Ok. I'd just defended Obama's right to utter the 4 words "so help me god" when taking the oath of office. I still stand by that position. It's his belief and if it inspires him to commit strongly to being a good president then that's wonderful. These 4 words in that context assume nothing about anyone but him and therefore I personally don't find them at all offensive.
Here's what I get tired of though... At the end of nearly every address the president always says "and may god (continue) to bless America". Sometimes with the 'continue' sometimes without. This, unlike the above example of the inauguration, assumes a great deal about the nation that they are addressing. It assumes that we are all just fine with them invoking their deity on our behalf. It assumes that we all share that belief in their deity (alone) and consider it an honor of sorts that they are making the request on behalf of all of us. And it assumes that their deity is blessing us at all. If we look at the current state of affairs here and around the world, many of us might request on that basis alone that their deity leave us the hell alone as those blessings don't seem to be as golden as a certain group might think they are.
This is a direct assumption about others' beliefs and I believe that places it squarely in the 'free game' department of complaints. It's not a personal request for assistance in guiding your own steps - which I completely support. It's demanding the acceptance of the audience you speak to and your deity that they all "just get along" because you've decided that it's right for all involved. It's arrogant and I don't support it. Nor do I believe that our tax dollars, that are paying for that air time, should be spent in promoting a religious assumption directed at our country - not an individual by the individual of that religion.
What it breaks down to, for me, is this - the idea that their deity is treated as the ultimate in punctuation marks. I'm unsure whether it's a period or an exclamation mark. For me it was a question mark. But now I have my own path just like many others in this country have theirs. If we're going to complain as people who do not share a belief with a large number of Americans, be we atheists, agnostics, pagans, or ________, perhaps we should focus on those incidents that are directed at us as a nation and not those that are for the sake of an individual.
Maybe they could reconsider the whole thing and replace the ending of each address with something like "Good night, Cleveland!" ;o)
Again.. the trash heap has spoken.
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6 comments:
think it's about time for "I'm mad, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"?
Well considering that 99% of the time I just sit here and piss and moan like an impotent ass the "I'm not gonna take it anymore" part of the statement falls a bit flat for me as it requires more action than whining on a blog! lol
You know, if they would just say "may America be blessed" or "may America continue to be blessed" I'd have no problem at all with that and I don't think anyone else would - but far be it for me to presume (someone always finds a reason to be discontented).
I agree, I don't get all pissy when they say so help me god. or even god bless the usa...or god bless you and the usa...can' hurt..and doesn't bother me..now if he came into my living room and said it i'd get a little huffy...
Well, Jackie Sue! You're going to be social one way or another aren't you? Glad to see you over here again. It's been awhile.
Sometimes I think I'm just determined to overanalyze the whole thing and should just let it lie but headlines just get me going sometimes. *shrugs*
While I agree with your thoughts slightly here Pom, (a bit presumtive to have God Bless Me after all, just because some big-wig said it? isn't He supposed to be doing that for us all along, according to popular Christian theology?)
Otherwise, I don't have a large issue with it, since you could make the argument that if the words are sincere, it's a good thing. If I told you "I'll light a candle for your sick friend", or "my next magical working will send healing energy to those in need" it's the same type of thing, just using different language. Good blessings are being wished, using the popular jargon.
One thing that I did like is that in Obama's speech, he mentioned Hindus along with a few major religions, plus "the unfaithful". While I would have liked to have also heard something like "Jews.etc..people of other faiths...and the faithless" I understand what he was trying to do to seem inclusive. To my recollection though, this is the first time I've heard a president acknowledge a non-monotheistic faith (Hindu) in a direct fashion. (thanks to my friend Nettle for also catching this)
A small quibble, perhaps, but still a step ahead in my mind.
Maebius,
Yes, it might seem a bit like splitting hairs to support one expression of faith but not another.
I too picked up on the "non-believers" portion of his speech and while I believe it was a step forward to have him acknowledge faiths outside of the Abrahamics I was left wondering which category I belong in. Perhaps "believers of all variety and non-believers"?
Then again, it's not for the president to decide which category I belong in - no matter who the president might be.
As always I enjoy your comments.
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