2016-11-18

Inundated With God
"The attack on America has brought out America's religious colors. The result is that it's true what they say. God is everywhere. On our billboards, in our newspapers, on TV. In fact, the way President Bush presents it, God is even a confirmed and universally accepted entity. The message of Americanism today is: you're not completely patriotic unless you sing 'God bless America.'

"The national religious fervor may stir up the American spirit, but it also leaves the Atheist and the Freethinker way out in the cold. The non believer is inundated with god in everything we see and hear. We, as a society, react with horror to stories of racial hatred towards Arab Americans. But no one seems to care how the Atheist feels. Non-believers are just as moritified and angry about senseless terrorism and genocide. But the nationwide turn to the supernatural is, in effect, a collective and official repudiation of Atheistic values and the non-believers' rights as American citizens. It seems to confirm a statement once made by former President Bush: "I don't consider Atheists to be American citizens."

"Must non believers retrench into foxholes until Americans rediscover their senses? Is there anybody out there who's willing to publically account for the nonbeliever's response to the terror attacks, and the value of a godless contribution to America? Atheists and Freethinkers are just as much Americans as everybody else. We're not out to tear down America's ethical and moral foundation. No matter how religious this country wants to be, all we want is an America driven by logic and rational thought."
-- palebluedot
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Too Much 'God Bless America'?
"Anyone else tired of seeing 'GOD BLESS AMERICA' all over the place? I wish people would stick to 'America the Beautiful' or something similar. If there were a God, he/she/it certainly DIDN'T bless us!"
--noodlegirl
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"I now cringe every time I hear politicians saying 'God Bless America' or other religious statements. I don't remember seeing/hearing as much "god speak" during the Gulf War. Nor do I remember our local politicians invoking god/prayer during any other recent local crisis--it's always been 'people are in our hearts and thoughts'--not 'lets take a minute to pray to god for people'. I think the President should unify the U.S. based on it's citizens love of family, home, freedom, democracy, and country, not their love of or belief in god."
-- Thomasina
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"I still don't know what I need to get me through this. And if invoking god or a belief that he/she/it ever has, is currently or may sometime in the future bless America helps others get through it... I'm really tempted to let them have it. It isn't hurting me. When/if it starts to (I'm a little afraid of seeing theocracy develop because we're fighting people who claim their god has identically blessed them), then I'll make some noise about it."
-- tscribe
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"I recognize that the quote 'God Bless America' means well, which gives me some feeling of pride; but the stark Christian tone in it reinforces my knowledge that atheists are a minority here. Being an atheist, I feel no reason to pray over the bombing. But I feel a great deal of rage that something that dramatic could find its way onto U.S. soil."
-- Lone Atheist
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Atheist Responses to 9/11
"I think anyone, atheist or not, responds to tragedy the same way others do. With disgust, unbelief that another human being could commit such an act against another, and the yearning to help in some way that benefits the survivors of such a disaster. Being atheist doesn't mean you have no feelings or morals, it merely means you believe in one less god than everyone else. You offer comfort to the bereaved, sympathy to those in mourning and do your best to help in any way you can. You try to explain to your children that not all people are capable of such monstrous behavior, and shield them as best you can from the ruthless media and any immediate danger, while telling them you'll do your best to always try to protect them."
-- sages
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"I personally just respond with horror and grief as I have seen in many. I applaud and respect the bravery of those who gave their lives to help others or are currently still helping, and all the others (including the passengers on the fourth plane) who worked to minimize human suffering and death as much as they possibly could. I am both comforted and impressed by the surge of human spirit, from the world's response to our own coming together while at the same time, I feel incredible sorrow because of the staggering number of dead, and every crying news anchor seemed to drive it in harder, even more than the eerily Hollywoodesque explosions did."
-- Ishie-1013
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