"Well La-Dee-Freaking-Da!"
Posted on 01/14/2005 3:32:57 PM PST by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - An atheist group is criticizing President Bush for saying he can't see how one can be president without a relationship with the Lord. Bush's comments were "divisive," they say, and an insult to those who don't believe in religious creeds or a deity.
Bush's interview with the Washington Times "demonstrates clearly that he does not respect the diversity of the country, and the fact that nonbelievers and so-called 'seculars' are one of the fastest growing segments of American society," said Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists.
"He just doesn't get it," said Johnson, "and he seems to ignore the fact that in our Constitution we do not have a religious test for those seeking public office."
When Washington Times' editor-in-chief Wesley Pruden asked him about the role of prayer in next week's inauguration and what he thinks is the proper role of his personal faith in the public arena, Bush said: "First of all, I will have my hand on the Bible. I read the article today, and I don't - it's interesting, I don't think faith is under attack.
"I think there are some who worry about a president who is faith-based, a person who openly admits that I accept the prayers of the people, trying to impose my will on others. I fully understand that the job of the president is and must always be protecting the great right of people to worship or not worship as they see fit," Bush said.
"That's what distinguishes us from the Taliban. The greatest freedom we have - or one of the greatest freedoms - is the right to worship the way you see fit. And on the other hand, I don't see how you can be president - at least from my perspective, how you can be president, without a - without a relationship with the Lord," he added.
Johnson was also offended by Bush's claim that the difference between America and the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan was simply "the right to worship the way you see fit."
"The real distinction between American and governments like the Taliban is that at least on paper, we have a Constitutional commitment to separation of government and religion," she said. "We have freedom of and freedom from religion."
Policies like the president's faith-based initiative or efforts to keep the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance show that Bush is dedicated to using the power of the state to advance religion, argued Dave Silverman, communications director for American Atheists.
"He wants all Americans, including over 30 million non-religious citizens, to subsidize religion-based social programs, and he wants to protect ceremonial religious rituals like the post-1954 Pledge of Allegiance," said Silverman.
Silverman accused Bush of trying to turn the government into a "religion bully."
"President Bush goes far beyond keeping his faith to himself. He's trying to turn our government into a 'religion bully' where the state enforces religious belief and religious correctness. That's un-American," he concluded.
Silverfish was on Joe country last night. He is an anti-American punk.
Could you clarify exactly how you feel about her.
I`m getting a negative impression here.(ha ha)
To "BFD" and "TFB", I add a hearty "WFD"!!!
Or for a slightly cleaner version from Stripes, "Lighten up, Francis..."
I'll help you with the later.
LVM
Wow... for people who don't believe in God, they sure are quick to take offense at those who do. I mean if He doesn't exist, what President Bush said about his faith should beside the point and it certainly should have drawn a yawn instead of howls of indignant protests. Are atheists in fact conceding what other people believe matters to them more than they think? It sure looks like it.
"I'm beginning to think that atheists have a knee-jerk-offense-taking syndrome."
Yes. They tend to be highly anxious neurotic people who are frightened by the very concept of reliance on a higher power.
People like these two twits are pimples on the ass of the body politic and normal people can be forgiven for the temptation to go out of our ways to offend them at every possible opportunity.
They pretty much prove the President's point with their mindless, bitter, hateful comments.
Because atheism is the least logical religion of all....
Well, Ellen. Feel free to get an atheist elected. Then they can make whatever comments they care to about their beliefs. Otherwise, you sound like a fussbudget.
Atheists want attention and will do anything to get it. Does this sound like a bunch of two year-olds? Uh huh.
"Well La-Dee-Freaking-Da!"
He doesn't hide it under a bushel, nor does he apologize.
May we all be as bold.
Whoa! Freedom FROM religion????
When this woman fell out of the stupid tree, she must have hit EVERY branch on the way down!
GOD BLESS GEORGE BUSH, AND THE ATHEISTS REMARKS OFFENDS ME
"...we do not have a religious test for those seeking public office."
Someone needs to tell the stupid atheists that "we do not have a religious test for those seeking public office." The president can believe anything he wants!
These people would be offended no matter what. The good thing is that the more regular people hear from these hysterical folks, the better for our side.
Well, Madeleine Murray O'Hare died and someone had to pick up the torch.
In a related story, Bush's remark on crime offends criminals. Film at 11.
>Are atheists in fact conceding what other people believe
>matters to them more than they think?
When you live out atheism, this is what you do, you become man-centric.
>"We have freedom of and freedom from religion."
Atheists are too quick to keep Christians from their "of" in the name of their own "from".
>He wants all Americans, including over 30 million
>non-religious citizens, to subsidize religion-based social
>programs...
Which *are* the most effective when you look at the hard numbers.
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