Obama inauguration: Non-believers part of U.S. “patchwork heritage”
American Atheists Inc. is pleased with President Barack Obama’s reference to “non-believers” in his inauguration speech on Tuesday.
“For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers,” Obama said in his speech.
In a news release, Ed Buckner, president of American Atheists Inc., said atheists and others who could be labeled as “non-believers” should routinely be acknowledged by elected leaders as “the good, patriotic, taxpaying and contributing citizens we have always been.”
However, before Obama’s speech that acknowledgement has rarely been offered, the atheists organization said.
Buckner said Obama’s forthright acknowledgement is appreciated.
“President Barack Obama finally did what many before him should have done, rightly citing the great diversity of Americans as part of the nation’s great strength — and including ‘non-believers’ in that mix,” Buckner said in his statement.
Buckner also alluded to Obama’s mother, who was an atheist.
“His mother would have been proud, and so are we. Congratulations and best wishes on your presidency, Mr. Obama. And thanks for including us all, right from the start.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
As a naturalist (atheist), I am grateful that President Obama recognizes all citizens in the United States. It seems that the evangelical type Christians are not fair-minded. They want our President to only recognize the majority, who happen to be Christian. There is absolutely no evidence that Christians are superior to people with other belief systems.
This country has mostly Christian citizens, but it is not officially a “Christian nation”, as pointed out in the Treaty of Tripoli – signed by President John Adams and approved by every Senator in the U. S. Senate.
Think It Thru is a new Jewish outreach documentary TV show airing on the Inspiration Network, reaching over 80 million homes nationally and over 160 million homes worldwide. Think It Thru features Jewish Apologist Dr. Michael L. Brown, and presents a bold, balanced, revealing, sometimes humorous, and always thought provoking investigation of the history, interest and opinions of Jewish people worldwide. Join the growing number of people that have been impacted by the show by receiving two free episodes of Think It Thru on DVD, “In Search of the Messiah” and “A Bloody Religion?”
Get your two Free DVD’s here:
http://askdrbrown.org/landing_page/home
Atheists have served this country with distinction and valor in EVERY war.
We were there at Lexington and Concord, and in 1812.
We were there at the Alamo, and at Gettysburg and Shiloh.
We were there with Custer, and on the Main and at San Juan Hill.
We were there in the Philippines, and in the trenches and no-mans-land of WWI.
We were there on Normandy Beach, and we have members of the Chosen few.
I was there in Quan Loi, and WE are now in Baghdad.
We were there in all the small wars and conflicts this country has ever been in and we have always made up at least 10% of the military population.
10% of the wounded are Atheists.
10% of the POW’s are Atheists.
10% of the Killed in action were Atheists.
Yes we are part of this non-christian nation, and we are proud.