It's Easter Sunday. Here's President Bush's official Easter Message:
President's Easter MessageEaster 2004
The Lord is risen indeed…
Luke 24:34I send greetings to Christians around the world as they gather to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus' life and teachings continue to speak to every generation, and Christians believe his miraculous Resurrection provides hope for the future and offers us the promise of new life.
Through His ministry and sacrifice, Jesus demonstrated God's unconditional love for us. He taught us the importance of helping others and loving our neighbors. His selfless devotion and mercy provide a remarkable example for all of us.
As families and friends gather to enjoy this Easter season, we celebrate God's gift of freedom and His love that conquers death. For those who observe Easter, our faith brings confidence that good will overcome evil and that joy is everlasting. Today, we give thanks for God's many blessings and pray for His peace in the affairs of men.
Laura joins me in sending our best wishes for a happy Easter.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Which led me over to www.restorethepledge.com and Michael Newdow's often-mocked attempt to remove the words "under God" from the Allegiance.
What I didn't know what the Pledge existed for years without the words "under God," and that they were added during the Joe McCarthy era. Quoting Newdow:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.Above is the version of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America first approved by the Congress in 1942. It evokes feelings of patriotism and unity, and brings together the vastly different cultures, ethnicities, languages and backgrounds that form the common experience called America. It reaffirms our commitment to the freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution, and reflects the foundation of that amazing document: that diversity is a blessing which only strengthens our nation. This is especially true concerning religion, which the Framers recognized as uniquely divisive, causing them to set forth that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."
We have done well since those first ten words of the Bill of Rights (i.e., the "Establishment Clause") were written in 1789, and generally held true to that principle. Yet, in 1954 - fueled by the Cold War and blinded by McCarthyism - Congress violated its oath. After sixty-two secular years, the Pledge - first introduced by a private magazine in 1892 - was changed. Our elected officials felt it necessary to inject religion into the Pledge, and "under God" was interlarded into that promise which had previously embraced all Americans.
If the boilerplate "under God" violates the first Amendment, how much more so "The Lord is risen indeed" from Luke? Not to mention "Through His ministry and sacrifice, Jesus demonstrated God's unconditional love for us."
Not to take away from Easter or "the importance of helping others and loving our neighbors," but does the resurrection belong on official White House letterhead?
Do you have to be Christian to love your neighbors? Or your country?
Just wondering...
And one more thing. The Iraqis also wrap religion in their flag.
It says: God is Great.