How exactly is it ridiculous? It's not even as if I disagree with you when it comes to the rest of that post. The point of comparison was that Obama saying "God bless" is an expression of his personal beliefs, he has a right to say that and that it's not really worth criticising as long as he's not harming anyone, and as far as I'm aware no one was aside from Richard Dawkins having five simultaneous heart attacks purely due to the mention of the word "God". That's all.
That's so weird. ABC caught footage of something streaking across the sky as well. Edit — I think it's funny how people are in a tiff over Obama expressing his religious views by having his own reverend give the invocation and by saying "God bless." I've got a feeling that the same people would've thrown a party if Obama was a Muslim and would've said "Praise be with Allah, and the United States."
And with that, Guantanamo Bay is now officially closed. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/22/obama-and-guantanamo-unde_n_159849.html Obama has ordered it to be shut down within the year.
It hasn't been decided, but wherever they are sent to it will be federal/maximum security to the tee.
They will probably send prisoners back to their countries of "origin". I heard about two prisoners will be send back to Belgium, at least. I understand, Guantanamo had to be closed, it also sends a strong message, but it's very dangerous business too. I certainly would feel safer with those terrorists in hands of the Americans than in the hands of the Belgian government. In my eyes, we've gotten to a point where prisonbreaks are fashionable right here. Just recently, we had to release a number of already convicted criminals due to a loophole in the law, something like a typing error. This should prove I'm not only critical towards America and that I'm not pro-muslim, if that's what Will is implying.
What's wrong with being pro Muslim anyway? Because someones Muslim doesn't make them bad people or terrorist.
Neither am I. In fact I'm pretty sure I'm an atheist(well I kind of think of atheism as my religion :|) Forget I said anything cause I don't know if I'm able to explain myself... Just Yeah.. haa Well I guess what I was saying is that because a person takes part in a religion doesn't necessarily mean they're a bad person and what not. There's some open minded people out there.
I surely wouldn't have. No religion should be there. I probably like Islam even less than I like Christianity. Both are disgusting and have no place in the public sphere. For the record, Dawkins is fine with Christmas carrols and the like, so he does not die at the mention of the word "God". Bringing a preacher up on the stage for a public ceremony, saying we are one nation under God, etc. is very discriminatory. If he went up there and said "we are one nation without God" and then they brought up an antitheist to take time to lead everyone in a moment of recalling how stupid and evil the idea of the Christian God is, then it would be seen as highly offensive. To say we are one nation under God should be seen as very offensive to atheists who believe they are part of the nation. A mass prayer session at a public event should be seen as a violation of the separation of church and state. It is ridiculous that a secular nation and a supposedly progressive president would do this. I do like Obama, but I do not think this is at all justifiable.
I do agree. I was thinking about this myself, I don't believe I've ever met someone who is religious and has an openmind, though, in person. For example, Obama, I'd be interested in his ideas on religion, certainly, but in private. Indeed, it also will certainly insult other religions (in other countries), I think atheists won't be insulted as much as dissapointed. It's like confirming to some hostile powers in others parts of the world that America is Christian and that can be seen as a reason to call them the enemy. (Which is ridiculous too, but it's reality)
I'm not sure, if the leader of my country said something that seemed to exclude me from his definition of the Nation I would be pretty offended I think. I do not take offense lightly, but this is one of the few times I think it is called for. I realize Obama is better with non believers than most, and generally does encourage them. He actually MENTIONED them, so it is a big improvement. But there is still a long way to go. And yes, Christians and Muslims hate each other and hate themselves, and the more either religion is politically condoned, the more the world suffers for it.
I'm all for separating church and state, but some of your arguments are kind of nonsensical. First of all, he's got to keep his religion to himself just so he doesn't offend someone else? I understand the logic, but he didn't say, "God is going to help me with my task." He said, "God bless America," when everything was finished. It's a completely different thing. Second, while I understand where everyone's coming from, having an atheist president would be just as offensive to religious people as having a religious president is to atheists. There's no middle ground and there never will be.
The idea isn't the religiosity of the President, it is the public endorsement of it. And it isn't just "God Bless America"...it is having a massive prayer session there. I am saying we should exclude religion in the public sphere for the most part, not spend mass amounts of time promoting or demeaning it.