Blimey!

[victoriavandal.livejournal.com]

Well, after the Tom Paine quoting, I came across this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/19/barack-obama-free-concert ....second paragraph down.

Comments

[nirejseki.livejournal.com]

I love how it's actually (somewhat) complimentary to the Festival of the Supreme Being...I think this may be one of the few/only places that is. ^^

[victoriavandal.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was surprising, specially as I imagine few people reading it even get the reference. Offhand, I can't remember many instances of it being seen as an example of a political 'good move' before! The writer is a historian, rather than a regular journalist, though.

[chip-squidley.livejournal.com]

"Not since Robespierre staged the festival of the supreme being on the Champs de Mars in Paris in June 1794 can a civil religion have been given such a blatant and beautiful expression, perfectly calculated to inspire a nation"

I was surprised by that quote too. I don't recall ever reading anything purely positive about the Festival anywhere either.