On this day honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. and celebrating our President's inauguration, I am still an unashamedly proud citizen of the U.S., although I often disagree with some policies. That's why I am so proud to be a citizen here; it's ok to disagree, it's ok to vote for change, and it's all right to be free to express my views. I also love that we have (or should I say, try to have) separation of church and State. I have nothing against worship, religion, or praying. I do lots of that. I worship as an involved person who is Jewish, and I believe it's ok to worship as one chooses, or to not worship at all. I have friends of all faiths, and love quite a few people who are atheists or agnostics.
All of this freedom to worship is another reason I love the U.S.A. Now that I have hopefully established that I am a true patriot, I need to express disappointment that our Invocation at the Presidential Inauguration included a reference by Myrlie Evers asking for blessings for our country and it's people by Jesus. I respect that this is how Myrlie prays, but I am not Christian, my friends who are Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Jews are not Christian. Most of us are Americans though. Christian and American are not equivalent. Many Christians are citizens of other countries. But due to some vile attacks from people on the far right, President Obama has had to prove he is not only born in America, but a Christian. So were the Invocation and Inaugural Luncheon Prayers meant to affirm to the American Public that the majority religion isn't threatened?
How is that what determines being an American? I truly wish all of us were included in a generic faith based prayer.
At the luncheon comprised of our President, Vice-President, former presidents, First Ladies, and other people in government the Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church invoked the Trinity in asking for blessings. So there were some Jewish goverment officials there. Were they to decide, "Well after all we are Americans; this prayer includes our belief system?" Just pondering: Do we still have separation of Church and State?
"Under God" was added to the Pledge in 1954, in God we trust" has been on our money since 1864, churches are tax dodges, we have faith-based government funded programs, and Christian-based abortion laws. Apparently, there hasn't been separation for a long time.
ReplyDeleteThe right to not have any religion is even less respected than even the right to not be a Christian. Senior Bush said that he didn't consider atheists citizens.