The American's Creed

About three years ago, while reading various works of the great existentialist writers Albert Camus and Samuel Beckett, I pondered the idea of a godly America -- thinking of the numerous references to God in the public livelihood of this country. In considering existentialism as a school of thought, and to a greater extent, agnosticism and atheism, I realized how unwelcoming America could be to non-believers. \nExistentialists believe that a person's existence precedes all. While an atheist denies the existence of God, the agnostic says that humans are basically on their own because no one can reasonably explain the existence of God and He has no intervention in the mundane. It seems that our government, at times, is very godly in its nature. \nOur currency is imprinted, "In God We Trust." Our Pledge of Allegiance speaks of "One nation under God." The Declaration of Independence refers to the laws of "Nature's God" and rights endowed by a "Creator." \nIn a response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, President George W. Bush read a verse of Psalm 23 to the nation and scheduled a basically Christian national prayer service in addition to leading the nation in a unified chorus of "God Bless America."\nYou're probably wondering, "Vinny, what's up with the bad rap you're giving to people who believe in God." I feel you; however, I can't help but think of our fellow Americans who don't believe in God or believe that God has no involvement in their lives. What hymn do they sing? \nIt's important that everyone deals with our current war in their own spiritual way, and in no way am I suggesting that integral American documents be rewritten or song lyrics be modified. Alternatively, we live in a different era and the rhetoric, especially from government officials, needs to be changed to include all Americans. \nA column in last week's weekly edition of the Washington Times recounted the story of the "American's Creed" -- the creed of the United States. William Tyler Page wrote the "American's Creed" in 1917 for a national writing contest during the beginnings of World War I. \nJames H. Preston, then mayor of Baltimore, offered the contest, which planned to award a $1,000 prize to one of the 3,000 contestants. Page was the winner. \nA creed, which means a set of beliefs, usually implies a religious connotation. The "American's Creed" is unique in that it makes no reference to any godly figure. Mr. Page refers to the creed as a "summary of the fundamental principles of American political faith, as set forth in its greatest documents, its worthiest traditions, and by its greatest leaders." \nThe text of the "American's Creed" reads: "I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag; and to defend it against all enemies."\nI am proud and thankful that there is one refrain that every American can utter with a unified voice, the "American's Creed"