Happy National Day of Prayer
Hope everyone's enjoying some delicious folded hands-shaped cookies to celebrate the holiday today. The annual observance was started by Harry Truman and signed into existence by presidential proclamation by every president since. Obama signed his proclamation earlier today (full text after the jump). But that hasn't stopped news outlets from implying that he's a little, ahem, anti-prayer:
"Obama Tones Down National Day of Prayer Observance" (CNN)
"Obama is scaling back plans for Thursday's National Day of Prayer..." (Chicago Tribune)
"Obama to be Prayer Day No-Show" (Washington Times)
What does Obama have against prayer? Nothing, it turns out. He's doing exactly what George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and every other president did to recognize the day until George W. Bush came along. For the second President Bush, the National Day of Prayer became an occasion to invite members of the National Day of Prayer Task Force--headed up by James Dobson's wife Shirley--and other religious conservatives to the White House for a tend-to-the-base event.
The task force caused quite a kerfuffle in 2004 when they decreed that only Christians (and preferably evangelical Christians) could lead prayers at the events they'd organized around the country. That didn't go down well with Mormons, among others. The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations doesn't seem too sad to see the Bush-era event retired, either--a blog post on the organization's website is titled "Obama Does Day of Prayer Differently...And That's Okay."
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, 2009
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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Throughout our Nation's history, Americans have come together in moments of great challenge and uncertainty to humble themselves in prayer. In 1775, as the Continental Congress began the task of forging a new Nation, colonists were asked to observe a day of quiet humiliation and prayer. Almost a century later, as the flames of the Civil War burned from north to south, President Lincoln and the Congress once again asked the American people to pray as the fate of their Nation hung in the balance.
It is in that spirit of unity and reflection that we once again designate the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer. Let us remember those who came before us, and let us each give thanks for the courage and compassion shown by so many in this country and around the world.
On this day of unity and prayer, let us also honor the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. We celebrate their commitment to uphold our highest ideals, and we recognize that it is because of them that we continue to live in a Nation where people of all faiths can worship or not worship according to the dictates of their conscience.
Let us also use this day to come together in a moment of peace and goodwill. Our world grows smaller by the day, and our varied beliefs can bring us together to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make peace where there is strife; and to lift up those who have fallen on hard times. As we observe this day of prayer, we remember the one law that binds all great religions together: the Golden Rule, and its call to love one another; to understand one another; and to treat with dignity and respect those with whom we share a brief moment on this Earth.
The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on the President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a "National Day of Prayer."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 7, 2009, as a National Day of Prayer. I call upon Americans to pray in thanksgiving for our freedoms and blessings and to ask for God's continued guidance, grace, and protection for this land that we love.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independent of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
BARACK OBAMA
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1
To add a little interest to this blog, the flip side of the coin should also be presented, beyond the view of the Focus on the Family (and Hate) group.
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which says the day violates separation of church and state is also unhappy with Obama. The administration has filed to dismiss their lawsuit against the observance in Wisconsin. They, too, are shocked. -
2
We are disappointed in the lack of participation by the Obama Administration," said task force chairwoman Shirley Dobson, wife of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson. "At this time in our country's history, we would hope our President would recognize more fully the importance of prayer."
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1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
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Prayer
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5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name, ......
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It never ceases to amaze me how many self-professed Christians fail to recognize when they are being addressed directly..... -
3
In honor of National Prayer Day, I'll enjoy a pretzel .
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And, what goes better with a pretzel than beer? Cheers. It's 5 O'Clock. -
4
@PD: Win!
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5
It's interesting because these are the types of acts that continues to make people like me, turn or ignore religion.
Why does he need to put on a show? That is what I never will understand. I thought religion was supposed to be a private and sacred act. But, time and time again this thought is pissed away.
I didn't know this day existed. I also really don't care about the day.
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6
Wow, I missed the whole thing. Maybe next year my church will mention it in the bulletin.
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7
Paul Dirks, thanks for saving me the trouble of looking up that tasty bit of scripture. I plan to observe the day with a beer (it's choir night) and perhaps internet chestnut:
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God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones that I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference.
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Sláinte -
8
I picked a good day to put Religulous in my Netflix queue.
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9
My MIL is at her church today for a dinner because of this. THANK GOD!
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10
sacredh, so glad this is helpful to someone!
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11
Good blogging again today, Amy Sullivan.
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Great idea, dunedweller. I've just done the same. Thanks.
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13
shepherdwong: I agree, she actually did pretty good today.
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14
Why is the POTUS asking me to pray? Why do (some) Christians want the POTUS to do this?
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Personally I don't really care, but it still seems bizarre. -
15
If I thought it would work, I would pray that Focus on the Family would not be so hateful.
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formerly: That would be a Festivus miracle!
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17
Some say a prayer for this woman. This is simply, well just look away.
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what an absolute idiotic post Amy. Yes..we all know the MSM is out to get Obama..lol. This has to be the stupidest post yet by ultra liberal Obama gushing Time..
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19
Does it pay to pray? Ask the evangelusts for your bucks, or the members of the funny hat society. Bray or pray in public is their forte. Praying privately, one on One, is good for the soul, is better for the environment (emissions control will probably verify this)will enable more charitable endeavors to occur, without a "percentage of the pot," going to the master brayers, our hypocritical faith leaders. And let us prey on the weak and poor, on this national day of prayer. Amen.
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20
How about a National Day of Meditation or a National Day of Mantra Chanting or a National Day of Godlessness or a National Day of Acting Holier Than Thou, or a National Day of Rational Thinking or a National Day or Peace and Reconciliation or a National Day of Walking the Walk.
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21
The Man knows how to give a very proper prayer, as a modern Jane Austen might say.
Obama's charisma and charm empowers America. We are still viewed as a world leader while other nations compete with us.
The French who hail self-determining existentialism love him. And Russia respects him. These are two of many countries. He's a man that can help us make the strongest and best alliances.
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