it's so weird to think so many believe in "god" or whatever.
>
> I tend to think everyone is like me.
>
>I'm agnostic, not atheist, which means I really am not practicing, I do identify with my roots, but it basically means to me that maybe there is some ethereal being that existed before the big bang, in fact before many universes and bangs and propelled things forward. It also means that I think, in times of great danger that someone was looking out for me.
There goes the old joke -- and I didn't make this up because neither insomnia nor dyslexia are funny but:
"Did you hear about the agnostic dyslexic insomniac?
He lay awake all night wondering if there really is a Dog !"
But yes, I agree -- as I've said before... the old flag salute... one nation, indivisible, with liberty... and then the McCarthyism of the 50s changed it to one nation "under god", indivisible...
The founding fathers tried to make this a country separating church and state. There is no mention of "God" in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. After all, they were fleeing religious persecution from England. And prominent among them were deists anyhow.But you can't make a political announcement, inaugural address, court statements, without "may God Bless the United States of America" or something like that.
It's curious how a famous Jewish American composer, lyricist, not strongly religious, but inspired by patriotism wrote "God Bless America" although he didn't use it in his revues at the time. Irving Berlin lived to a ripe old age of 101 too and could not read or write music -- he had help.
Now I have nothing against the words blessing our country, since I'm agnostic, it doesnt bother me a lot -- but its the power they have to religions who are eroding the separation of church and state, and that they should not be there for people who really don't have a belief or do not want to swear on bibles in court (some jurisdictions do allow an alternate oath fortunately).God Bless America is a nice song, but its just a song to me -- yes, it strikes of patriotism, nothing wrong, [although we are probably among Western countries the ones who put out the US Flag at a moments notice all over the place while Canada does it for tourism I think :)], that's what I get out of it.
The national anthem of the US has no mention of God
-- Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:862619
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20081002/msgs/862746.html