Pledge of Allegiance in school

[cracked]

hey all. just wanted to tell a little story. the other day, sept 11 2002, my school did a moment of silence thing and the pledge of allegiance(sp?) to remember 9-11. well, before saying the pledge, the administration asked that students not repeat the verse "one nation, under God ". this is a public school and they said some stupid law had been passed that says you cant say that line of the pledge in school. i think this is rediculous. whether you are christian, jewish, muslim, aetheist, whatever, the pledge was created how ever long ago with the "under God" part in it for a reason. it should be repeated in its entirity(sp?). needless to say, many students and teachers alike became very upset that day.

drew

[mad1]

I agree with you, I can remember saying the pledge every morning before class started.
Now this has changed so that the people that want to say the pledge are not able to.

My answer to this is,"If you don't like it don't say the pledge, do not push your views onto someone that wants to respect our founding fathers and our country". I that does not work, move to another country.

THis stuff has gotten out of hand.

[Epidemic]

If you won't pledge you should be shipped off to a more liberal country where you can do what you will.

muwahahahahah!

But seriously.

Under god works. The constitutional geise under which all these jerks find refuge is. That congress will make no law reguarding the ESTABLISHMENT or exercise of religion.

Well "Under God" is not the establishment of religion.
You can say or not say it as the case may be so Exercise is not infringed.

So shut up and sit down.

Atheists are the ones who keep bringing this up for the most part. I find this funny because the fear of the word god IMO is caused by their lack of faith that there is no god. They do not want it thrown in their face every day and know that they risk offending god.

[J-Excel]

I disagree. The words "under God" were not in the original pledge. They were added specifically to by our congress to encourage and instill faith in a particular religion in school age children at a time when atheistic communism was rising in America. I'm not a fanatic about taking the phrase out but if it came to a vote I would vote to take it out.

[Epidemic]

What religion does it specify and establish? How are people forced to follow it?

Under What God?

Is saying a name going to make you change your faith. Or will it make you suddenly not an atheist?

[J-Excel]

It's "Under God" not "Under a god" or "Under your god or gods" or "Under Buddha" or "Under Allah". It clearly references the Christian God. I think if you asked the people that put it in they'd say they implied the Christian God. The argument that it is generic doesn't hold up. Not to mention that there are atheists that don't believe in any god at all.

Kids may not be required to say it but that doesn't make it OK. If a kid has an alternate belief and 29 other kids in the class daily profess their belief in a morning ritual, then he is left out and somewhat pressured to adhere.

[osprey4]

Of course, the point that should be made is that there is no law that prohibits the recitation of "UNDER GOD" in the pledge of allegiance.

Your school has a liberal idiot for a principal.

By the way, the suit in California where this came up was brought by an atheistic father supposedly on behalf of his daughter (who apparently is very religious) against her will.

[Warthog]

How does it clearly reference to the Christian God? I thought Allah and God were the same thing.

I figured an easy solution would be for those who WANT to say "Under God", can say it....those who don't, don't have to. That's how it was when I took the Army's oath.

Warthog

[Theophylact]

Boring, boring. We discussed all this before, and if the search function were working I'd post the link. But here's an article at Cornerstone, laying out the story. (Not a liberal source -- "The Voice of Jesus People USA".)

Excellent link, Theo, as always.

My personal opinion is that "Under God" does NOT imply a specific God/religion. It's generic, whatever may be the underlying connotations. Its up to each individual to interpret it as such.

I think its important for kids to think about and pray to God. Whichever God they have faith in.

My boys know the Pledge but they are not Christian but Hindu and think of Hindu Gods when they pray at school. Its up to you to decide. No one forces any particular religion at schools. They want kids to learn to pray and thank a "superior being/force".

That is how we take it and I think it is necessary for kids to be constantly be reminded of God.

Any God.

This will make them better human beings.

The controvercy stems from a few bigoted people who read meanings into the phrase "Under God" which are not there in my opinion.