Now we have nearly %45 income tax, and NO representation, and we sit on our thumbs.

I have to slightly alter your statement, then. Each successive violation isn't what sets a precedent and continues it. The first one does. I can't say that I know EXACTLY when the people of the U.S. should have risen up and put a stop to malingering sentiments in our national establishment. But it was long, long ago.

I thought at least a single person or group I heard from would be in SUPPORT of a secular thanksgiving message from the oval office.

Not that I really have much use for thanksgiving OR a president.. they both kinda go in the same box religion does, with me.

So far as HBT goes…The argument here in the states (by atheists) is that the day of prayer is a promotion of religion by a government that has no business promoting it. If that’s true, then what business does it have to promote sexuality? Your specific position was that gays have historically been marginalized and oppressed, correct? And that justifies official recognition by the U.S government, correct? If you agree with that, then consider the fact that Jews have also been historically opressed and marginalized. Yet you’ll never have a national Jewish month here in the U.S because that would also be seen as a promotion of a particular religion, thus favoring one over another. My point is that if the gov has no right to promote religion, then it has no right to promote sexuality either. As a side note…in my personal opinion, if the government wants to recognize an oppressed group of people then a more deserving group needs to recognized…like say, the Native American Indians. Now there’s a group of people that has suffered ten times more than gays ever have.

So far as your job goes. You’ve got a good point & you’re probably right. However…I think you might be over-analyzing it a bit. Might I recommend a job for you in the field of psychology? You would certainly be good at it.

Maybe I exeggerated my statement, but from my personal understanding people take faith and their beliefs completely different, and it is common for people to talk about god the first thing they do when they meet people. I don't base it on nothing, I base it on what others have said and their personal experiences AS AMERICANS or visitors in USA.

As for HBT and queer people… Chad. That's a kind of a stupid thing to say. People still look down on HBT and queer people. They are still socially marginalized. The reason they got a month dedicated is because people recognize their cause so they get more space within the society. It doesn't mean that the general attitude towards HTB and queer people have necessarily changed. There is a HUGE difference in political correctness and what people really believe, which is shown in their SUBCONSCIOUS attitudes.

Let's take an example of what I mean, not directly linked to HTB or queerness, but to gender-attitudes. As a student, I've been looking for a part-time job for a long time. So I talk to my cousins about it. What do they suggest? They suggest I should seek employment helping elderly people, that kind of deal. They don't do it because they know it might be easier for me to get in as a woman. They do it because they know I need a job and money. Do I want to work with that kind of job? No. I don't. They are on the absolute bottom on my list. I rather work as a telephone salesman again than over that. But my point is that they don't suggest these jobs out of nothing. They do it specifically because 1) women are associated with those jobs 2) it is easier for a woman to get employed 3) I am a woman. By suggesting such jobs they unconsciously tell me that I should adhere to certain attributes that are considered feminine in nature. But that's not me. They pigeonhole me on the sole basis that I was born with two X chromosomes, because that's what they were taught to do as children. My cousins would never say that they think that women should explicitly work with these jobs. I know they wouldn't. But it is so integrated into our minds, the social structure, the social climate, the culture. These things are very hard to change and it doesn't help that people don't realize that when they do like what my cousins did, they actually help to maintain the system even if they may in theory be against it. But in practice they aren't. We express things very subtly about everything every day. People still have negative thoughts about HTB and queerness because it questions the patriarchal structure. Why do you think it is mostly men who feel threatened by HTB and queerness? It's not completely random.

Christopher – Would you mind providing a few examples of these so called “Powerful Nations?”

Just a quick correction…earlier I referenced Sweden in relation the the blasphemy laws…I meant to say the Netherlands. Sorry about that.

For some reason the first link you posted wouldn’t work. The 2nd link only takes you to the web-sites home page. What’s the title of the specific article you’re referencing? I’ll be happy to read it AND do my best to satisfy your need for an honest reply.

First, you say its wrong to marginalize a group of people, then you say its shameful in Sweden to even speak about religion and that believers are considered to be nut jobs….does that not seem a bit hypocritical? And for the record I don’t agree with the recent legislation in Sweden regarding blasphemy. While I certainly don’t condone blasphemy, people have a right to freedom of expression, even if I don’t agree with what they’re expressing.

Furthermore, I’ve never been to Europe so you’re correct that perhaps I don’t fully understand the religious climate there. I do however live in America so I do fully understand it here. You make it sound as if being an atheist is a crime in America, and that the first thing we do here (upon meeting someone) is say “Hi, I’m Chad. Let me tell you how much I love God”. Sorry, but that’s just not the way it is. Perhaps you don’t fully understand the climate here.

Finally, with regard to whether or not a day of prayer is a violation…I was speaking from a legal perspective.ie It does not violate any legal statute.I do see your point however, but this is where we will simply have to agree to disagree. I don’t feel as though a national prayer day turns non believers into social outcasts. Look at it this way…here in America we have one DAY in recognition of prayer. Yet the entire month of June is designated as Gay & Lesbian Pride month. This was established in 2000 by, then president Bill Clinton. By your logic, does that not marginalize people who aren’t gay? And not just for one day…but for an entire month.

I’m not being dishonest. I’m simply revealing your lack of objectivity.