The Politics of “God Bless America” in Bi-Political Leaders

Amy Levin

Two nights ago, in a historic and inspiring speech about the debt ceiling, bipartisan harmony, and taking care of all of America’s hard-working citizens, President Barack Obama ended the segment with a ritualistic “Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.” While for many, this utterance may seem like an expected and harmless custom, but in light of the current debates over religious freedom and the fear of a decline of the separation of church and state, one has to wonder, when is it appropriate for “God” to enter the White House? Even though many have begun embracing religious pluralism over secularism, what are the implications and reactions for and of non-believers and/or non-monotheistic religious individuals when it comes to “God bless America?”

This post is written by Amy Levin, social media intern at Religious Freedom USA and reflect her views on religious language in government.

Tags: Amy Levin, barack obama, God Bless America, pluralsim, religious freedom, secularism