Obama Leaves God out of Thanksgiving Speech, Riles Critics

Article:
Critics of President Obama felt little holiday cheer after the president did not thank God in his Thanksgiving-themed weekly Internet address. They immediately took to Twitter and the Internet to voice anger and disbelief.

"Holy cow! Is that one screwed up or what?" columnist Sherman Frederick of the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote in a Thanksgiving-morning blog post.

"Somebody ought to remind Obama (and his speechwriter) that when Americans sit down around a meal today and give thanks, they give thanks to God."

Over on the website of , radio host Todd Starnes also took issue.

"His remarks were void of any religious references, although Thanksgiving is a holiday traditionally steeped in giving thanks and praise to God," Starnes wrote.

"The president said his family was 'reflecting on how truly lucky we truly are,'" Starnes said. "For many Americans, though, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on how blessed and thankful they are."

The popular website of London's Daily Mail has taken the issue global, with a story under the headline "What a Turkey! Outrage as Obama Leaves God Out of His Thanksgiving Address."

Obama mentioned God once in a closing "God bless you," to Americans watching the Internet address. However, the President explicitly thanked God earlier in the week in his written Thanksgiving proclamation, which called the holiday "one of our nation's oldest and most cherished traditions," and an occasion that "brings us closer to our loved ones and invites us to reflect on the blessings that enrich our lives."

"As we gather in our communities and in our homes, around the table or near the hearth, we give thanks to each other and to God for the many kindnesses and comforts that grace our lives. Let us pause to recount the simple gifts that sustain us, and resolve to pay them forward in the year to come," Obama wrote.

Ironically, the attacks on Obama came as the Republican White House hopefuls suspended their criticism of the president on Thursday in favor of a unified message of thanks to U.S. service members and their families.

Three of the Republican presidential candidates – Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum – issued Thanksgiving statements that omitted any references to God. Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain and Rick Perry mentioned God in their statements.

Obama, like his predecessors, records an address each week that focuses on an issue the White House wants to spotlight. The messages are typically posted on the Internet at the start of the weekend, but this week's address – with its Thanksgiving theme – was issued before the holiday.

In this week's address, delivered from the White House, Obama said, "We are especially grateful for the men and women who defend our country overseas," and he said, "We're also grateful for the Americans taking time from their holiday to serve in soup kitchens and shelters."

He acknowledged this Thanksgiving would be "more difficult than most" for many Americans because of the economy, but added, "No matter how tough things are right now, we still give thanks for that most American of blessings, the chance to determine our own destiny."

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First of all I hope everyone has had a great Thanksgiving, however you celebrate it (or if you're one of our friends overseas who don't)!

*facepalm* I guess according to those pundits I am not a real American?

I disagree with Obama about a lot of things, but I give him kudos on this. You do not need a deity to celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a relief to have a leader who, for once, does not bash you over the head with God on a holiday that is traditionally a private one celebrated in a myriad of ways. Both my deployments overlapped with Thanksgiving. On both days I was thankful for my family, friends, being alive, and the foreign/non-Christian contracted cooks (away from their home countries and families) who enabled me to have a Thanksgiving dinner even though I was in Afghanistan.

Why is this considered a legal dispute? I was commenting on a Yahoo article.

I think its Ok what he did. My family doesn't thank anyone but each other, and there's no ritual on how we do it, when it comes it comes.

I could see the body of your text, and I'm thinking you didn't quote it right. I could be wrong, but I didn't see anything else wrong with it. Would be nice to get an explanation.



If the OPs post is removed, why isn't the whole thread?

Originally posted by Equidae
Why is this considered a legal dispute? I was commenting on a Yahoo article.

Check your post to see what link you used in reference? There is a certain news source based in a certain gambling city out west there that will bring that restriction block automatically upon hitting enter. I've had it tag me twice now. I totally forgot the second time I used them as a story source. Anyway, if your link tripped it, removing the offending text or link should unblock your post immediately and automatically. It did for me both times this happened.


Hope that helps?

reply to post by Equidae


Obama Omits God From Thanksgiving Speech

Obama mentioned God once in a closing "God bless you," to Americans watching the Internet address. However, the President explicitly thanked God earlier in the week in his written Thanksgiving proclamation, which called the holiday "one of our nation's oldest and most cherished traditions," and an occasion that "brings us closer to our loved ones and invites us to reflect on the blessings that enrich our lives."

If you watch the video, you'll see he could care less about the Thanksgiving Holiday, he's simply going into his fourth year as Candidate Obama.

Originally posted by Equidae
Why is this considered a legal dispute? I was commenting on a Yahoo article.

????? ABC news posted a similar article . Legal dispute ??

Still can't get it working, but people seem to have read it so here was my comment:


First of all I hope everyone has had a great Thanksgiving, however you celebrate it (or if you're one of our friends overseas who don't)!

*facepalm* I guess according to those pundits I am not a real American?

