Obama Leaves Out "God" & "Life" in Thanksgiving Proclamation
Politico posted a story November 25 entitled, "Obama goes basic in Thanksgiving proclamation."The story intrigued me because daughter Daena worked as a writer, of proclamations in part, for President Bush during the last 18 months of his 2nd term. Coincidentally, Daena wrote Bush's last Thanksgiving proc in 2008.
Politico noted...
A president's 1st Thanksgiving Day proclamation is an opportunity for the commander in chief to highlight his new administration's accomplishments or reassure the nation at a time of gratitude and family togetherness.
But President Obama's Turkey Day bulletin Monday went in a different direction.
Obama's declaration is short - just over 400 words - and gives no specific examples of things that Americans should rejoice in or recover from, despite his eventful first year in office....
So I compared President Bush's last and President Obama's 1st and found the Obama writer pretty much followed Daena's template, with the exception of excluding personal acknowledgment of Who to be thankful to, according to Bush's proclamation:
On this day, let us all give thanks to God who blessed our Nation's first days and who blesses us today. May He continue to guide and watch over our families and our country always.
Obama's only mention of God was in a quote by George Washington.
There were notable deviations between the 2. For instance, President Bush called the 1st celebrants "Pilgrims," Obama said they were "European settlers."
And Daena made sure President Bush's proclamation was chock full of thanksgiving for Life:
We recognize that all of these blessings, and life itself, come not from the hand of man but from Almighty God....
Having arrived in the New World, these early settlers gave thanks to the Author of Life....
Today, as we look back on the beginnings of our democracy, Americans recall that we live in a land of many blessings where every person has the right to live, work, and worship in freedom....
Of course, Obama's pro-death team scrubbed all that.
Obama Leaves Out "God" & "Life" in Thanksgiving Proclamation
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Delightful
I find the fact that Obama did not mention god as very respectful and open-minded.
- GreenBean
November 27, 2009 4:01PM
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Stop Politicizing Holidays
Jill, you daughter's repeated emphasis on "life" -- and your clear interpretation that this is an affirmation of the Bush administration's pro-life stance -- is a clear attempt to politicize what should be an inclusive national holiday, one that transcends all political and religious boundaries.
This would also have been the case if President Obama's message had said something like "and we're thankful for free will, the freedom to choose, including the choice of what to do with our bodies, without feeling the heavy hand of government ". I'm sure you would find such a politicization of the Thanksgiving message repugnant.
But unlike President Bush, President Obama chose not to politicize the holiday, or use the occasion to root for his home team. He chose to view us as Americans first, united in our thanks for what we've been able to do with this land. Perhaps you should consider viewing us in the same light.
- mojosam
November 28, 2009 12:29PM
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Leave out god?
God has nothing to do with the Thanksgiving holiday anyway.
- CommonSenser
November 28, 2009 12:44PM
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No God
Really, I wonder. How did life start? Why is there only one sun?
If you let the radical Muslims take over, there won't be any Thanksgiving or Christian religion . Better watch out for Obama. I'm not sure he's on our side. He might not be the guy you imagined.
Author Richard Ondo
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- AuthorOndo
November 29, 2009 8:29AM
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Evolution is based on scientific facts
The holiday known as "Thanksgiving" isn't founded on anything to do with God. That is what I meant. If you believe in God that's your thing, nobody said anything about Muslims so relax francis. You have no proof that life started with God. Ever hear of this thing called evolution ? I'm sure you'll disagree with that since you base your life on religion and fear but that's fine you're entitled to your opinion just don't post just to promote your books.
- CommonSenser
November 29, 2009 11:59AM
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Blue words
How come some words are bold and blue? Can I turn this off? Reading like this is a pain
- zooted
November 28, 2009 1:09PM
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History
I hate to bring perspective to commentary, but I am compelled to remind you that the people who first celebrated a Thanksgiving in America (Fall harvest celebrations are not an American concept.) would find our tradition of celebrating Christmas repugnant, pagan, and an afront to Christianity. It was illegal in Boston for 100 years or more.
But, just because the way you choose to express your beliefs makes you repugnant to other Christians , this does not make you pro-death, or communist, or stupid.
I might suggest that the more religious among us consider whether their own expressions of belief are any less barbaric than those of the Pilgrims. I would suggest that those who have fought for the separation of church and state are those you should thank for your continued ability to worship in ways not allowed even at the birth of this country.
We could all use a little persecution to remind us what kind of wonderous place the US is, and at the expense of many, continues to become.
- Third
November 28, 2009 3:34PM
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How low can they go? The pettiness boggles the mind.
Everything, literally everything that Obama says and does will somehow be interpreted by his haters (the word "opponents" is too dignified) to mean something sinister. If he makes a non-political speech to school children about the importance of hard work and study, he must be trying to brainwash them. If he speaks about the shootings at Fort Hood while they are still breaking news, but first says a few words acknowledging the group that had come to the White House earlier that day for a different event before they knew of the news, he's too slow to respond. If he expresses his condolences to Russia for a tragic train accident that may have been an act of terrorism , he's grandstanding. And on and on and on.
Personally, I found it quite offensive that Bush wore his religion on his sleeve so aggressively and self-righteously. I find it even more offensive that someone who worked for his failed administration is parsing the words of the current President in a holiday message for excuses to tear him down.
- T-rex
November 28, 2009 4:56PM
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Presidential speech
"If he makes a non-political speech to school children about the importance of hard work and study, he must be trying to brainwash them."
When Mr Bush gave a similar speech to school children, the Democraticallyh controlled Congress held hearings. Where is the same response to this man's actions?
What a set of double standards and elitism.
- Explorer1
November 28, 2009 10:32PM
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Okay
Apparently you were asleep during the Bush administration, because the left did the same thing, and worse, I might add , that you claim Obama haters are doing now. Thanks for being tolerant.
