If Governor Perry is sincere in calling Americans to join in the prayers for peace and prosperity of our nation, he has an opportunity to demonstrate it by giving a dignified space to every representation of the 312 million Americans.
Whether you are a Native American, follow an earth based tradition, believe in one God, multiple representations of God or No God, you must feel the embracive inclusion.
America is God's country; it is enriched with the width and breadth of his creation. This boat represents every belief, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, bigots, exclusionists, pluralists, evolutionists, racists, Islamophobes, anti-Semites, anti-immigrants, anti-GLBT, anti-everything and pro-everything. We are a Pluralist nation and let our boat be inclusive, that is the new definition of America, a Pluralist Nation.
America is Atheists' country; the Atheists, humanists, earth-based and native traditionalists must be invited to express their wishes (aka prayers) to fellow Americas without invoking God. I do hope, all of us wish for the well-being of every one of us.
Americans see God in every form; male, female, genderless and non-existent, non-being, nameless and with innumerable names, and to each one of us it is different. Indeed, we have created God in our own image as opposed to the other way around.
I cannot be safe if the ones around me are not. I cannot be at peace if the ones who surround me are not. It is in my interests and America's interest to ensure everyone is included and honored as God would have done it, then the national prayers would be meaningful.
If Governor Perry invites me, I will be happy to open the event with inclusive greetings and Pluralism prayers where every American feels welcome.
I appeal to Americans to attend the prayers by demanding an inclusion and not allow Gov. Perry to chop God into bits and pieces; yours and mine. America is yours and America is mine, let's not allow any rascal to monopolize God to serve his interests and whims.
Let's commit to work towards a cohesive America and rededicate our pledge to one nation under the dome indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
If this is a political stunt by Governor Perry, he will fall flat on his face and we need to makes sure that he does. We don't need a God, a public figure or a president who does not represent every one of the 312 Million of us; we do not want a President who has an agenda for the right or the left, but not for America. God has not signed a deal with any religious group behind our backs, so should be our president. Both must be free from bias, prejudice and favors.
I appeal to the majority of Americans with a belief in Jesus to act on it and not let anyone divide America as Jesus would have done it.
Here is an example of what an inclusive prayer might sound like.
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, writer, thinker and an activist committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.