George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation

The George Washington Thanksgiving Proclamation was sent to one of my discussion groups. It was also presented by Rush Limbaugh.

The attempt was to promote God, a god that does not exist. Just because someone believed something 200 years ago does not make it a fact. Instead of reading the Bible these believers should read John Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding.

George Washington said in his proclamation, "Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God". Though not a law, that seems like the government promoting religion. How many tyrants have said their subjects must obey the different gods of the past; Ra, Odin, Allah, Vishnu, Huitzilopochtli, etc., etc.

Mr. Washington seemed to be saying the government is blessed by God so therefore the government is good. God is validating the government, an organization that operates only by force and coercion, so people should be compliant and cooperative with the government tyrants.

I will not worship a god unless he or she presents themselves to me. Why should I listen to gods' promoters and enforcers? Let god talk to me. Does he speak hundreds of languages? Let him hold a press conference in each country and speak in their native language and tell us all how to live without war, violence and disease.

Washington went on to say, "And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations". It never ceases to amaze me how many people are willing to supplicate themselves before a myth. How can Washington or any other person pay such tribute to a god they claim is omniscient and benevolent, that would create a specie that creates so much horror and destruction.

The god believers would say god is testing us to see if we are worthy. Why would anyone worship such a torturer? Why did god wait thousands of years to create electricity and modern medicines? Their god actually tests us with pain, suffering, and war to see if we are worthy! I suppose god created all those diseases, viruses and bacteria just to test us these past thousands of years.

Instead of thanking god for our bounty on Thanksgiving, we should thank ourselves for our own production and efforts. Debi Ghate has a column about celebrating Thanksgiving the Ayn Rand way.

Charles Tolleson, Realist