- moby clarke
November 29, 2009 1:28AM
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Thanks Obama
America has seen you in action. The drop in poll numbers shouldn't surprise you. Democrats want to get reelected, so their moving in lockstep.
The contrast between the two presidents is remarkable. You don't need a program to decide which radio or TV personality is pro Obama or otherwise. It's all about ratings. Somebody is sinking.
Obama better dig up Joseph Goebbels.
Author Richard Ondo
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- AuthorOndo
November 29, 2009 8:45AM
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Thanks
I'm not sure that bringing God into the white man's version of the first thanksgiving is such a good idea to promote the christian religion . Unless the early pilgrims were thankful for the whiteman's diseases that preceeded them to the new world. Diseases that decimated entire nations of native americans.However by the grace of god they were able occupy villages where farming had already been done and homes already built but the previous inhabitants had died or fled from diseases.
Perhaps it is best to leave thanksgiving a non religious holiday.That may save some embarrassment for the christian crowd. Shouldn't be reminded of the genocide that seems to trail along in christian history.
- bug
November 28, 2009 5:10PM
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Yes
Because we know that the native americans were all peaceful, fun-loving, non-violent people themselves. Perhaps everyone would be better off if the USA had never existed. It is to blame for all the worlds problems, it never helps anyone, only causes destruction and pain. Maybe we should just allow the UN to take over, I mean, just look at their Human Rights commission members. They will take care of everyone.
- moby clarke
November 29, 2009 7:33PM
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Beautiful Thanksgiving Wishes
I was very pleased with President Obama's proclamation. It was beautiful and expresses those things that I believe are important and missing from today's discourse.
Even this author has to title the article in a way that denigrates the President. Not surprising to me but a contiuation of the fact that ANYTHING President Obama does will lead to some kind of ridiculous comment.
President Obama is NOT pro-death - this is completely false. He is pro-Choice but is looking for solutions to abortion like better sex education , better birth control, teaching girls and boys to respect themselves enough to protect themselves from Pregnancy and STD's.
- jlgrounds
November 28, 2009 5:21PM
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Bush had more to be thankful for.
A more reasonable comparison would be Obama to Clinton after each found themselves dealing with a recession handed to them by the last Bush in office.
No doubt Obama would be praising every god in Southern California if he'd been handed the kind of budget surplus Clinton turned over to the Shrub.
- Don Earl
November 28, 2009 6:17PM
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Anything else?
What else would you like to blame on Bush? Maybe the housing diaster started by Carter and promoted by Clinton?
Better hurry, time is running REAL short on that excuse for irresonsible overindulgance.
- Explorer1
November 28, 2009 10:35PM
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Are you a recent immigrant to the US?
In 2000, I was paying about a buck each for a pound of butter, a pound of hamburger, a gallon of milk and a gallon of gas. Unemployment was on the low side of normal. It took 1.3 euros or 125 yen to buy a US buck. The housing market had been rock steady for years, the price of building materials were steady, construction employment was stable, and housing price appreciation was very tame at around 3%-5% a year. Consumer credit was neither tight or loose and consumer confidence was running around 120-130. Messy Vietnam style invasions of pissant third world countries had been out of style for over two decades. The Federal budget had been running on the order of a half trillion dollar surplus for the first time in recent memory.
In the 8 years following this time of peace and plenty in the US, every half wit and his brain damaged dog blamed every bad thing that happened in the US on Clinton. The US dollar is worth about 88 yen or .68 euros. Consumer confidence is half of what it was 9 years ago. The Federal budget has gone from a half trillion dollar surplus to a one point five trillion dollar deficit . A pound of butter, a pound of hamburger, a gallon of milk or a gallon of gas all run somewhere between $3 and $4. New construction is less than a third of 2000 levels, the unemployment rate has trippled, consumer confidence is around 60, even with the housing debachle, a median priced home still costs $50,000 more than it did in 2000, and if you want to buy one, you'd better figure on paying cash, because consumer credit is a thing of the past.
Under the circumstances, and based on your comments, the only conclusion I am able to reach is you recently crashed the US boarder from some non-English speaking country, and that a subnormal intelligence quotient combined with illiteracy, has allowed you to conclude things were the same after 8 years of Clinton as they were after 8 years of Bush.
Those of us who have lived here for awhile know better.
- Don Earl
November 28, 2009 11:35PM
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What?
"Those of us who have lived here for awhile know better."
Well, let me expand your education . Mr Bush was NOT good for our debt, that most of us will agree. He expanded social programs and was supported by the left in going so. He upped the deficit and debt, few supported that.
Perhaps some time doing some research on Barney Frank , Fannie and Fredie, Chris Dodd, and the housing diaster is MUCH needed. Another point Bush and McCann both failed at was convincing Congress there was a problem. In fact some of the names I mentioned told him to go away, there was not a problem. Franklin Raines helped cook the books, with the help of Congress, while running the mortgage industry into the wall we hit late during the Bush years.
And I recall a statement we had to have the stimulus package or unemployement could reach 8.5%. Well we got the package (this year) and unemployement is OVER 10%. Who made that false statment I must ask?
Please expand your thoughts past personal insults and partisan talking points.
- Explorer1
November 29, 2009 5:28PM
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history
Signed by Washington on October 3, 1789 and entitled "General Thanksgiving," the decree appointed the day "to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God."
- throowrocks
November 28, 2009 8:34PM
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He's a Fence Rider
This guy always has his wet finger in the air. He's no leader.
- AuthorOndo
November 29, 2009 8:23AM
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Big news:
Jill Stanek believes everything is about her religion and her stance on abortion .
*yawn*
- hap
November 29, 2009 1:55PM
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