"We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - AND NON BELIEVERS"

[Taverner]

Thank you President

Thank you

:)

[NJmaverick]

1. A great man that starts off right out of the gate, being inclusive

:applause:

[jobycom]

yeah, that was minor, but as an atheist, i did smile at it. nt

[liberalmuse]

2. I think that's the first time atheists have been acknowledged positively by a President.

I was thrilled!

[Taverner]

4. EXACTLY

Bush 41 said we Atheists don't even deserve citizenship

Clinton and Bush 43 never acknowledged our existence

Obama includes us right off the bat, at a time when we were already feeling left out because of all the preachers on stage.

[jobycom]

5. Like that, I can't remember any other, but it seems like Clinton

made comments from time to time which included non-believers. Just never in such a prominet way as a keystone of his administrative policy.

[New Dawn]

35. We can't be ignored anymore...

Non-religious people make up 15-16% of the population according to most surveys and the numbers are always growing.

[tekisui]

3. I proclaimed "Thank You!" to my tv set when I heard that.

[Lint Head]

6. We are now truly free of the tyranny of the Bush crime family!!!!

:dem:

[luvspeas]

9. He was thinking of his mother...

There is a great passage in Dreams from My Father where he is talking about his move to Christianity where he talks about his mother not having a God, but giving him his sense of morality. He understands that some people don't need to pin their faith on a being.

[moobu2]

16. I think his father became an atheist as well

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. That was A+. I'd like to see some DUers comment on that.

[MineralMan]

8. Indeed!

It may have been the first time a President of The United States ever acknowledge the nonbelievers as citizens in full.

[Taverner]

10. Yep - GHWBush thought we should be stripped of citizenship

[Golden Raisin]

11. Not sure he meant it that way

but a discreet little shot across the bow of the fundie theocrats who recognize NO other religion (or non-belief) other than Jay-sus. Hooray for Muslims, Jews, Hindus and non-believers, all of whom are part of the fabric of this nation.

[Silent3]

12. It's a step in the right direction...

...but I'm still looking forward to the day when a President of the United States can give a major speech that doesn't end in "God bless the United States of America". That might be too much to ask, since I'll probably have to be 150 years old to see that day.

[ZombieHorde]

13. K&R

[frogmarch]

14. Good job, Mr. President!

I'd have preferred "realists" to the term "non-believers," but I won't be nit picky. :-)

[jimlup]

15. I was extremely impressed and even shocked by this!

Kudo's Mr. President!

[charlie]

17. Yeah, that helps

Another thing that helped was the revelation that Rick Warren has absolutely no idea how to preachify. His tin-eared wordcraft and high school emoting got thumped by an old man who could barely muster enough breath to be heard. I'm enjoying the notion that he's probably at home banging his head on his desk right now.

[K8-EEE]

18. I LOVED THAT!!!!!!!!!!

YEAH!

[laconicsax]

19. Yay! We do exist!

:thumbsup:

[JerseygirlCT]

20. Yup. I was very happy to hear that, too

And it's quite a contrast to Warren's invocation.

[Meshuga]

24. I still cannot understand the Rick Warren pick

for the invocation. The guy couldn't even bring himself to make it inclusive.

[JerseygirlCT]

26. I know. I do not get it. And Warren made a conscious choice

to be exclusive and small. Very Bush-like, actually. Shoving his own beliefs at the nation.

Obama looked even better by contrast, though. Maybe that was part of the decision???

Really, I'm clueless.

[Meshuga]

30. And Warren had his faux inclusiveness by including the shma in English

and the "Yeshua" was the cherry on top.

I think Obama is trying to show inclusiveness by inviting Warren but I hope Obama eventually draws the line at some point. Especially when the decision to include such a party has consequences and can affect other people's lives.

[JerseygirlCT]

31. Yes! That had me cringing, too. Awful

Transparent, manipulative...

I have no problem with Obama inviting all sorts of odious people into conversation. But this wasn't a meeting, this was an honor bestowed on someone definitely not worthy of honoring.

[OneBlueSky]

21. that may well have been the first time athiests have ever been acknowledged . . .

by an American president . . . good omen of things to come, I hope . . .

[skepticscott]

32. Well, we were acknowledged

by GHWB, but only to say that we shouldn't be equal citizens with everyone else. Hey, at least he knew we existed...

[Starry Messenger]

22. Yes! Thank you Mr. President!

I didn't realize how much that meant to me until I heard him say it.

[varkam]

23. Ditto

[tbyg52]

25. Wow. Just WOW!

Anybody know if that's the first time a President has said that?

[DeSwiss]

27. K&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DemBones DemBones]

28. I'm a Christian and I'm glad he said that.

We're all Americans.

[Strong Atheist]

29. Yes, that was a postive action.

:applause:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

33. Good for him!

I'm a non-believer because I don't have all the answers, and I admit that freely.

[redqueen]

34. I was so sick on Tuesday I could barely move...

but that line had me so amazed and pleased I posted about it in the lounge... if I was thinking clearly I'd have done it in here.

What a wonderful step in the right direction. Thank you, President Obama.

[TechBear_Seattle]

36. We are all non-believers, every last one of us

"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." -- Stephen Roberts