I disagree with Obama about a lot of things, but I give him kudos on this. You do not need a deity to celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a relief to have a leader who, for once, does not bash you over the head with God on a holiday that is traditionally a private one celebrated in a myriad of ways. Both my deployments overlapped with Thanksgiving. On both days I was thankful for my family, friends, being alive, and the foreign/non-Christian contracted cooks (away from their home countries and families) who enabled me to have a Thanksgiving dinner even though I was in Afghanistan.

So, he actually didn't leave God out, his "critics" are just saying he did, even though he mentioned giving thanks and being thankful and being grateful several times... Do people have to be told who to be grateful to? Isn't this the land of religious freedom? Where people can choose whether or not their gratitude is toward God or not?

And, the abc source also says:

Three of the Republican presidential candidates – Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum – issued Thanksgiving statements that omitted any references to God. Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain and Rick Perry mentioned God in their statements.

I don't see any issue with Obama's speech. People who are are just looking for trouble.

God should be left out of everything and kept inside a church where it belongs.

2nd

reply to post by Equidae

I have to say, I disagree in a huge way on this one and here is why. Obama isn't simply the leader of just another nation. He's the leader of the United States. The money his Treasury prints acknowledges God. The Supreme Court his nation looks to acknowledges God. The Congress also has symbols and ceremonies which don't forget a nod to the Big Guy. Obama chose to run for leadership of a nation which last numbers clearly showed far north of 80% for Christian or related Faiths. If he doesn't like that aspect of his job, some of us would love to see him quit. I'd consider it the ultimate Christmas gift, myself.

Obama leaving God out isn't an innocent mistake. Not with how many times he's now done it and been publicly and politically called on it. Even he can't be that tone deaf as to be purely accidental at this point. Obama leaving out God is like the Leadership of Turkey snubbing Islam. BOTH nations are secular in Government while the nations are anything but, in different Faiths. It'd be wrong in Turkey, and it's wrong here. Sorry Obama...another FAIL. At least act American while in America, eh?

Its called the seperation of church and state. The name should have never appeared on our money or in our schools.

Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
reply to post by Equidae

 

I have to say, I disagree in a huge way on this one and here is why. Obama isn't simply the leader of just another nation. He's the leader of the United States. The money his Treasury prints acknowledges God. The Supreme Court his nation looks to acknowledges God. The Congress also has symbols and ceremonies which don't forget a nod to the Big Guy. Obama chose to run for leadership of a nation which last numbers clearly showed far north of 80% for Christian or related Faiths. If he doesn't like that aspect of his job, some of us would love to see him quit. I'd consider it the ultimate Christmas gift, myself.

Obama leaving God out isn't an innocent mistake. Not with how many times he's now done it and been publicly and politically called on it. Even he can't be that tone deaf as to be purely accidental at this point. Obama leaving out God is like the Leadership of Turkey snubbing Islam. BOTH nations are secular in Government while the nations are anything but, in different Faiths. It'd be wrong in Turkey, and it's wrong here. Sorry Obama...another FAIL. At least act American while in America, eh?

If you obligate our leaders to pay homage to God, then why not just require a religious test while we're at it? Belief is not inherent to this country. Thomas Paine is considered to be the intellectual founder of the United States, and many of his ideas found their way into the Constitution. Thomas Paine was also an ardent atheist.

I would hope that our litmus test for freedom of speech and practice is not based on the actions of Turkey (who can't even acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.)

Originally posted by AllUrChips
Its called the seperation of church and state. The name should have never appeared on our money or in our schools.

It's a pretty late addition. In God We Trust wasn't implemented until 1956 as an anti-communist measure. The origin of the phrase can't be traced earlier than 1860's. E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One) is a sentiment much more in line with the spirit of the country's founding.

It's ironic how many of the Christian fundamentalists want to go back to what the Constitution dictates. That also means nixing In God We Trust off the money, but I would bet they'd let that slide

en.wikipedia.org...

Can anyone say "Antichrist?"

Even if he's not THE Antichrist, he certainly is anti-Christ.

Originally posted by Equidae
Still can't get it working, but people seem to have read it so here was my comment:


First of all I hope everyone has had a great Thanksgiving, however you celebrate it (or if you're one of our friends overseas who don't)!

*facepalm* I guess according to those pundits I am not a real American?

I disagree with Obama about a lot of things, but I give him kudos on this. You do not need a deity to celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a relief to have a leader who, for once, does not bash you over the head with God on a holiday that is traditionally a private one celebrated in a myriad of ways. Both my deployments overlapped with Thanksgiving. On both days I was thankful for my family, friends, being alive, and the foreign/non-Christian contracted cooks (away from their home countries and families) who enabled me to have a Thanksgiving dinner even though I was in Afghanistan.

First off, thank you for your service. Now, on to, "You do not need a deity to celebrate Thanksgiving."

That's the WHOLE point.

Originally posted by OldCorp

Originally posted by Equidae
Still can't get it working, but people seem to have read it so here was my comment:


First of all I hope everyone has had a great Thanksgiving, however you celebrate it (or if you're one of our friends overseas who don't)!

