The America I Believed In.
B. 1776 - D. 2002
One Nation Under God
Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for All.
B. 1776 - D. 2002
One Nation Under God
Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for All.
R.I.P.
26 June 02
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What is our nation becoming?
It is a sad time indeed when our nation turns it back on all that it was founded upon. 9-11 will never compare to the damage our government inflicts upon itself.
I couldn't have said it better. This is as sad as 9/11.
I applaud the decision.
I too applaud the decision. For too long the money-hungry mental disorder that is religion has had a deathgrip on our culture. As a child I questioned the reason for "under god" to be in the pledge from the beginning. What if you don't believe in the all-powerful invisible man living in the sky? Should a child who knows no better be forced to believe in something that has no real proof of its validity?
Dave, you have the perfect right leave out 'under God' when you say the pledge. No one is forcing you to believe in Him, but just because you don't doesn't mean that the majority of the people in this country, and for that matter this world, don't believe that there is a 'all-powerful invisible man living in the sky', and in a free country, they should have as much right to express their belief in him, as you have not to.
I'll never support religion, or faith, being forced upon anyone. It's not what I believe in and it doesn't work. However, its important to remember that this country was founded by people who were seeking religious freedom from persecution in order to practice their faith, their belief in God.
That said, my anger in the 9th Circuit decision isn't so much directed towards what was decided as to how easily and carelessly it seems this ruling was made.
This is our Pledge, or Oath to our country. It is as sacred as the Flag itself and today some idiots in San Francisco decided that it was their charge to find our Oath unconstitutional.
My grandfather fought the Nazi's in World War II over the very principals of the Pledge.
I would have been much more at ease if the nation had been able to at least debate the outcome of this decision. I realize that's not how the Judicial Branch operates in our country but this action taken earlier today was too careless. It felt too much like a move to make headlines - a grab at 15 minutes of fame - and that feels wrong.
I don't think those words ever had a place in our pledge. We are making a pledge to stand as one united citizenry, why mention our fractured religious past? And, if church and state are to be separate, then the independence can't come only as non-partisan preference towards God, but must allow for those who do not practice or believe in anything to be welcomed equally. The majority of the inhabitants of the United States do practice one religion or another, but as it has been noted, our country was not founded by any majority, but by a group of minorities. To forget this, and start acting always on behalf of the majority, as has been the trend, would be a terrible thing.
I understand that the decision may frustrate many, and I even understand why. However, upon reflection, I think that removing references to God from affairs of the state is proper and right, though our forefathers may not have had the foresight to see the importance. One revolution at a time, you know.
The words "under God" weren't even an original part of the pledge. They were added in 1954, at the height of the Cold War, in an effort to further separate "us" from the Russians, who we looked upon at the time as "godless" and "evil."
Has any language been added or deleted before 1954? I'm packing an office so I haven't had time to research.
Michael at i-me-michael has a good writeup on the whole history. Check "One Nation Under Vishnu" at http://www.treetrybe.com/imm/
Not being American myself, but don't the lyrics to your national anthem also mention "God"?
Lana - yes almost all of our historical founding documents metions God. Our currency - the most widely used in the world - has the words, "In God We Trust" on every bill.
Absurd isn't it?
"Our currency - the most widely used in the world - has the words, "In God We Trust" on every bill."
Also added within the last 50 years. None of these things were foundational, people. One thing that is easily forgotten - and here we get into that "Christian vs. Non-Christian" argument, I'm afraid - is that this country was not founded as a Christian nation. Some of our founding fathers may have been Christian, but not all. Jefferson, for example, was a deist.
The country was founded on, among others, the principles of freedom from religious persecution and freedom to practice the religion of your choice. That means that, like it or not, that God, Jesus, Vishnu, Buddha, Zeus, and Eric Clapton are all on equal footing, and none are to be favored in the eyes of the government.
THAT is why "under God" was declared unconstitutional, and why administration-sanctioned prayer is not allowed in schools, and the Ten Commandments are routinely removed from the walls of government buildings.
Good point Bob.