Hot Topic (9/8): Should the words "under God" be in the US pledge of Allegiance?
Do you think the words "under God" should be in the US pledge of Allegiance?
The Pledge officially became part of the US Flag Code in 1942. In 1954 the words "under God" were added to the Pledge by Congress with approval from President Dwight Eisenhower.
A 2001 lawsuit, filed by Michael A. Newdow, contested the inclusion of the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, citing a violation of church-state separation principles.
PRO: Some proponents argue that the United States was created from the Christian principles of the Founding Fathers and as such the Pledge should respect the country's heritage. Others say the US Constitution protects freedom of religion and not freedom from religion. Many advocates of including "under God" in the Pledge point out that polls show at least 80% of Americans support it, that federal law already contains 22 references to "God," and that Presidents swear an oath of office ending with "so help me God." Many others claim the incorporation of religious language is a reflection of the US civic culture and not a promotion of religion .
CON: Some opponents argue that church and state should be kept separate as the Founding Fathers intended. Others say the phrase "under God" in the Pledge places "undue coercion" on young children, thus violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. They also declare that the US Constitution protects minority rights against majority will. Many advocates of removing "under God" point out that the phrase was not written into the original pledge and that the opposition to returning to the original pledge is proof that "under God" is a religious symbol and not merely a secular practice .
What do you think?
ummm yeah! Unless you want to change the constitution and declaration of independance to....
I somehow think that if it were voted on, it would remain the way it is. I honestly don't care either way. We say that church and government are separate but then people vote based on religious beliefs, for example, gay marriage. It is a perfect example of religion being forced on the population that is not religious. Was it wrong? Absolutely, but it was brought up to be voted on when it never should have been. There needs to be a line where people are not allowed to run others lives based on religious beliefs that everyone doesn't share. Gay marriage should never have been allowed on a ballot because most people that opposed it, did so with their Bibles in hand. However, for typical elections, people can vote based on beliefs. People vote for presidents based on religious beliefs. I know people that vote for presidents simply because they are opposed to abortion and have no clue what else they stand for. Foolish, but the vote is theirs to make.
Pilgrims fled Europe to avoid religious persecution. Ironically, when they arrived here they robbed the Native Americans of their freedom by forcing Christianity on them. Majority rules, even when it is wrong unfortunately.
I think it is very difficult to separate the two when so many people base their decisions on their religious convictions. Children are not required to say the pledge of allegiance in school anymore so why change it now? It is a piece of writing, a part of history, and should be left as it is. I feel the same about things like the statue of the Ten Commandments being removed from the court house. It was part of the building, part of history, it should have been left. At one time religion and government were intertwined. Simply because we try to keep it apart now, doesn't mean we need to wipe out reminders of what used to be.
If the use of the word God is distasteful to some, perhaps they should write a new pledge.
We are all shades of gray. It’s been said again and again; life’s a process. We are fleeting moments that come and go, and I am grateful to have my time, my aspirations and my mistakes, my flaws and my abilities. Think of me what you will, but before you do, don’t. Alexander William Gaskarth
Nope, It doesn't belong there at all. I understand the majority of people in this Country 'claim' to be believe in god, but it shows disrepsect to those who don't.
Regardless of what Christians think, this Country was not founded as a Christain Nation and telling yourself over and over does not make it true.
Having God in the Pledge goes against everything our Founding Fathers had in mind, but because the religious nuts have control of the US, their arrogance, delusions and controlling nature will never let it be removed.
all I can say is my heart is breaking over this....I won't argue or debate you..but I will be thinking about you...
I agree with her
Quoting apachemechwife:
ummm yeah! Unless you want to change the constitution and declaration of independance to....
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Quoting IhartU:
Nope, It doesn't belong there at all. I understand the majority of people in this Country 'claim' to be believe in god, but it shows disrepsect to those who don't.
Regardless of what Christians think, this Country was not founded as a Christain Nation and telling yourself over and over does not make it true.
Having God in the Pledge goes against everything our Founding Fathers had in mind, but because the religious nuts have control of the US, their arrogance, delusions and controlling nature will never let it be removed.
But why remove it? Why not just write a new one instead of change a historical piece of writing? Our founding fathers actually were just as guilty of pushing religion as people are today. As I said before, people fled religious persecution only to turn around and be the persecutors to others.
I need to ask this. As the school age site director at a YMCA, I had a woman that was a Jehovah's witness pull me aside and insist that we stop having birthdays and holiday celebrations with the kids because her child does not celebrate them. I told her that I could remove her child from the room but would not disappoint 98 children to accommodate 1. Would that be fair? We had breakfast with Santa and a Jewish parent complained. We stopped doing it because they raised a stink even though it was outside of the program on the Saturday before Christmas and you needed to buy tickets.
Why take something away from one group to make another happy? Why not create something new for those that are patriotic but not religious. Those that are neither, can sit down and block their ears during the old pledge and any new one.
Simply, there are more important things to worry about.
We are all shades of gray. It’s been said again and again; life’s a process. We are fleeting moments that come and go, and I am grateful to have my time, my aspirations and my mistakes, my flaws and my abilities. Think of me what you will, but before you do, don’t. Alexander William Gaskarth
Yes, it should be removed, as it is a violation of the Constitution.
The word "god" was added to the pledge during the McCarthy era witch hunts. Its addition to the pledge was motivated by McCarthy driven anti-communism hysteria, since it was widely held that communism was synonymous with atheism.
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