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President Obama did not include any reference to God during his weekly address titled, “On Thanksgiving, Grateful for the Men and Women Who Defend Our Country.”
His remarks were void of any religious references although Thanksgiving is a holiday traditionally steeped in giving thanks and praise to God.
The president said his family was “reflecting on how truly lucky we truly are.”
For many Americans, though, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on how blessed and thankful they are.
The president said the “most American of blessings” is the “chance to determine our own destiny.”
He called the very first Thanksgiving a “celebration of community”
“We’re also grateful for the Americans who are taking time out of their holiday to serve in soup kitchens and shelters, making sure their neighbors have a hot meal and a place to stay,” he said. “This sense of mutual responsibility – the idea that I am my brother’s keeper; that I am my sister’s keeper – has always been a part of what makes our country special.”
The president said that belief is “one of the reasons the Thanksgiving tradition has endured.”
But nowhere in the 11-paragraph address does he mention the Almighty.
Instead, he references the Civil War, two World Wars, and the Great Depression – noting that “Americans drew strength from each other.”
However, President Abraham Lincoln said the nation drew its strength from God. He declared as much in his 1863 Thanksgiving Day proclamation:
“I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.”
President Obama told the nation in his address that if they support each other and look out for each other, “and remember that we’re all in this together, then I know that we too will overcome the challenges of our time.”
You can read President Obama’s entire address below:
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Thursday, November 24, 2011
The White House
From my family to yours, I’d like to wish you a happy Thanksgiving. Like millions of Americans, Michelle, Malia, Sasha and I will spend the day eating great food, watching a little football, and reflecting on how truly lucky we truly are.
As Americans, each of us has our own list of things and people to be thankful for. But there are some blessings we all share.
We’re especially grateful for the men and women who defend our country overseas. To all the service members eating Thanksgiving dinner far from your families: the American people are thinking of you today. And when you come home, we intend to make sure that we serve you as well as you’re serving America.
We’re also grateful for the Americans who are taking time out of their holiday to serve in soup kitchens and shelters, making sure their neighbors have a hot meal and a place to stay. This sense of mutual responsibility – the idea that I am my brother’s keeper; that I am my sister’s keeper – has always been a part of what makes our country special. And it’s one of the reasons the Thanksgiving tradition has endured.
The very first Thanksgiving was a celebration of community during a time of great hardship, and we have followed that example ever since. Even when the fate of our union was far from certain – during a Civil War, two World Wars, a Great Depression – Americans drew strength from each other. They had faith that tomorrow would be better than today.
We’re grateful that they did. As we gather around the table, we pause to remember the pilgrims, pioneers, and patriots who helped make this country what it is. They faced impossible odds, and yet somehow, they persevered. Today, it’s our turn.
I know that for many of you, this Thanksgiving is more difficult than most. But no matter how tough things are right now, we still give thanks for that most American of blessings, the chance to determine our own destiny. The problems we face didn’t develop overnight, and we won’t solve them overnight. But we will solve them. All it takes is for each of us to do our part.
With all the partisanship and gridlock here in Washington, it’s easy to wonder if such unity is really possible. But think about what’s happening at this very moment: Americans from all walks of life are coming together as one people, grateful for the blessings of family, community, and country.
If we keep that spirit alive, if we support each other, and look out for each other, and remember that we’re all in this together, then I know that we too will overcome the challenges of our time.
So today, I’m thankful to serve as your President and Commander-and-Chief. I’m thankful that my daughters get to grow up in this great country of ours. And I’m thankful for the chance to do my part, as together, we make tomorrow better than today.
Thanks, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
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The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.
Obama is destroying America in so many ways. He has given our country away to the liberals and Muslims and destroying everything our country was built on. We are on a direct path to a 3rd world country with Obama downsizing our military and arsenal of guns, weapons, bombs and nukes. Obama has spit on the lives of everyone that died giving there life for our Freedom and existence. One man could destroy our country in less than one term. I pray Obama gets everything he deserves this Thanksgiving.
Mr. Bill Roby I want a President who uses the word God in speeches. I want a President that is religious, and I always vote for one that is religious and is not fearful of saying the word God. I did not and will not vote for Obama and his not including God is just one of about a thousand reasons why I wont. If I'm a bible thumper to you (which is laughable) then so be it. I am not a sheep, however, and I know this is not 1950. If it were we'd be in much better shape now because there was a lot more respect which you lack.
If I recall, Mrs Obama was never thankful for being an American until her husband was president.She said so herself.So what do they know about Thanksgiving or any other founding history for that matter.
