Yes, and I do have a problem with both Bush's remarks (although I'm surprised they were not picked up more widely) and the pledge including "under God". I believe in God, but I don't think it makes one un-patriotic to *not* believe in God, or to try to convince me that God doesn't exist. And although it's a misperception that the nation was founded by a group (Puritans) that believe in religious toleration (they simply wanted to escape persecution so they could be free to persecute others, e.g. Anne Hutchinson), I do believe that once the Bill of Rights was adopted (pushed by "radical" activists, not the "Founding Fathers") this tradition was begun, and has served us well as a nation. Andrew --- Frank Mayhar <frank at exit.com> wrote: > Andrew McGuigan wrote: > > > > > > Easy to ignore? I Don't Think So. When the > > > President of the US (Bush > > > the elder) vilifies a whole set of people for > not > > > sharing his belief in > > > God, that's tough to ignore. > > Quote? > > After a quick search on google, I found > http://www.cyberdespot.com/jesustricks/bush.html > > I stand corrected; Bush was _Vice_ President at the > time he said this > (although he was running for President). The > website says: > > The following exchange took place at the Chicago > airport between > Robert I. Sherman of American Atheist Press and > George Bush Sr., > on August 27, 1988. Sherman is a fully accredited > reporter, and > was present by invitation as a member of the press > corps. The > Republican presidential nominee was there to > announce federal > disaster relief for Illinois. The discussion turned > to the > presidential primary: > > RS (Rob Sherman): "What will you do to win the > votes of Americans > who are atheists?" > > GB (George Bush): "I guess I'm pretty weak in the > atheist > community. Faith in God is important to me." > > RS: "Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and > patriotism > of Americans who are atheists?" > > GB: "No, I don't know that atheists should be > considered as > citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. > This is one > nation under God." > > RS: "Do you support as a sound constitutional > principle the > separation of state and church?" > > GB: "Yes, I support the separation of church and > state. I'm > just not very high on atheists." > > UPI reported on May 8, 1989, that various atheist > organizations > were still angry over the remarks. > > The exchange appeared in the Boulder Daily Camera > on Monday > February 27, 1989. It can also be found in "Free > Inquiry" > magazine, Fall 1988 issue, Volume 8, Number 4, page > 16. > > Happy? > -- > Frank Mayhar frank at exit.com http://www.exit.com/ > Exit Consulting http://www.gpsclock.com/