# Congress calls for US to fast and pray for "God" to help win the war??? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 27, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628 "2003-03-27T22:25:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/1 "2003-03-27T22:25:31Z")
[Is this real???](http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:hres153:) > [@](#): > > 108th CONGRESS > 1st Session > > H. RES. 153 > Recognizing the public need for fasting and prayer in order to secure the blessings and protection of Providence for the people of the United States and our Armed Forces during the conflict in Iraq and under the threat of terrorism at home. > > IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES > > March 20, 2003 > > … > > Whereas dangers and threats to our Nation persist and, in this time of peril, it is appropriate that the people of the United States, leaders and citizens alike, seek guidance, strength, and resolve through prayer and fasting: Now, therefore, be it > Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should issue a proclamation– > > (1) designating a day for humility, prayer, and fasting for all people of the United States; and > > (2) calling on all people of the United States– > > (A) to observe the day as a time of prayer and fasting; > > (B) to seek guidance from God to achieve a greater understanding of our own failings and to learn how we can do better in our everyday activities; and > > © to gain resolve in meeting the challenges that confront our Nation. PLEASE tell me that this shit isn’t happening, and that I am being whooshed. Because if it is real… FUCK. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/2 "2003-03-27T22:33:17Z")
The only fasting I’m doing is to meet the media’s ridiculous expectations and standards set for ideal female beauty. I’m down to 103 lbs. I ain’t praying though. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/3 "2003-03-27T22:34:07Z")
Does this mean that Bush is now the Pope? Does he get to wear a funny hat? ---
**Author:** ![NPavelka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/edb3f5/32.png) [@NPavelka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NPavelka)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/4 "2003-03-27T22:40:11Z")
I thought fasting was also a form of civil disobediance… you know that dirty peacnick Ghandi guy. So can we pray for peace too or would that be one of those bad thoughts that the gubberment dosen’t like? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/5 "2003-03-27T22:43:32Z")
A funny hat would match his brain quite nicely. Yeah, Bush should accessorize in that manner. 🙂 No, this is not a whoosh. As Bob Dylan reminded us many years ago, America believes it has [God on its side](http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/withgod.html). ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/6 "2003-03-27T22:46:55Z")
I don;t know then whether to be more frightened/upset that it was thought of, or the fact that it has a good chance of passing. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/7 "2003-03-27T22:47:23Z")
They done lost their marbles. ---
**Author:** ![carimwc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac8455/32.png) [@carimwc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carimwc)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/8 "2003-03-27T22:50:59Z")
So what are they going to do to those who don’t participate in this day, if it actually passes? Are we going to be considered “unamerican”? Not everyone prays and I’m very scared that a resolution like this could come about. Isn’t freedom from religion part of our Constitution? Last I heard, praying was religious. And so is God. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/9 "2003-03-27T23:00:27Z")
Please. This is a political ploy to the extreme. I doubt it ever comes up for a vote. If it does, it will likely pass. (Note the other instances pulled from history to help “validate” this bill in its full text.) Net effect on the U.S., or any other country on the globe: zip. This is the legislative equivalent of pablum. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/10 "2003-03-27T23:07:34Z")
Sounds like a lot of superstitious nonsense to me. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/11 "2003-03-27T23:10:12Z")
Well, shit, who do you think is going to win this war for us? George Bush? ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/12 "2003-03-27T23:11:49Z")
. . . but at least Congress isn’t going to sacrifice virgins. It will be freedom fries, liberty toast and Bordeaux for me. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/13 "2003-03-27T23:14:23Z")
[General Turgid] Gentlemen, we must not _allow_ a prayer and fasting gap! [/General Turgid] ---
**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/14 "2003-03-27T23:17:30Z")
> [@](#): > > Resolved, That it is the **sense of the House** of Representatives that the President should issue a proclamation– I’m not saying that this resolution isn’t scary and inappropriate, but it is just the House expressing an [opinion](http://www.c-span.org/guide/congress/glossary/senhous.htm). Granted, it isn’t something they should be doing, but they never listen to me. ---
**Author:** ![presidebt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c37758/32.png) [@presidebt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/presidebt)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/15 "2003-03-27T23:18:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 5 time champ \* > \*\*. . . but at least Congress isn’t going to sacrifice virgins. > > \*\* You mean, out of all those 18, 19, and 20 year old soldiers there isn’t a single virgin? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/16 "2003-03-27T23:19:01Z")
It’s… a resolution. Resolutions have no “force of law” behind them, this isn’t something they’re going to “enforce” and make everyone fast and pray. The Senate can pass a resolution saying “The Enterprise could beat the Star Destroyer with one warp nacelle behind its back” if it so wanted. They regularly pass resolutions for things such as deaths in the families of members, etc. It’s silly, yeah. But it’s not like Congress is saying “You WILL fast and pray or else!” ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/17 "2003-03-27T23:31:31Z")
Isn’t there a song about ‘with God on our side’? :rolleyes: Does this show the Christian God\* is better than Allah? :smack: \*the American Christian God, of course ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/18 "2003-03-27T23:32:16Z")
Oh, they’re all war criminals anyway, so what the hell? Down the hatch, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/19 "2003-03-27T23:43:27Z")
[My own little contribution.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=173084) ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628/20 "2003-03-28T00:45:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by presidebt \* > \*\*You mean, out of all those 18, 19, and 20 year old soldiers there isn’t a single virgin? :dubious: \*\* Umm- sorry, I guess I didn’t think that one through. Good thing this isn’t **GD**. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-calls-for-us-to-fast-and-pray-for-god-to-help-win-the-war/164628.md?page=2)