Obama: Non-Believers Are Americans, Too

[babylonsister]

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2009/01/20/non-believers-are-americans-too.aspx

Non-Believers Are Americans, Too.

Using inclusive language about religion is pretty much ritual now. If you're a politician giving a speech and you're going to cite one faith, you have to cite many--i.e., not just Christians, but Jews, Muslims, and Hindus as well. And that's a good thing.

But if the standards of polite political discourse now require accepting people who pray to god in different ways, it doesn't require recognizing those who choose not to pray at all. At least not yet. That made this line in Obama's address significant:

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus--and non-believers.

Perhaps this is another barrier, albeit a rhetorical one, that Obama intends to tear down over the next few years.

--Jonathan Cohn

[Orrex]

1. That amazed me

I can't remember another Presidential speech explicitly acknowledging non-believers as part of the nation.



We remember Bush Sr's feelings about atheists, after all...

[Swede]

2. Bless him!

Of course they are.

[Happyhippychick]

3. Atheists are people too? Who would have guessed?

:)

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Oooh! Call On Me!

I knew that! Really, i did! Now more people do! Cool!
GAC

[madmom]

22. I'll have to tell my m-i-l she'll have the vapors, because she'll have to acknowledge me! hehehe!

[FatDave]

32. There goes the neighborhood.

When you start letting the likes of me in, there's trouble.

[FrankieFunk]

4. Awesome!!!!

Finally, we get a president who realizes that atheists are a big part of this country and deserve to have their voices heard

[Arugula Latte]

14. Welcome to DU, FrankieFunk!

~ from an Atheist

:toast: :hi:

[Orrex]

20. Get lost, you filthy atheist scum!

:evilgrin:

Welcome to DU!
:hi:

[kwolf68]

5. Its a barrier that needs to come down

I can't stand religion to begin with, just a bunch of dogmatic assholes. However, I do sense that believers do find a 'greater purpose' in a 'higher being' and some (far too few) actually use their religion to do good works. Things like curing the sick, feeding the hungry, empathy, compassion, stewardship of the earth...all noble beliefs that are (though often ignored) paramount to most religions.

If religious people will start ACTING religious, this anti-religious person would have a lot less disdain for them.

A little less lecturing, tongue-waving, bible thumping, scape-goating, judging, hypocrisy, war-mongering, intolerance and hatred and maybe I'll take 'believers' more seriously than a Jim Jones trance-induced cult of wackos.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. He gave an extra shout out to muslims with another line.

Given this islamophobic country, and the islamophobic campaign that was ran against him, that was a great shout out as well.

[pleah]

I, for one, was very glad he said that.

It was a bit of a surprise, but, very welcome one.

Thanks for posting this.:hi:

to add: K&R

[Goblinmonger]

7. Perhaps I'm an easy date,

but that wording went a long way with me.

[Juche]

8. I was hoping he'd use the terms 'atheists and agnostics'

when he was giving that speech, but non-believers is a good start.

[Odin2005]

27. IMO using the term "non-beleivers" is better because atheism and agnosticism aren't religions.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. Don't forget the Unitarians ..... or Wiccans ...... or .......

It would be a shitload easier if we just skipped all the religion crap and left it secular.

[FrankieFunk]

12. The Goverment

Has for too long been blurring the lines between Separation of Church and State. I hope Obama changes that.

[foxfeet]

30. And so mote it be!

From a Wiccan who is adamantly opposed to the mixing of religion (even mine) and government.

[NOW tense]

11. I am outraged

he didn't take the time to list every religion. I didn't hear mine and now I don't know if I can support such a exclusive President.

[Zookeeper]

13. I'm so heartened that he remembered us!

It wasn't that long ago that Bush said that non-believers aren't "Real Americans."

[Myrina]

15. Yay!

BUT. He did fail to mention followers of the mighty Cthulu .... Hrrrmph. :silly:

[Shiver]

23. Ia Ia!

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!

