IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Text
Here is my argument: if Obama read this at the inauguration, would it be reasonable to say that he shouldn't because it mentions god. As americans, the Declaration Of Independence (DOI) along with our Constitution (C), are the founding documents of this country. Now, as americans we should, atheists or not, have respect for our DOI and C. It would be unreasonable for americans to demand that he not read it because it mentions god or that if he does read it, he remove the mention of god. Our Americanism has its foundation in the ideals found in both documents. Not whether we believe in god, but whether we believe
that all people are created equal, and that they have rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. and if we believe
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Text
now, if the founding documents did not address god, which the Constitution does not, then we would have a reasonable complaint. Furthermore, jesus, or any other religious figure, is not mentioned in either document and should not be mentioned in any government speech. So, as an American agnostic who respects the founding documents and the moral and political ideals they embody, i think it is fine for Obama to use the word god at the inauguration.
I will not get into the rick warren argument, he was the wrong choice as far as i am concerned. In fact, i wish there was no praying at all. why not read from Lincoln or other political figures and leave the praying for church. but, that is my opinion, not my argument.
in short, because the mention of god is in our DOI, then i think it is fine that god is mentioned at the inauguration.
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