...and Non-Believers
by Tim McGovern

Far be it for me to criticize the tooth fairy or downplay the importance of Santa Claus in early childhood socialization. Superstition certainly has its place, but luckily that place is no longer the Oval Office.

Along with most other Americans and people from around the world, I sat in rapt attention at noon on January 20th watching the inauguration of our new president. The hope and inspiration of that moment can hardly be understated on any number of levels – the swearing in of our nation's first non-white president, the end of eight years of incompetency, and most importantly for me, the ushering in of a new era of politics founded on the voice of reason, rather than on the shoulders of an invisible man in the sky.

President Barack Obama's first inaugural address certainly took on an appropriately somber tone, considering the current state of our nation; however, within the list of struggles that lie ahead, characteristic moments of hope emerged. Most notable to me were the lines emphasizing the importance of science and those recognizing the multiculturalism that pervades our country; sentiments that seemed to have been lost on our last Commander in Chief...

The line that garnered the most uproarious applause from the group of which I was a part was a seemingly throw-away addition to the characterization of the American spirit.

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus &ndash and non-believers."

Of course, I was sitting with a group of liberal university students and faculty, a group that would probably not fit into what Sarah Palin called "real America," but, nevertheless, the palpable exuberance of the crowd could not be denied. Although seemingly not primary, at least we were finally on the list – we were counted. That seemingly innocuous line could have been Obama's most profound. For the past 20 years, and I suspect for the nation's entire history, non-believers, along with Muslims, Jews, and Hindus, have not been mentioned in an inaugural address. Perhaps we really have turned a corner in this country.

Also in stark contrast to the superstition that has plagued the White House over the past eight years, Obama affirmed the need for an increased emphasis on scientific discovery. In a backhanded swipe at the policies of the Bush administration, Obama forcefully declared, "We will restore science to its rightful place."

However, despite Obama's will for change, I fear a shift may be slow in coming. Only two days before the historic inauguration, I was pained to read the headline "Louisiana Creates: New Pro-Intelligent Design Rules for Teachers" on the website of Science magazine. In neighboring Texas, the all-too-familiar evolution versus creationism debate began as the State Board of Education heard testimony regarding revising the state's science curriculum.

It is staggering to believe that this debate rages on in 2009, the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the first publication of his groundbreaking On the Origin of Species.

For all us rational souls, one can only hope that 2009 will not be the year that we stand up and be counted, only to once again be pushed to society's margins. We are in the midst of an economic meltdown, two foreign wars rage in a region ravaged by religious fervor, and the Constitution has been ripped apart over the preceding eight years; it will not be God, but rationalism and science that will save us. Help us President Obama, you may be our only hope.