Sick and Tired of ‘God Bless America’

New York Times ^ | 02/08/2016 | Susan Jacoby

[SeekAndFind]

THE population of nonreligious Americans -- including atheists, agnostics and those who call themselves "nothing in particular" -- stands at an all-time high this election year. Americans who say religion is not important in their lives and who do not belong to a religious group, according to Pew Research Center, have risen in numbers from an estimated 21 million in 2008 to more than 36 million now.

Despite the extraordinary swiftness and magnitude of this shift, our political campaigns are still conducted as if all potential voters were among the faithful. The presumption is that candidates have everything to gain and nothing to lose by continuing their obsequious attitude toward orthodox religion and ignoring the growing population of those who make up a more secular America.

Ted Cruz won in Iowa by expanding Republican voter turnout among the evangelical base. Donald J. Trump placed second after promising "to protect Christians" from enemies foreign and domestic. The third-place finisher Marco Rubio's line "I don't think you can go to church too often" might well have been the campaign mantra. Mr. Rubio was first christened a Roman Catholic, baptized again at the age of 8 into the Mormon Church, and now attends a Southern Baptist megachurch with his wife on Saturdays and Catholic Mass on Sundays.

Democrats are only a trifle more secular in their appeals. Hillary Clinton repeatedly refers to her Methodist upbringing, and even Bernie Sanders -- a cultural Jew not known to belong to a synagogue -- squirms when asked whether he believes in God. When Jimmy Kimmel posed the question, Mr. Sanders replied in a fog of words at odds with his usual blunt style: "I am who I am. And what I believe in and what my spirituality is about, is that we're all in this together."

[SeekAndFind]

Bernie once referred to a "belief in God" that requires him to follow the Golden Rule -- a quote his supporters seem to trot out whenever someone suggests he's an atheist or agnostic.

[EternalVigilance]

“Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure (and) which insures to the good eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.”

— Charles Carroll, signer of the Declaration of Independence

[SkyDancer]

That should be our national anthem.

[Vigilanteman]

I'm sick and tired of Godless Libtards who think Atheism is the state religion to which all others must bend. Except, of course, Muslims.

[smoothsailing]

Sick and tired of the New York Times.

[BenLurkin]

I like this one:

O Beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

[ameribbean expat]

Mr. Sanders replied in a fog of words at odds with his usual blunt style: “I am who I am...”.

Sorry Bernie, that line’s already taken. But it does underscore an extremely high level of intellectual arrogance for someone of Jewish descent to appropriate it for himself.

[the_boy_who_got_lost]

According to her 11% of the population do not belong to a religious group. Probably a smaller percentage is actually offended by the words “God Bless America”.

I own the domain name GodBlessAmerica.us and am proud to own it! I get offers from people wanting to buy it ALL the time, no offers high enough for me to sell it though because I really want to develop it!

Although the phrase was used before Reagan was the one who really ushered in the phrase using it as a sign off after speeches in the white house.

[Boogieman]

Hey, I’m related to that guy on my mother’s side :)

[SeekAndFind]

Mr. Sanders replied in a fog of words at odds with his usual blunt style: "I am who I am...".

I prefer this guy when he says it...

[MasterGunner01]

Here ya go NYT: Sing the Russian national anthem every day at work and print “God Bless Vladimir Putin” on your front page every day to make you feel better. I know Mayor Bill de Blasio would probably give you an award.

[SkyDancer]

The song tells about America and what it’s like. The SSB does not, it’s about the flag that represents America.

[EternalVigilance]

He was the only Catholic singer of the Declaration.

[EternalVigilance]

Whoops. I meant “signer,” not “singer,” of course. lol...

[VanDeKoik]

I only dont like when people don’t put “may” in front of it.

But that’s just me.

[headless_thompson_gunner]

Like my brother, Barack Hussein,inshalla, I'm tired of all this, God Bless America stuff.

[pollywog]

Abraham Clark, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence , is my 6th removed grandfather. My Great Grandma was Harriet Clark...a great great granddaughter.

[originalbuckeye]

My favorite verse......

[Steve_Seattle]

"The presumption is that candidates have everything to gain and nothing to lose by continuing their obsequious attitude toward orthodox religion and ignoring the growing population of those who make up a more secular America."

That presumption died with Obama, and it died in the news and entertainment industries years ago. And it seems to have died in corporate America - have you noticed how many corporations have jumped on the gay marriage bandwagon? Christians seem to be the one group in society whose beliefs can safely be ignored, or even mocked.

[pilgrim]

The accelerated pace of this (rebellion against God) continues they may see the results of living in a Godless society sooner than later.

I pray for the young people being born now, my children, grand-children and great-grand-children!!!!