[ShadesOfGrey]

16. Thank you Mr. President!

This non-believer loves THIS change, unlike the chimp who called me un-American even though I'm a DAR (Daughter of the American Revolution)!

[indie_voter]

17. Thank you Mr. President for acknowledging me as a citizen. n/t

[justsomeguy1973]

18. Less impact following an invocation of Jesus

I appreciate trying to throw us "non-believers" a bone. Honestly, I think he has it backwards though. I believe in reason, science, and rational thought. I'd consider religious people to be the "non-believers".

But that aside, starting this inauguration off in the name of Jesus, doesn't leave a good taste in my mouth. Even if you poorly pander to me for just a moment as an afterthought in your speech.

I support Obama, but don't need that condescending crap.

Does anyone else think non-believers is at best an awkward term? Perhaps instead mentioning atheists and agnostics would have been more appropriate?

[Zookeeper]

21. I use the term "non-believer" to describe myself most of the time...

sometimes I say, "Agnostic."

I grew quite weary of all of the God and jeebus references, but I'll take the "bone" he threw us. It's a nice change from being called un-American or un-patriotic for being a heathen.

[4 t 4]

26. I agree

I consider myself Agnostic as well. It was a great shout out never really thought about it much before until President Obama said that and I thought "yea we should be included too" I'm loving this and him.

[Zookeeper]

40. Yes, it was a surprise...

It was also a gracious gesture in the midst of all the benedictions, blessings, invocations, etc., etc., ETC.

:hi:

[justsomeguy1973]

29. Very true my friend.

While I don't use the term non-believer for myself... in fact, I find it a bit offensive. I do agree with you. Being invited to have a seat at the table (or inauguration in this case), even if it's at the kids table, is still something. Even an attempt to reach out is more than we've had before. You are right about that.

Cheers and lets hope for more movement forward on the inclusion of non-Christians and non-Jews in America and its government.

[Zookeeper]

39. Funny thing, my experience is that Christians are more shocked...

when I say "non-believer" than "Agnostic." Perhaps, it's the reminder that their religion is "belief," not fact.

My mother also goes pale when I say I'm a "non-Christian."

(I'm really too old to still get so much pleasure from shocking people. :blush: )

:toast:

[Owl]

19. Yes they are! Fantastic!

:woohoo:

[Odin2005]

24. Thank you, Mr. President! n/t

[Ghost in the Machine]

25. Off to the Greatest Page you go! K&R!

While some are moaning about the term "non believers", I'll proudly accept it. What do you think Atheism is, anyways? It's a non belief in an omnipotent being, which is what 'believers' believe in.

Some folks just need to find something, anything, to piss and moan about... :eyes:

[Odin2005]

31. Exactly "atheism" is a Greek word meaning "non-belief-in-god" in literal translation.

[mzmolly]

28. Absolutely.

We are a diverse nation of diverse beliefs and all voices should be heard.

[bertman]

33. Being someone who has certainly seen and felt the effects of EXclusion, it is no

surprise that President Obama, a self-proclaimed christian, a trained constitutional lawyer, and humanitarian-by-choice, would be reaching out to ALL Americans--even those of us who do not share a belief in a god.

He told us during the campaign that he is going to reach out to all Americans. This means he has exceeded expectations in the first fifteen minutes of his presidency.

A portent of things to come.

If I believed in the gods I'd say "Praise Zeus!!"

[reggie the dog]

34. I was very happy to be mentioned in a positive manner

[Coexist]

35. that made my day, more than anything else.

[wysi]

36. I was pretty pleased...

... even if the term was less than salubrious. :)

[varkam]

37. I caught that! I was pretty amazed that he decided to include us unwashed heathens.

It was within living memory that a sitting POTUS said that we shouldn't even be considered citizens.

[bigpenguin]

38. Yep.

I clapped right out loud alone in my living room.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for including all of us.

[tbyg52]

41. Has any president ever said that before? nt