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opinion:
our view
Three words; one
view
God Bless America. Three little words that have been thrown
around following the incidents of Sept. 11 -- and three words
that can really make you cringe.
First of all, the
United States has a little thing called the separation of
church and state, which means that religion is not allowed
to make its way into our government. Yet, our
government throws this term around during every speech he
has made since Sept. 11, seemingly completely disregarding
the law of our land.
"God Bless
America" can also haunt those of us who are not religious
or perhaps practice religions that don't believe in God.
Do we have to all
believe in one God?
No, in fact that
is the reason some people come to America -- to avoid the
religious persecution that exists in their country.
What if God doesn't
bless their America?
A person's belief
or disbelief in God doesn't make them any more or less of
an American.
Finally, and perhaps
probably most important, is the fact religion is one of the
things that got us in all this trouble in the first place.
Not that the following
of religion is bad, but it's the righteousness of people who
take their religion too seriously that has greatly affected
our nation.
Maybe it's taking
it too far, but "God Bless America" could very well
be giving people the wrong impression.
Sure, somebody
needs to bless America and maybe we as a country should realize
that we don't control everything in our lives, perhaps there
is a higher power stronger that we need to recognize.
But when it comes
down to it, religion is a highly personal decision that should
not be forced or used in a country that obviously has not
been run in the name of God to this point.
Many religious
leaders like Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell have said that
we all need to find God and accept him as our salvation. For
years, religious leaders of this type have blamed all of our
country's downfalls on a lack of faith.
Yet think about
it: does it really make sense that God wants people to kill
abortion doctors or to have his followers passing judgment
on others?
No, and maybe the
next time we hear "God Bless America," we'll realize
all that it says without having to say it all.
These three words
say that this country's people live their lives based on the
teachings and morals put before them by God, but with all
our political choices this is obviously not true.
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