One of the great strengths of the United States is... we have a very large Christian population - we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.
I am an optimist unrepentant and militant. After all in order not to be a fool an optimist must know how sad a place the world can be. It is only the pessimist who finds this out anew every day.