The Pledge of Allegiance reflects the truth that faith in God has played a significant role in America since the days of the founding of our country.

Used to be conservatives revered the Average American that Norman Rockwell oil painting of diner food humble faith honest toil and Capraesque virtue.

As crucial as religion has been and is to the life of the nation America's unifying force has never been a specific faith but a commitment to freedom - not least freedom of conscience.

That someone like Obama could be elected president of the United States - with its unrivaled power and prestige - has begun to restore the country's and the world's faith in America as the land of opportunity.

All great enterprises have a pearl of faith at their core and this must be ours: that Americans are still a people born to liberty. That they retain the capacity for self-government. That addressed as free-born autonomous men and women of God-given dignity they will rise yet again to drive back a mortal enemy.

In America now let us - Christian Jew Muslim agnostic atheist wiccan whatever - fight nativism with the same strength and conviction that we fight terrorism. My faith calls on its followers to love one's enemies. A tall order that - perhaps the tallest of all.

Our national motto is 'In God we Trust ' reminding us that faith in our Creator is the most important American value of all.

Workers have kept faith in American institutions. Most of the conflicts which have occurred have been when labor's right to live has been challenged and denied.

Our society is illuminated by the spiritual insights of the Hebrew prophets. America and Israel have a common love of human freedom and they have a common faith in a democratic way of life.

There is nothing wrong with America that faith love of freedom intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure.