It is relevant, however, to my reason for involvement in the thread: you do not need to be an atheist or a foreigner to be offended by the proclamation "God Bless America."

It's the name of a song. Get a grip.

Katherine Tredwell
So is "Kill the President." You want we should put that on a billboard?

Probably not, because--imagine that!--song titles make statements. If they didn't, nobody would be wanting to put the title to yours up on display.

I was addressing posters who appear to be disgusted because they think the ACLU's suit is a frivolity that does not concern the real feelings of real people. I am not interested in a debate over interpretations of the Constitution.

It is a frivolty. 6000 dead in not a frivolty

By your logic, police should not be arresting people for petty theft currently, because next to 6000 dead, it's a frivolity. So is trying to stop someone jumping off a bridge, making donations to the local homeless shelter, or saying "please" and "thank you."

Next to 6000 dead, nearly *everything* seems "frivolous." That doesn't mean we should start shoving things to the side in our rush to proclaim our solidarity. If we allow terrorists to reshape our lives, to that extent they've won. Continuing with the frivolity of our daily lives is the best way to show that we're stronger.

I understood FotW to be complaining about frivolous lawsuits, which is a completely different thing. Contrary to his claim, the ACLU's suit is not frivolous because it reflects the beliefs of real people, and not just atheists (since some posters feel that atheists don't have the right to freedom-from-religion).

To make a more direct reply to your previous post: would you please review the Sermon on the Mount, since you decided to bring it into the conversation, and tell me who is poor, hungry, and outcast: America or Afganistan? Who then is blessed?

And how can the US be blessed if it curses those who curse it and fails to turn the other cheek? By the standards you introduced, I fail to see how America can call itself "blessed."