So much for the separation of Church and State...

[erik_kosberg]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/relea...0050324-2.html

[mtbat]

Bush is a Christian. He's always been blatently Christian so it doesn't surprise me that he would do such a religious based thing.

Are you offended because he is using a Govenment Website for his Easter Greeting or because his Easter Greeting is so Christian/relgiously based?

I don't have a problem with the religion aspect, I can see where there might be an issue with it being on a Government website.

He may be the president but he's still an American and as such he has the right to freedom of speech. In my opinion his Easter message falls under freedom of speech, I'm just not sure it belongs on the whitehouse.gov website.

That said-while I believe in God I do not consider myself a Christian. So maybe my way of viewing this are a bit odd.

[erik_kosberg]

I’ve got a problem with having it at whitehouse.gov but do realize that a lot people wouldn’t see it as a problem. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out that Clinton had done something similar during his time in office, or that Jimmy Carter printed up pretty much the same thing on a White House mimeograph.

[eris esoteric]

Sorry, I couldn't read it. My eyes kept rolling up in their sockets.

[jgibson2[$]]

erik_kosberg said

I’ve got a problem with having it at whitehouse.gov but do realize that a lot people wouldn’t see it as a problem. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out that Clinton had done something similar during his time in office, or that Jimmy Carter printed up pretty much the same thing on a White House mimeograph.

It would shock me to find out that Jimmy Carter didn't put out a blatantly Christian Easter message during his term as president.

Here is Clinton's from 1999:

April 2, 1999

EASTER, 1999

Warm greetings to everyone celebrating Easter.

Today Christians across America and around the world commemorate with great joy the central mystery of their faith: the Resurrection of Jesus. In this season, we celebrate Christ's victory over sin and death, and we rejoice in the new life that He won for us through His suffering, death, and rising from the dead.

That new life empowers us to overcome sin and to recognize our capacity for forgiveness and love. We have seen in our own communities and in other nations across the globe the violence and human tragedy spawned by hatred, intolerance, and fear born of ignorance. If we are to destroy the roots of hatred, we must examine our own hearts and actions and learn what we can and must do to build just communities united in understanding and mutual respect. May this sacred season of renewal, hope, and new beginnings inspire our efforts and light our way to a brighter, more peaceful future.

Hillary joins me in extending best wishes for a blessed and joyous Easter celebration.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON

I don't know if that was originally on whitehouse.gov, though.

If we ever had a President who wasn't a Christian, I wouldn't be surprised if she published greetings which reflected her religious beliefs.

[rmthunter]

I probably wouldn't bat an eyelash if it weren't for the Bush administration's ongoing and very energetic efforts to erode the First Amendment prohibitions against establishment of religion.

Given that, I have to ask where is his Passover message, his Ostara message, etc.?

[cristina1]

rmthunter said

I probably wouldn't bat an eyelash if it weren't for the Bush administration's ongoing and very energetic efforts to erode the First Amendment prohibitions against establishment of religion.

Given that, I have to ask where is his Passover message, his Ostara message, etc.?

It's on the same site.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/relea...0030417-2.html

[frazzledspice]

Thank goodness that "in His teachings, the poor have found hope."

They're certainly not going to find any hope in the policies of the Bush administration.

[sleeper54]

mtbat said

--snip--

I don't have a problem with the religion aspect, I can see where there might be an issue with it being on a Government website.

He may be the president but he's still an American and as such he has the right to freedom of speech. In my opinion his Easter message falls under freedom of speech, I'm just not sure it belongs on the whitehouse.gov website.

--snip--

Yeah, you would think he could get a cheesy geocities site or something.

Of course that nasty link to it would still have to be placed somewhere.
And the hits would probably exceed the limit quickly, and . . ..



......
' who doesn't mean to offend geocities users . . . '
.

[rmthunter]

cristina1 said

It's on the same site.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/relea...0030417-2.html

Yeah -- "For immediate release, April 17, 2003"

[cristina1]

Yeah -- "For immediate release, April 17, 2003"

Of course it would be an old page - Passover is still a few weeks away. I was just showing that he had posted Passover greetings on the official website in the past. I bet he does this year as well when we get closer to the actual dates.

[poseidon]

So much for the lack of snarky comments.

[eris esoteric]

If it's any consolation, Jeff, I had the same problem reading the Easter greeting from Clinton, and the Passover greeting from Bush.

This would probably have something to do with the very small number of people that send me Christmas cards.