Dean on National Day of Prayer and Remembrance

[MaineDem]

For Immediate Release

September 16, 2005


Contact: Josh Earnest - 202-863-8148


Dean on National Day of Prayer and Remembrance

Washington, DC - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean
issued the following statement on the National Day of Prayer and
Remembrance for the victims of Hurricane Katrina:

"Today, across our country, we pray for those Americans who lost
their lives as a result of Hurricane Katrina. We pray for the survivors,
whose lives have been irreparably changed by the worst natural disaster
in our nation's history. We also pray for the folks working on relief
and rescue and all those who have opened their hearts and homes to the
victims. This is America at its best.

"In addition, we pray that this tragedy will raise our collective
consciousness of poverty and social justice and renew our commitment to
displaced and suffering communities in America.

"Our hearts are with the people of the Gulf Coast during these trying
and difficult times. The rebuilding effort will take much time and
effort, and ultimately, we will be judged by our long-term commitment to
helping our fellow Americans. To that end, our prayers and thoughts must
be coupled with decisive action. Democrats stand united in our
commitment to those who have endured so much. We stand committed to
ensuring that families are united. Communities are rebuilt. Lives are
made whole again."

**********

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee,
www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any
candidate or candidate's committee.

[NYCGirl]

1. GREAT! And here's the most important thing in it:

"In addition, we pray that this tragedy will raise our collective
consciousness of poverty and social justice and renew our commitment to
displaced and suffering communities in America."

[pocket]

2. prayer shmayer

they need homes and income

[tocqueville]

3. Dean hasn't either understood the separation of Church and State

it's really bewildering

in a secular country the President or any other official CANNOT by definition proclaim a day of prayer

it's for the religious leader to do, and everybody is free to participate or not

I think it's more or less official now that the US has become a theocracy

[NYCGirl]

6. Hate to burst your bubble, but no one HAS to participate in this.

It's symbolic.

Did you have problems with national "days of prayer" when other presidents declared them, as they all have?

[tocqueville]

7. it's a matter of principle

I don't care how many presidents of whatever political color has declared it previously.

I think it's basically wrong in a country that calls itself "secular".
Same stuff with the pledge of allegiance.

It's only a way of sneaking in religion in state affairs.

I fully understand the declaration of a day of rememberance, grievance and mourning. I think that it is completely normal that religious manifestations are organized on such a aday. I find normal too that even elected officials participate in those religious manifestations - ON A PRIVATE BASIS - exercising their free right of worship.

But the State CANNOT ORGANIZE OR PROCLAIM A RELIGIOUS EVENT...

the state must remain NEUTRAL

Even in countries with an official state religion like the UK or Sweden they would avoid "having a day of prayer"

in France and some other European countries it would be UNCONSTITUTIONAL (BTW I think it is in the US too, but Gonzales would disagree)

What amazes me the most it that so few Americans, even "liberals" ask themselves this question :

In what God's name and in what RIGHT's name can the President can proclaim a day of PRAYER ? PRAYER, not grievance, mourning...

FYI, I am not an atheist

[MsUnderstood]

9. I have a problem with this particular prayer day

This morning, I'm listening to stories of kids still missing, people not working, towns (not New Orleans but other gulf towns) with 80% homeless and NO FEMA response and Bush takes time out of this need in the South to return to D.C. to attend CHURCH and pray. He was in the friggin disaster zone-stay there and do something!

Prayer didn't stop the hurricane and it ain't gonna stop the suffering.

What will stop the suffering is putting a person in charge to get people organized. Doctors pusing brooms, firefighters handing out leaflets, the stories coming out of the south in the last 48 hours are still horrible and BUSH stops everything to pray on a Friday?

And that, in a nutshell, is my problem with this day.

[Wordie]

4. Nominated. Could this go on tv, or would that really be too political? nt

[tocqueville]

5. yep go on TV

who is the official preacher ? Pat Robertson ?

Jesus

[Wordie]

10. LOL...well, if Jesus himself approves. (We need more dems on tv now!) n/t

[DavidDvorkin]

8. Damn you, Dean

I was counting on you as one of the people who might restore the principle of Separation of Church and State. This is a real let down.