America

So in between trips to the church I was eating my lunch while baby boy slept and there was this interesting show on. This man was talking about the United States of America and its relationship with God. He made some rather intersting points... Our dollar bill has Annuit Cceptis and Novus Ordo Seclorum printed on the back of it. It means, "God has favored our undertaking" and "a new order has begun" http://www.ponyexpress.net/~rmcfall/one_dollar_bill.htm
Also our Declaration of Independance talks about God, and the Creator. http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_
experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html
Our Pledge of Allegiance is also something that is quiet interesting. Although it has been changed it definitly holds meaning. You can read the history of it here, and I encourage everyone to read it. http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfc_pledge.html
The songs we sing,

My Country, 'Tis of Thee
words by Samuel F. Smith 1808-1895
1. My country,' tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing; land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride, from every mountainside let freedom ring!
2. My native country, thee, land of the noble free, thy name I love; I love thy rocks and rills, thy woods and templed hills; my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.
3. Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song; let mortal tongues awake; let all that breathe partake; let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.
4. Our fathers' God, to thee, author of liberty, to thee we sing; long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light; protect us by thy might, great God, our King.

God Bless America
words by Irving Berlin, 1918

Spoken Introduction: While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
: God bless America, land that I love Stand beside her and guide her Through the night with the light from above From the mountains To the prairies, To the ocean white with foam God bless America, My home sweet home. :

America the Beautiful
Katherine Lee Bates 1913

O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern, impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife. Who more than self the country loved And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for halcyon skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the enameled plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till souls wax fair as earth and air And music-hearted sea!
O beautiful for pilgrims feet, Whose stern impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America ! America ! God shed his grace on thee Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale Of liberating strife When once and twice, for man's avail Men lavished precious life ! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till selfish gain no longer stain The banner of the free!
O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till nobler men keep once again Thy whiter jubilee!

So it seems the very counrty that is trying to remove God from the lips of its citizens is a puzzlement. I have been thinking on this alot today in between the ducking and dodging. I aslo think it wise to look at the other side of the argument, if for nothing else to know what you are arguing against. Many questions come to mind. If the pilgrims came to America to be free which includes religious beliefs then why try to rope in people's beliefs now? Who says other beliefs are wrong or that the God mentioned is not the same one others believe in? Good questions in my opinion, however, wether there is a "rational" answer to it or not I still prefer to pledge my allegiance to a country under God, pray in school and not worry about who other's religions it interfers with.

Believe me, I know how intolerant that sounds. But its the way I feel and see things. Where do you draw the line at good and bad? Where do you say I won't cross over into those things, or I will participate in these?