That feels good.

[urbpan]

Highlights for me: shoutouts to "non-believers," acknowledging the importance of science in making improvements to the economy, and the promise (presumably to Iran, North Korea, et al.): "We will extend a hand if you unclench your fist."

Comments

[belen1974.livejournal.com]

i did not catch the unclench fist reference - nice!

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

I smiled and nodded at the same points.

[audacian.livejournal.com]

The shoutout to atheists was awesome, although I'm not sure if I appreciate being defined as not-a-churchy, but at this point I'll take what I can get. :)

[brush-rat.livejournal.com]

I thought of you when he said "non-believers" and wondered if that was the proper, non-judgmental phrase to use.

Yesterday I played the Will.i.am "Yes We Can" song over and over and my eyes watered up every time he said "But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope."

[bleppo.livejournal.com]

YES.

[theysuredo.livejournal.com]

Equally pleased at the shout out to non-believers! Lots to love in that speech. What a fabulous day. Did you see Bush's departure? Gosh, that made me happy.

[mandy-moon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, a shout-out to nonbelievers was incredible. Has that ever happened before in a presidential speech?

[miz-geek.livejournal.com]

I LOVED the shout-out to atheists! Does that mean we're accepted as humans?

[whatisbiscuits.livejournal.com]

A beautifully spoken speech.

I liked the "To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy" part.

[nutmeg.livejournal.com]

Went to lunch with several people from my department, atheists all.

We high-fived at the "science" part, and gave a little cheer for getting some recognition that even if you don't believe in god, you are still a citizen!

[sharpchick.livejournal.com]

YES! to all of the above.

I took the "non-believer" reference to be his not-yet-fully-informed way of acknowledging those of us who are either atheists or just not spiritually of the Abrahamic ilk. . .

And we have time to clue him in on that one.

[bosoxmom.livejournal.com]

that line is brilliant.

[bosoxmom.livejournal.com]

it sounded like he was throwing a "snap" at the old, departing guard, and a nod to the "spiritual", but not religious, and an invitation to the "perceived" by Bush enemies of democracy..some of whom are douchebags, and some of whom are merely giving what they get...

a very intelligent speech.

[momomom.livejournal.com]

Yay for the soon to be stem cell research! Yay for so many things.

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

He also mentioned something about "gay and straight" a few days ago. I nearly died of shock (in a good way)

[weofodthignen]

Someone pinged me on that one immediately after hearing the speech, full of sadness. I'm thrilled he also listed Hindus, so he did explicitly note that America includes non-Abrahamic believers. And yes, it's important and nice that he noted the atheists and the agnostics, who are a major part of this country and its greatness--and have been since its founding. And I don't want to rain on the parade. But I'm all the sadder that we pagans are "unbelievers" to him and in that magnanimous statement. Especially after Shrub dismissed Wicca as "not a religion" when people whose sons, daughters, and spouses had given their lives in a war over the size of his weenie were trying to get headstones that would not demean their sacrifice. I have more belief in my little finger than most of the Xians I know have in their big fat heads.

I hope he comes to realize that was an inadvertent slap, and to become more genuinely accepting. The Warren choice, and that together . . . I hate to rain on the parade. But it is so hard for them to accept that other ways are equally valid.

Frith,
M the ever-belated