God Bless America?

I received an advertisement from a conservative organization for a sign celebrating the 4th of July. The sign said "God Bless America." To which I replied:

Unlike countries in the Middle East, America is not a theocracy! Including God in expressions of patriotism, suggests otherwise. Let's keep the emphasis where it belongs -- on political freedom, not on religious faith.

After all, an atheist, as much as a theist, should be able to honor America for its political freedom and individual rights, but the sign "God Bless America" excludes him from its patriotic sentiments. It's as if a Christian were to promulgate a sign that said "CHRIST Bless America." Such a sign would exclude all those who were not Christian. It would exclude Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Unitarians, deists, agnostics and atheists.

America should recognize that it's unique value lies in its respect for all individuals, not just for those who believe in God. July 4th, after all, celebrates the Declaration of Independence, which refers to political freedom, not to religious worship and obedience to a higher authority.

We need a new (non-religious) sign. How about "Blessed Is America, Land of the Free"!

Post 1

Saturday, June 13, 2015 - 6:42pm

Well said!

Except for some of the younger people, once people become quite religious most of them have gone beyond the pale of reason. And not just religion. Most of those who live at any of the ideological extremes (excepting you and I of course :-) seem to be invested in their beliefs in a way that isn't open to change.

But putting out the reasons for seeing things more clearly, even if differently, is the only way our culture will change.... no matter how long that takes.

Post 2

Monday, June 15, 2015 - 2:01pm

The thing is, those folks who sent you the ad probably couldn't think of seperating God from freedom, hence the expressions "God-given rights, God-given freedom" they are so fond of using. They believe God gave them freedom, so, in their mind, anyone who is an atheist or "opposes God" is in opposition to freedom.

And, evidently, the tag-line "God damn America" didn't go over so well in focus groups.

Post 3

Tuesday, June 16, 2015 - 11:39am

Yes, the phrase "God damn America" was the one intoned by Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor. Talk about anti-patriotism! And don't think that the Obamas don't have some sympathy for Wright's statement. In 2008, when her husband was doing well in his campaign for the presidency, she said "for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country." So if her husband hadn't been successful in his bid for the presidency, well . . . there goes love of country!

Post 4

Tuesday, June 16, 2015 - 4:57pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7qGjXxX9O4

Ayn Rand on Tom Snyder's show: "God bless America."

Post 5

Saturday, June 20, 2015 - 8:38pm

Good find, Michael! And, yes, Rand does make a valid point here. That expression can be taken figuratively to mean the highest possible of blessings, although (unlike Rand) Christians take it literally.

I was saying only that it would be better to have a non-religious blessing that everyone could invoke regardless of their religious orientation.

Post 6

Sunday, June 21, 2015 - 4:14am