[written 2-27-03]
It is possible that the phrase, “under God” will be removed from the pledge of allegiance shortly. I believe that to be appropriate. From today’s (2-28-03) online NY Times, “…a federal appeals court Friday refused to reconsider its ruling that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional because of the words ‘under God.’”
All 24 Circuit Court judges were asked if they thought the case should be reheard, but only 9 thought they should. So it’ll either go to the US Supreme Court or the 9th Circuit, most of the west coast, will be removing “under god” from their pledge time.
I remember wondering why the heck “under god” was in the pledge when I was saying it in 5th grade. It never felt right. I even recall muttering those two words under my breath in high school home-room in an attempt to lessen it’s hold on me. And I went to a catholic high school. I’m glad they’re putting that phrase down.
I wrote to my Senators and Rep about this in June, 2002. Over a year later, a senator wrote back to me about it. So I responded. Here’s the exchange:
* My original letter to Senators and Representative
* Senator Corzine’s response
* My followup (I also wrote similar letters to my other Senator and Rep)
If you’re not up for reading the exchange, my two points are:
1. About 15% of adult Americans are insulted by the phrase “under God”, either because they are non-religious or practice a religion that does not believe to be under one god. For 15% of adult Americans, the phrase “under God” is a direct affront to their religious sensibilities.
2. The phrase was added to the Pledge in 1954, in defiance of the “godless” communist threat. Well, the Cold War is over. In the current political and terrorist climate, one could easily argue that “God” is causing more problems for the U.S. government than he is solving.
update 9-14-05
Update
August 2nd, 2005 at 4:08 am
Just to be clear: all of the above only applies to those areas under the jurisdiction of the 9th circuit court, not the rest of the country.
September 14th, 2005 at 11:45 am
TJIC,
Federal court is federal. (though I take your point that there is a good chance this ruling wouldn’t survive a Supreme Court date)
My 5th grade experience was in New Jersey… under the jurisdiction of the 3rd Circuit Court.
RE #1: My statistic of 15% of Americans being offended is a national statistic. Read.
RE #2: That was a national issue, not local.
January 17th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
I believe every US citizen of course should voice his or her opinion but you should keep in mind this country was established based on religion…. on God….
January 18th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Would you say that making a law mandating that all students in congress-provided schools makes a law respecting the establishment of religion?
Would you hazard a guess that a person that does not believe in “God” would feel as though their free exercise of religion was being infringed upon if they were forced to recite a phrase each day that professed a belief in “God”?