*facepalm* I guess according to those pundits I am not a real American?

I disagree with Obama about a lot of things, but I give him kudos on this. You do not need a deity to celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a relief to have a leader who, for once, does not bash you over the head with God on a holiday that is traditionally a private one celebrated in a myriad of ways. Both my deployments overlapped with Thanksgiving. On both days I was thankful for my family, friends, being alive, and the foreign/non-Christian contracted cooks (away from their home countries and families) who enabled me to have a Thanksgiving dinner even though I was in Afghanistan.

First off, thank you for your service. Now, on to, "You do not need a deity to celebrate Thanksgiving."

That's the WHOLE point.

No it isn't. Thanksgiving is about being thankful. A deity is not required.

I wish I could have read the article but based on the posts here I have one simple question:

When did Thanksgiving become a religious celebration? It is not nor has ever been a religious holiday it was is and continues to be a National holiday. As posted above no deity is required.

This is news?

One day the people are upset because there is no seperation between church and state and the next its headlined on MSM when he does seperate the two.

I guess leaving out god in a thanksgiving speech makes him the antichrist right? (Just waiting to see that thread)

Since I'm having a Bruno Mars Day - - I'll address everyone all at once.

There are some very interesting facts about the origin of Thanksgiving in America. It is believed that the celebration of Thanksgiving in America was probably originated from the harvest-home ceremonies. These harvest-home ceremonies were originally held in England. During such ceremonies certain days were reserved to thank God for blessing the people with plentiful crops and bountiful harvest.

Therefore later it became a tradition, according to which, even in modern times this holiday takes place late in the Fall Season, after the crops have been collected. Although the form of celebrations of thanksgiving has changed a lot with the time but traditionally still it is the time for serious religious contemplation, church services and prayers. These days the Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in the United States as a family affair, complete with sumptuous dinners and happy reunions and get together.

However the fact about the origin of the Thanksgiving is that the first observance of Thanksgiving in America was entirely religious in nature and it did not involve any form of feasting. It was on 4th December 1619 when a group of 38 English settlers arrived at Berkeley Plantation on the James River...a location, which is now known as Charles City, Virginia. The charter of this group required that the day of their arrival to that place, be observed as a Day of Thanksgiving to God. ~ Thanksgivingnovember.com

Don't like that answer? How about Wikipedia's entry?

Thanksgiving Day is an annual holiday celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. Historically, thanks have been directed towards God, accompanied with feasting and prayer. ~ Wiki

I'm sorry to disagree with you guys, but Thanksgiving was originally observed as a totally religious celebration. The move to secularize religious holidays has been growing for many years. Some are calling Thanksgiving the "Fall Harvest Feast" or some such nonsense, but that won't change the origin of the holiday.

We are fast approaching the "Winter Festival" season too; some might recognize this as CHRISTmas. This is not a celebration of the Winter Solstice, it's not secular X-Mas, but rather a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ - my Lord and Savior. Even though research suggests Christ was not actually born on Dec. 25th, that is still the traditional date of the celebration, and is the reason for the holiday.

Was Jesus born on December 25, or in December at all?

Although it’s not impossible, it seems unlikely. The Bible does not specify a date or month. One problem with December is that it would be unusual for shepherds to be “abiding in the field” at this cold time of year when fields were unproductive. The normal practice was to keep the flocks in the fields from Spring to Autumn. Also, winter would likely be an especially difficult time for pregnant Mary to travel the long distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem (70 miles). ~ Source

I understand that many of you don't believe in God; that's OK, because you will soon enough. I don't hold that against any of you, nor am I going to say that you are going to Hell. In the first place, it's not my place to judge who is deserving of that fate; in the second place, I'm a believer in Universal Dispensation. Pastor Rob Bell is a friend of mine, and we both believe that the traditional view of Hellfire and damnation is incorrect. Hell was created for the Devil and the rebellious angels, and NOT for the souls of mankind. God is a loving Father, and there is no way - in my opinion - that He would send His children into eternal damnation because they never heard the true Word. Assuming WWIII doesn't start over Iran and Syria, I hope to have him on as a guest on my show in the near future to talk about this. I was going to go into this, but I'll save it for another time.

Anyway, to sum it up, despite the efforts of Atheists to secularize traditionally religious holidays, to deny their true origins is a failure of Ignorance Denial.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000




The ultimate Christmas gift indeed.

Originally posted by ImmortalThought
This is news?

One day the people are upset because there is no seperation between church and state and the next its headlined on MSM when he does seperate the two.

I guess leaving out god in a thanksgiving speech makes him the antichrist right? (Just waiting to see that thread)

The separation of church and state does not require the US to be a secular nation. The only thing that means is that there is to be no national religion that has a part in dictating policy. An avowed Atheist will NEVER be elected President because 80% of the American public identifies with the Christian faith in one form or another.