THANKSGIVING REMARKS: Obama talks for 3 minutes, never mentions GOD.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I would like to see a President go an entire term (or two) without mentioning God.

It is not a religious holiday. If it WERE a religious holiday it would exist in far more countries than the USA (Canada has a pansie-@ss thanksgiving in October which is about like St Patricks Day here, maybe less) and it would have been celebrated for a lot longer.

Religion should stop trying to hijack holidays for profit.

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

**** One upsetting and antagonising post and several quoting same removed. Parts of the replies returned below *****

Patrick Henry

Ratifier of the U.S. Constitution

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."

--The Trumpet Voice of Freedom: Patrick Henry of Virginia, p. iii.

"The Bible ... is a book worth more than all the other books that were ever printed."

--Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry, p. 402.

Benjamin Rush

Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Ratifier of the U.S. Constitution

"The gospel of Jesus Christ prescribes the wisest rules for just conduct in every situation of life. Happy they who are enabled to obey them in all situations!"

--The Autobiography of Benjamin Rush, pp. 165-166.

Samuel Adams

Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Father of the American Revolution

"And as it is our duty to extend our wishes to the happiness of the great family of man, I conceive that we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world that the rod of tyrants may be broken to pieces, and the oppressed made free again; that wars may cease in all the earth, and that the confusions that are and have been among nations may be overruled by promoting and speedily bringing on that holy and happy period when the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and all people everywhere willingly bow to the sceptre of Him who is Prince of Peace."

--As Governor of Massachusetts, Proclamation of a Day of Fast, March 20, 1797.

James Madison

John Quincy Adams

6th U.S. President

"The hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith. Whoever believes in the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus shall prevail throughout the earth. Never since the foundation of the world have the prospects of mankind been more encouraging to that hope than they appear to be at the present time. And may the associated distribution of the Bible proceed and prosper till the Lord shall have made 'bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God' (Isaiah 52:10)."

--Life of John Quincy Adams, p. 248.

William Penn

Founder of Pennsylvania

"I do declare to the whole world that we believe the Scriptures to contain a declaration of the mind and will of God in and to those ages in which they were written; being given forth by the Holy Ghost moving in the hearts of holy men of God; that they ought also to be read, believed, and fulfilled in our day; being used for reproof and instruction, that the man of God may be perfect. They are a declaration and testimony of heavenly things themselves, and, as such, we carry a high respect for them. We accept them as the words of God Himself."

--Treatise of the Religion of the Quakers, p. 355.

John Adams

2nd U.S. President and Signer of the Declaration of Independence

"Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God ... What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be."

--Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, Vol. III, p. 9.

"The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God."

--Adams wrote this on June 28, 1813, in a letter to Thomas Jefferson.

Thomas Jefferson

3rd U.S. President, Drafter and Signer of the Declaration of Independence

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever; That a revolution of the wheel of fortune, a change of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Supernatural influence! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in that event."

--Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, p. 237.

"I am a real Christian – that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ."

--The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, p. 385.

John Hancock

1st Signer of the Declaration of Independence

"Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. ... Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us."

--History of the United States of America, Vol. II, p. 229.

Benjamin Franklin

Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Unites States Constitution

"Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshipped.

That the most acceptable service we render to him is in doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever sect I meet with them.

As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, is the best the world ever saw, or is likely to see;

But I apprehend it has received various corrupting changes, and I have, with most of the present dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble. I see no harm, however, in its being believed, if that belief has the good consequence, as probably it has, of making his doctrines more respected and more observed; especially as I do not perceive, that the Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the unbelievers in his government of the world with any peculiar marks of his displeasure."

--Benjamin Franklin wrote this in a letter to Ezra Stiles, President of Yale University on March 9, 1790

George Washington

1st U.S. President

"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."

--The Writings of Washington, pp. 342-343.

John Adams

Edited November 25, 2011 by Penguin_ie

[The_Dude 1,142]

i thought it was about eating until you almost burst and watch nfl football.

Don't forget about Texas - Texas A&M game! Too bad Tejas won

Regarding the OP, what is your real issue with the president not mentioning god? Thanksgiving is not a religious holiday, so It would seem inappropriate to inject religion into a decidedly secular holiday. I would think it would be a bigger issue if he DID try and insert religion into a speech about Thanksgiving.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

SOmetimes when you take five minutes to check the accuracy of these type quotes you find outright fraud or misrepresentation.....

in this case, your quotes, whether fake or not did not even prove your claim that : Most of the founders were atheists or agnostics.

Antagonizing statement toward one faith, in no way suggests a disbelief in God or supreme creator,..... especially when you combine other statement by these same exact men, some of which have been earlier posted.

So again I ask, where is the proof these men doubted a Creator?

Since you used Thomas Jefferson let me ask, what did Jefferson mean when he wrote "Endowed by our creator"?

Who cares? They also provided for separation of church and state, a very good move that said "We are Christians but we arew not going to use the government to force our beliefs on you" Their personal beliefs have no place in government and need not be mentioned by a President, ever.