If I recall, Mrs Obama was never thankful for being an American until her husband was president.She said so herself.So what do they know about Thanksgiving or any other founding history for that matter.
I realize this is from 2011, but this, as many other threads are a disturbing look at america. I'm an american, living in Berlin. I know many people of different faiths and many who don't believe in God. IF america is going to be healed we have to stop these hateful, divisive monologues thrown at one another. regarding thanksgiving, my opinion, is IF the first thanksgiving had nothing with giving thanks to Providence or God, then God shouldn't be added (and this has nothing to do with Christianity). at the same time, I think it is important to recognize, as the founding fathers did, that we live in a pluralistic society. each must be respected. it is therefore not wrong for our president to say, "some of you may not believe in God, but thanksgiving is a time of community, hope, and family." I do find it strange that he left God out of a holiday (meaning holyday) celebration which is inspired from a day when people people who believed in God, gave thanks… to God.
I contend that Obama does not recognize my God because he thinks that he is God… the God of Government and we should all stick together under his new flag. Not this girl… thanks anyway.
Does not surprise me at all!
god will strike obozo down and the sooner the better.
It always amazes me how many times this God orders the killing of innocent people even after the Ten Commandments said “Thou shall not kill”. For example, God kills 70,000 innocent people because David ordered a census of the people (1 Chronicles 21). God also orders the destruction of 60 cities so that the Israelites can live there. He orders the killing of all the men, women, and children of each city, and the looting of all of value (Deuteronomy 3). He orders another attack and the killing of “all the living creatures of the city: men and women, young, and old, as well as oxen sheep, and asses” (Joshua 6). In Judges 21, He orders the murder of all the people of Jabesh-gilead, except for the virgin girls who were taken to be forcibly raped and married. When they wanted more virgins, God told them to hide alongside the road and when they saw a girl they liked, kidnap her and forcibly rape her and make her your wife! Just about every other page in the Old Testament has God killing somebody! In 2 Kings 10:18-27, God orders the murder of all the worshipers of a different god in their very own church! In total God kills 371,186 people directly and orders another 1,862,265 people murdered.
GOD is Evil!
Lets not forget we our a country founded on freedom of religion! We do not get to pick and choose what others worship or how or if they do it all..
Lets not forget we our a country founded on freedom of religion! We do not get to pick and choose what others worship or how or if they do it all..
I relly don't care for religions, but belive we all have the rights to choose for ourselves, and i hope you and dave are doing great, the lil one is growing so fast.
I relly don't care for religions, but belive we all have the rights to choose for ourselves, and i hope you and dave are doing great, the lil one is growing so fast.
It always amazes me how many times this God orders the killing of innocent people even after the Ten Commandments said “Thou shall not kill”. For example, God kills 70,000 innocent people because David ordered a census of the people (1 Chronicles 21). God also orders the destruction of 60 cities so that the Israelites can live there. He orders the killing of all the men, women, and children of each city, and the looting of all of value (Deuteronomy 3). He orders another attack and the killing of “all the living creatures of the city: men and women, young, and old, as well as oxen sheep, and asses” (Joshua 6). In Judges 21, He orders the murder of all the people of Jabesh-gilead, except for the virgin girls who were taken to be forcibly raped and married. When they wanted more virgins, God told them to hide alongside the road and when they saw a girl they liked, kidnap her and forcibly rape her and make her your wife! Just about every other page in the Old Testament has God killing somebody! In 2 Kings 10:18-27, God orders the murder of all the worshipers of a different god in their very own church! In total God kills 371,186 people directly and orders another 1,862,265 people murdered.
GOD is Evil!
Why is anyone surprised that Obama would leave God out of Thanksgiving? He certainly did not miss several other non Christian non Jewish holidays. And at last count, he had given more than 400 million dollars to the Egypt Muslim Brotherhood and plans to donate more if he can surpass Congress. That money would certainly have gone a long way in some American communities.
God, Christ, Jesus, Christmas…Punchlines used only for personal benefit by the country's biggest stand-up comedian; You gotta laugh!
Bill Roby: I really feel sorry for you that you don't believe in eternal life thru Faith in Jesus Christ. My comment here is to let you know that Bill Roby right now is in my prayers. I hope you don't have to learn the hard way in this life as Christians have to. We sin, get punished, repent and somehow try to keep our life in the path of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of our sins. It is an entire lifetime of doing it. In the end of life there is a Heaven open to all that believe and another place for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ. My hope is that you repent of your comments here and receive that grace which only comes thru Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen!
Sad for all those who mocked God on this page….