Who else is happy about Obama's Shout Out to the Atheists?

[JCMach1]

:toast: :bounce:


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.

[graywarrior]

1. Me!

[sasquatch]

14. Sorry you don't qualify I'm afraid

:(

[graywarrior]

16. Since when!?

[sasquatch]

17. You know when

[graywarrior]

19. Nope

I don't

guess you don't either

[Owl]

34. Me too!

[bigwillq]

2. Me!

:bounce:

[KurtNYC]

3. You mean when he said "non-believers" ? I think that one can be spiritual

without being part of one of the mainstream religions he listed. So it seems like a false choice to me -- either you are Christian, etc, etc. or you just don't believe.

[JCMach1]

4. Obviously casting a broad net there...

[jobycom]

6. There were a few thousand variations of belief and non-belief he completely ignored!!!

What about the atheist Unitarians who are not spiritual necessarily but prefer the social unity and networking opportunities of structured religion? Or how about the rural Methodists who may not be full believers but who have pantheistic tendencies but attend their local United Methodist Church because Mrs. Curry makes the best biscuits at their pot-luck dinners?

Crucify the close-minded oppressor for his limited ideals! Vive Pot-Luckers!!

[JCMach1]

9. Exactly: Jungian, Sufi-influenced, non-practicing Unitarian Here

Oh yeah and I have Norse tattoos and small shrines to Hanuman, Buddha and the Chinese Goddess of tranquility in my house...

And yes, I also agree with your religious ideals: METHODISTS HAVE THE BEST POT-LUCKS!

[FloridaJudy]

26. I'm going to have to try the Methodist pot lucks

I just got back from an inauguration party at my church. Gak! Some Unitarians try to sneak tofu into everything. Really, whoever made the frickin' tofu/celery chili should have warned us! I'm going to be tasting that for days.

[JCMach1]

37. Unitarian pot-lucks are best avoided

:(

Way too many salads and entirely too much tofu...

If God had wanted us to eat tofu regularly, he would have made us ALL Japanese.

[FloridaJudy]

48. But we make kick butt quiche

Except for the vegans. PSA to vegans: do not attempt to make quiche, okay? I don't care how great a substitute you think you've found, those of us familiar with the taste of real eggs and real cheese are not going to like it. Stick with the roasted eggplant, the ginger slaw or the hummus. We really like the hummus.

PSA to all vegetarians: except when serving crudités, celery is a garnish or an accent. It should never overwhelm the flavors of everything else. If you see a recipe, and the major ingredient is celery, put the recipe down and choose another one. Lasagna should taste like lasagna, and chili should taste like chili. Neither of them should taste like celery.

You may now resume cooking. Thank you.

[Kajsa]

33. Yeah they do!

:D

[Deep13]

22. One can also decline to be spiritual. nt

[Kashka-Kat]

28. hmmm maybe he meant "belief" as in dogma - guess Id consider myself more a spiritual "experiencer"

instead of a "believer", having a sense of connectedness at times to life force energy/living things but without having any need really to define it or belong to a congregation.

I don't mean to be nitpicky,or to suggest that you should define words or yourself in any particular way - being a poet/writer it's just an interesting for me to consider words and meanings and such, that's all :-

[kentauros]

5. I did notice and was happy to hear it

as well as his inclusion of Muslims, Hinduism and I think Buddhism :D

Just including Muslims alone would have caused the meltdown of all the Freepers out there ;)

I'm not an Atheist, but I did notice all those digs at the former pResidency.

[PassingFair]

7. I would have preferred "agnostics and atheists"...

because "non-believer" sounds like something
they shout at you before they set you on fire....

But, I'll take it in the spirit in which
it was issued.

Until someone can comfortably call us "the reality-
based community"....

:toast:

[Arugula Latte]

8. MEEEE!

:bounce:

And I loved that he mentioned science. Jesus, how far we've fallen in eight years when the mention of "science" is cause for rejoicing.

[Tikki]

10. Me, myself, my husband and my family....

All the Tikkis

[Boudica the Lyoness]

11. I'm so glad he us a shout out.

This Godless unbeliever cheered with joy.

[DBoon]

12. Yes!

We are americans too

[astonamous]

13. Whoopeee! eom

[Parche]

15. i believe

but i dont believe in religion, does that count?

[sasquatch]

21. The only thing you believe in is picking on Midlo

Which why we really like you.

[Parche]

25. true

and on her facebook also.......:woohoo: :rofl: :hi:

[flvegan]

18. Way to leave out the Buddhists, Hussein.

If I had a self, I'd be offended.

[NJmaverick]

20. It was a classy move

[EastTennesseeDem]

23. self delete

[Deep13]

24. Thanks, Mr. President.

:hi:

[Kashka-Kat]

27. yeah, but probably for a different reason as you - it showed him to be thoughtful, deliberate,

dmeticulously accurate and exceptionally articulate in his choice of words - really, how can their be true religious inclusion/diversity without including the non believers in the spectrum? It didn't seem he was doing it to score political points with anyone, just because it was a meaningful thing to say if you are talking about inclusion/diversity.

Re: thoughtful and articulate, what a welcome change from the previous Resident, eh?

[Zomby Woof]

29. Fuck yeah

I have studied all of the inaugural addresses, and this is without precedent in ANY form. Amazing the pundits didn't shit themselves. :-)

[skygazer]

30. I cheered out loud at that

And took a big swig of champagne. :bounce:

[Deep13]

31. I already posted, but I'm still happy about it.

:7

[Fire Walk With Me]

32. I don't believe it.

:hide: ;)

[UTUSN]

35. I'll take any favor (small) -- thank ZEUS!1 n/t

[wickerwoman]

36. I'm happy but he blew off Buddhists and Wiccans.

At least he made a gesture of inclusiveness though.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

39. I was afraid someone would take it that way...

He probably could have phrased it better by saying something like "...and many other beliefs and non-beliefs", but I really don't think it was intended as a blow-off.

[wickerwoman]

40. Er... I was joking.

He could have phrased it better, but it was a very small part of a great speech and as an atheist I was just chuffed as hell that we finally have an American leader who at least acknowledges people like me exist.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

46. Sorry...

Sometimes I need that sarcasm symbol... :hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

38. I'm thrilled about it...

He may not be able to please everybody; but I get the feeling he's willing to hear what everybody has to say.

It's damn refreshing after 8 years of "Lalala I can't hear you!"

[chknltl]

41. Hoists a paw but.....

Statistically pot smokers may be a larger group of supporters than atheists and yet nobody ever mentions us! Whats up with THAT???1!!?

[PassingFair]

44. Maybe we overlap....

:hippie:

[lizerdbits]

42. Me

Didn't Bush I say we shouldn't be considered citizens?

[sarge43]

47. Poppy said that.

The poison fruit didn't drop far from the rotten tree.

[GreenPartyVoter]

43. I think it's great :^)

[sarge43]

45. This agnostic sure is.

"I have no desire to make windows into men's souls.", Elizabeth Tudor

We can only judge people by their actions, not their thoughts or beliefs.

[dawgmom]

49. Loved it -- how refreshing, after the last 8 years especially nt

[Cabcere]

50. I thought it was great

:D I'm not an atheist, but I thought it was a big step in the right direction. :thumbsup: It's about time the people in charge stop treating atheists and members of religions other than their own as second-class citizens.