[Danno 1,228]

Who cares? They also provided for separation of church and state, a very good move that said "We are Christians but we arew not going to use the government to force our beliefs on you" Their personal beliefs have no place in government and need not be mentioned by a President, ever.

Thats one way to run a country however this country has a completely different history and set of traditions.

ThanksGiving has always had a spiritual foundation.... after all who would we be thanking and who would these "blessing" be coming from?

What do you base your opinion on when you say the holiday is not religious in nature?

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

[Danno 1,228]

Well Jefferson surely did not believe in the Big PUS$Y (Perfect Universal Super Skyward Yeshua)...What you have to understand is pre-Darwin, pre-Big Bang, pre-Periodic Table of Elements, it was very difficult to have a free thinking mind. Jefferson seems to be very close to anti-religion and if he was around today he'd obviously be an atheist.

In other words.... if Jefferson were alive today he would agree with you though there is no evidence he did back then.

Now we are getting somewhere.

IN fact, everyone would agree with you if they could only know what you know.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thats one way to run a country however this country has a completely different history and set of traditions.

ThanksGiving has always had a spiritual foundation.... after all who would we be thanking and who would these "blessing" be coming from?

What do you base your opinion on when you say the holiday is not religious in nature?

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

1. Religious holidays are not declared by temporary residents of the US white house

2. It is not a holiday in other predominantly Christian countries.

[SuperDuper! 230]

I don't care. He'll be out of office next year.

People were saying this 4 years ago about George Bush, and welcoming Obama in.... How many 4 year cycles can we just keep throwing away, hoping for a Savior President to arrive?

We'll just end up dead while waiting.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

People were saying this 4 years ago about George Bush, and welcoming Obama in.... How many 4 year cycles can we just keep throwing away, hoping for a Savior President to arrive?

We'll just end up dead while waiting.

Sad, but true.

[Danno 1,228]

1. Religious holidays are not declared by temporary residents of the US white house

2. It is not a holiday in other predominantly Christian countries.

I had hoped you might offer a bit more than your thoughts but since you have not, let me follow up on your most odd point.

-what does holidays in other countries have to do with our holidays and traditions?

Edited November 26, 2011 by Danno

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

People were saying this 4 years ago about George Bush, and welcoming Obama in.... How many 4 year cycles can we just keep throwing away, hoping for a Savior President to arrive?

We'll just end up dead while waiting.

Anyone expecting salvation from any member of the federal government is a fool. The temporary occupant of the White House has never been permitted to affect the economics of my household. I am responsible for that.

And yes, we will all end up dead.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I had hoped you might offer a bit more than your thoughts but since you have not, let me follow up on your most odd point.

-what does holidays in other countries have to do with our holidays and traditions?

You will find that most of life's disappointments have their roots in unrealistic expectations.

Why would I add more than my thoughts when asked for my thoughts? Perhaps you expected me to waste my time searching the internet for articles and quotes to post here to change your mind? Sorry. I have no such intent or desire, nor would you change your mind, so I will not bother. If my thoughts on the subject are not enough for you...I'm OK with that.

You contend it is a "religious holiday" Unless it is based on a religion that exists ONLY in the USA it would be celebrated in other countries with a predominance of the same religion (Christmas, Easter, Hannukah, Passover, etc.) It would also have been established by the religion, not by a politician seeking re-election in less than a year.

Edited November 26, 2011 by Gary and Alla

[MyLittlePony 340]

Get used to him being around for another term.

[rlogan 2,036]

Now for a little History lesson for you.

Try reading the accounts of William Bradford, governor of Plymouth Colony, who wrote of the Thanksgiving celebrations in the 1620's. It's ironic given your avatar especially, since the colony was decimated by the communist society they were forced into with the Mayflower Compact. The adult males were forced to sign before they left the ship. This was because the colonists had originally invested in stock ownership of a colony that was supposed to be established in Virginia, with each investor sharing in plantation profits beginning four years after landing in proportion to their investment. But they were forced to colonize in Massachussets instead, and did so at the former site of an Indian village wiped out by plagues introduced by fishermen who came before the colonists.

I think it was 1623 after near total annihilation from starvation that they finally allowed colonists to plant individual plots of their own and reap the rewards of their own labor. Bradford wrote about the vanity and conceit of Plato's theory that seizing everyone's property and holding it in common would be an ideal society.

If anything, Thanksgiving should be a rememberance of thanking our lucky stars we are not communists and starving to death.

[HannahP 119]

It is not a religious holiday. If it WERE a religious holiday it would exist in far more countries than the USA (Canada has a pansie-@ss thanksgiving in October which is about like St Patricks Day here, maybe less) and it would have been celebrated for a lot longer.

...wait...have you actually celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving? I have. Probably for more years than your first marriage lasted.

It's the same damn thing. Including (the admittedly lesser sport of) Canadian football. With turkey. Ham. Stuffing. Potatoes. And having to deal with your unfortunate extended family and in-laws.

I don't even get why you'd compare it to St Patrick's Day?