Conservative pundits are practically foaming at the mouth and speaking in tongues after President Obama's Thanksgiving Day giving-thanks-for-what-he-has speech. According to the New York Daily News, he thanked the hard-working military men and women, volunteers serving those in need, and the pilgrims, pioneers and patriots who made this country great. But that wasn't enough for the religious bunch. They have crucified him for not, well, thanking the formerly crucified, or at least for not thanking said formerly crucified's dad.

That's right -- the President didn't thank God and as a result he's been labeled by conservative "columnist" Ben Shapiro as a "militant atheist." Hmm, I didn't realize failing to do something made one "militant." Under Mr. Shapiro's view, I'm a militant anti-bather since I didn't take a shower this morning, you are probably a militant anti-laundry fanatic for not putting another load in the washer today, and he's a militant ignoramus, because he fails to speak about anything he actually knows anything about. Like many on the right, he instead substitutes brashness, sheer absurdity and outrageousness of statement for logic. It is ad hominem and unworthy of serious consideration. Besides, he's a doofus.

For me, though, Fox News's Eric Bolling made the dumbest statement when he argued Obama should have thanked God because "86% of Americans believe in some sort of God, whether it's Christianity or Islam or what not." I think the President should have therefore thanked "Whatnot" and see how that went over. (As an aside, I have since tried praying to "Whatnot" several times, but the only answer ever heard back was this one time after three glasses of wine last night when I could've sworn I got the response "whatever.")

Is Bolling seriously saying Obama should thank some generic god? I don't think it works like picking the generic corn flakes instead of Kellog's at the grocery story. And then what about all those other Americans? What about Hindus? Buddhists? Shrubbists? Anyway, by excluding God, the President was far more inclusive in his speech; he recognized many may not hold the same religious views but can still be thankful for what they have (just not thankful to some vaporish apparition who appears only once every couple thousand years as a fiery tumbleweed). Kudos, Mr. President. And if this makes you a militant atheist, well, welcome to the club.

Skepticlese

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