Pledge Unconstitutional

[John McClane]

Did any of ya'll hear about the jerkweed of a judge who said the pledge was unconstitutional? Here (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,169379,00.html) :rolleyes:

[SamsoniteDelilah]

"Imagine every morning if the teachers had the children stand up, place their hands over their hearts, and say, 'We are one nation that denies God exists,"' Newdow said in an interview with AP Radio after the ruling.

"I think that everybody would not be sitting here saying, 'Oh, what harm is that.' They'd be furious. And that's exactly what goes on against atheists. And it shouldn't."


I think he has a point, there.

[John McClane]

I think he has a point, there.Who says they have to say the "under God" or even the pledge? No one.

[Godsend]

As an athiest, I really don't care whether or not I speak the words, '...under God..'

I really don't mean them.

My God! The school is forcing me to lie.

Something should be done about that one

edit:

Who says they have to say the "under God" or even the pledge? No one.

Our ******* teachers, that's who.

I don't care about pathetic things like this. What I do care about is how my teacher will only let us go to the bathroom 3 times this damn term. That is something I have to take to the Supreme court.

[SamsoniteDelilah]

Who says they have to say the "under God" or even the pledge? No one.
Whoever wrote it?
The whole arguement would be alleviated if they'd take "under God" out. That's sort of the guy's point.
The thing is, the school is making saying the pledge part of the school's daily activities. As long as they do that, they're imposing it on all the kids who are there.

[Strummer521]

Because of my religion, I have no problem saying "under God" during the pledge. However, I can't think of a good reason to make people who don't share my views say it. Pledging your alligiance to a nation "under God" assumes that there is a God and if someone is an atheist, they are basically solemnly swearing to something they don't really believe to be true. Even the Baptist minister who wrote the pledge didn't reference God. That was changed in 1954 to counteract the ideologies of "godless communism" and now that such a thing is not really an issue, maybe it's time to update. After all, freedom of religion does mean freedom of religion. By asking people to make an honorable reference to a God they don't believe in, we are in a sense, denying them basic rights that the country was founded on, which is kind of a step backward. Even if people are not forced to say the pledge, shouldn't we remedy this to make people more comfortable saying it and encourage equality rather than the exclusion of people with different belief systems?

[Piddzilla]

Isn't it a bit too Hitler Jugend to stand up and say the pledge together like that, with or without "under God"?

[susan]

the "under God" was added in the 50's...before that it was just "one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

most of us born in the 50's or later are used to saying under God

in my honest opinion it should be left alone...if you don't like it, don't say it....

as kids as a protest against the vietnam war in the 60's , some of us wouldn't sing the star spangled banner when it was played...did they change the national anthem because we didn't like it and wouldn't sing it???

some of us are getting a little too bent out of shape over nothing

[nebbit]

The whole arguement would be alleviated if they'd take "under God" out.

:yup:

[The Taxi Driver]

Isn't it a bit too Hitler Jugend to stand up and say the pledge together like that, with or without "under God"?


Thats why in my school i don't even say the pledge just because they try to make us, but they can't do anything to me for not saying it.

[SamsoniteDelilah]

If it were only adults who are effected, I'd agree that objecters to the phrase "under God" could simply get a sudden cough during those words. The problem is when you have 3rd graders who are going to school and there is time set aside each day for the pledge to be said, and it includes the words "under God", when this kid may have parents who have taught him/her that there is no God.... or that God lives below us... or whatever. And there's really no way that it's not going to make a kid feel weird, not saying it when all their friends do. To tell a 7 year old "just don't say it then" is teaching them a level of objectivity that they really may not be ready to handle. It's not a big jump in the undeveloped reasoning of a little kid to go from "pick and choose which parts you'll say" to "pick and choose which laws you want to obey". If there's going to be a pledge said, it should be something that everyone can get on board with, otherwise it's not very meaningful. And if the words "under God" can be tossed in without adding meaning, then they can just as easily be left out without detracting from the point - which is supposed to be a committment to citizenship in the country.

[A Scary Kid]

"I think that the Athiests should just say under Dog. It has the same amount of letters and it can be said as quick and as easly as god can. And that my friends is what diviersity is all about"-Lewis Black

There is no point in taking this to court, for we have other more important things to worry about. This is the kind of stuff that should be discussed in times of peace and prosperity.

[The_Butcher]

I agree with him. I don't find it fair that in order to pledge allegiance to your country you have to say "UNDER GOD." But then again, you don't have to say under GOD. I think you can recite it and not say under god. If your teacher or someone has something to say about it just plee the 1st.

-TheButcher

[Piddzilla]

How does it work in America? Do you start every school day with saying the pledge together in class? For how long does this go on? Are you saying it in high school as well?

[The Taxi Driver]

everyday we have to say it and yes in High school also

[susan]

as a baby boomer, we only had to recite the pledge every morning up until 6th grade (last grade of elementary school) we never had to in jr high or high school, must be something new or else i'm too old to remember...

it's only a 5 or 6 minute thing, you get up, put your hand on your heart and face the flag, then the national anthem (or my country tis of thee, adapted from god save the queen in england) was played over the loudspeaker...then you sat down and started classes...

[Tea Barking]

Maybe it's just me but this sounds like something that should happen in a place like china and not in a democracy :suspicious:

[susan]

the saying was added to fight communism, not promote it...

in god we trust is america's motto and written on all of our currency...

god bless america is a common phrase as well

[The_Butcher]

Isn't America a republic?

[Piddzilla]

To me this pledge sounds a little weird.