What’s the chance that Obama’s going to throw us all a curve ball tomorrow and announce something really huge, like an immediate and thorough investigation into the criminal activities of Bush and Cheney?
I realize it’s probably more likely that he’d tear the Bible in half with his bare hands while announcing, in what could best be described as a low satanic growl, that our beloved nation had been “punk’d” by the Devil, but I suppose it’s possible… Anything’s possible, right?
A bookie in Ireland is taking bets at 500:1 that Obama will, at some point during his speech tomorrow, say, “Always bet on black,” which I have too admit would be pretty fucking cool.
Oh, and speaking of Satan (as I was earlier), we’ve been getting a lot of traffic these past few days from people searching for things like “Obama + end times,” and “Obama evil.” We’re seriously seeing several searches along those lines coming through every hour. On the bright side, I guess it’s nice to have all the lunatics in our country on the same page for the first time in history, but, in all seriousness, it does make me fear for his safety and that of his family… And it probably doesn’t help matters any that groups like the American Humanist Association are taking out full-page ads in papers tomorrow, reminding people that Obama wasn’t raised a Christian.
I certainly think that they have every right too talk about their beliefs, and I can see how it might be a point of pride for them that Barack Obama has come to achieve so much without either relying on the Bible as a prop, or pandering to the likes of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, but I wonder if now is the best time. And I don’t just say that because I’m concerned for the safety of Obama and his family. I say that because there’s so much at stake right now. I agree that, at some point, we need to reaffirm that this is not a “Christian” nation, strictly speaking, but one founded upon the principle of religious freedom, but I can’t help but think it would be a distraction right now… So, as much as I might agree that “under God” should be taken back out of the Pledge of Allegiance, I think now, as we’re engaged in battle on so many fronts, it probably isn’t the time to position Christians and non-Christians against one another here at home.
And, yes, this post did take quite a few turns. Sorry about that, but sometimes, when I get started, I can’t stop.
6 Comments
Everybody’s crazy about something, I figure. Irrationality and coercion come naturally to all humans. Look at children.
I’ll one up you: I think the Pledge of Allegiance should be taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Both the things I just said make a lot of sense somehow. Right brain it.
I agree with you. I’m not a big one for pledges of allegiance. I’d settle for taking out the bit about God though, which was just kind of added in during the Cold War when we went overboard with the anti-communist witch hunt bullshit. But, yeah, I didn’t feel like getting into the bigger discussion in this thread about pledges in general. I like patriotism, and I love my country, but it’s not because of any pledge that I repeated as a child.
I’m hoping that Michelle Obama comes about and reveals that she’s a man.
I think making children start each school day by reciting a loyalty oath is dangerously nationalistic. Nationalism, as opposed to national pride, is, in my view, a chief contributor to war.
What on earth is the point of the pledge of allegiance? Listen to the sound of that: “pledge of allegiance…”
I wanted to see him knock Bush out. The subtle jabs just weren’t enough for me.
Was that from American Humanist or American Humorist? Somebody in PR needs there to lose their job. Besides being an embarrassing attempt to ride the Obama gravy train (nevermind his present faith and how he raises his children) his speech today of setting aside bickering and whatnot is in incredible opposition/contrast to their ad recounting childish ways.
I heard an NPR correspondent describe the tone of the event as the biggest church service in history. Maybe next year AH will give their man of the year award to Antony Flew for holding out until his 80s.