I have been very disappointed in the several attempts to erase this crucial phrase from our pledge of allegiance. No one is holding people at gun point to make them say our pledge; they can respectfully decline to say it if they wish. So will those who wish to protest please focus on a better cause, stand quietly, and let the rest of us give our allegiance to our God and country? What is the harm in that?
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"Under God" wasn't added to the pledge until the 1950s, when the majority of the US was scared of being a "pink communist soviet."
Why should we have to praise a god to praise our country? Can't you praise god in church, and praise your country separately so that others don't have to stand quietly when asked to praise the US?
If I hear this song on the radio one more time I think I'm going to scream. Will any of you liberals out there join me in putting pressure on radio stations to ban this song?:
One Nation Under God
Dr. BLT & Jennifer Mancouso
words and music by Dr. BLT (c)2006
http://www.drblt.net/music/UnderGod.mp3
Finally, someone else who understands why "under god" was put into the Pledge! I agree with you as well. We have a separation of church and state in this country and it is high time that people remembered that.
~Violinstef
That is not the point. Taking "Under God" out of the pledge would be infringing on my right, and the rights of other religious people who believe that God and Country are irrevocably linked. To us, we have our wonderful freedoms because of God. Take away God, and we have no America. Surely those who do not believe in God can allow us two words to express our devotion. After all, America allows them to bash our God whenever they choose.
But there's a separation of church and state.
You can believe that your God and America are linked even if it isn't explicity expressed in the pledge! Taking that out doesn't take your beliefs away from you. It's not like we're replacing it with "NOT UNDER GOD!"
Not saying "under God" in the pledge does not take away your right to have a faith. But linking God and the United States in the pledge alienates people who aren't religious. It's basically saying, "Oh, to be a TRUE american, you have to be religious, particularly Christian."
Why can't faith stay in church and in your own life? Why push it on everyone else? Express your devotion in other media besides the pledge.
And last time I checked, alienating people for no reason is NOT an American value.
What is the problem with saying, or listening to "under God", you don't have to stand when the pledge is being said, or even pay attention to it..but for those who want to, please let them do so w/o controversy
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It'd be even LESS illegal if the people simply said it anyway. Why should I have to sit down and not speak my allegiance to this country just because I'm an atheist?
The problem of which I speak is freedom of religion - I've always felt that this is a nation under a republic government; not a nation under god. To FORCE me to say this is wrong; if I want to praise my country without praising god, I should be able to. Why are you stopping me from this?
I don't say the pledge of allegiance anyway; I would never die for a corrupt administration and a corrupt governmental system. I am an allegiant to this country's people; not to it's corrupt leaders. But that's not the point of this topic.
One thing I've always chuckled to point out is that you're basically telling god to bless America - why? Do you think god would appreciate you telling him what to bless or not? Really, you should tell god to bless Africa - they need help, not us. We might be 9 trillion dollars in debt, but they're in debt AND starving AND dying of rare water-related diseases AND in a constant state of war. You should be praying for them; after all, isn't the idea of religion to help those who don't have it? Clearly, nobody on this planet deserves to starve, regardless of religion. Besides - who's going to be religious if they're starving? That's why the communists in Russia were in power for so long - the people were too busy surviving day to day to care about politics.
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If a society is willing to give freedom for temporary security, they deserve neither.
"I've always felt that this is a nation under a republic government; not a nation under god."
-But the facts of the matter are that it was created under God and nothing you say or desire can change that. Our founding fathers were very religious, so our nation was founded under God. And this country still is very religious. Every Congressional meeting begins with a prayer, as well as every Supreme Court trial. Bibles are still sworn upon as oaths....now do you think these things should be chenged to since you're an athiest. I mean, swearing on a Bible would mean absolutely nothing to you, right?
"To FORCE me to say this is wrong; if I want to praise my country without praising god, I should be able to. Why are you stopping me from this?"
-You are by no means FORCED to do anything. You can say the pledge and just not say the "under God" part if you want. And it's not like you're pledging allegiance to God even if you to say it. All you're saying is "one nation under God," you aren't saying, "I believe in God." Saying that the nation is under Him, in my opinion, odes not go against your faith.
"Do you think god would appreciate you telling him what to bless or not? Really, you should tell god to bless Africa - they need help, not us."
-You can tell Him to bless whatever you want Him to bless. You can ask Him to bless the whole world, it doesn't matter. And no, He wouldn't be mad at that....He wants us to pray to Him, not matter what we're asking for. And believe me, America needs all the blessings it can get. That doesn't mean we don't want God to bless other countries. In Mass we pray for people in other countries every Sunday.
"Besides - who's going to be religious if they're starving? "
-That's an ignorant comment. There are MANY religious people who are starving and/or in horrible situations. Because when you're in a situation like that, the only thing there possibly is to do is to pray to Him. And don't take this the wrong way, I'm not comparing myself to kids in Africa, but I find that my faith in God seems to be the strongest when my life is at its worst moments. When it's good I sometimes forget to pray for certain things, but when it's bad I pray so much more. My faith in God is the only thing that's helped me through the hard times. I've been dirt poor. My mom at some points didn't have enough money for groceries or gas money, but God always provides and He never let it get so bad that we were actually homeless. So don't think that people in bad conditions can't be religious.
1. The number of atheists is growing, actually. There aren't just atheists and christians in this country anyway - there are people of all religions, and they also take disrespect. Why can't you simply allow them to pledge allegiance to their country without disobeying their religion? And why should we be inconvenienced anyway to have to change how we say it just so you can utter two words?
2. Oh, but I am - I have to options - say the pledge or not. If I want to, but can't because I don't believe in a country under god, that's not right at all.
3. Aye, but you must remember you're blessing a country with the highest sin rate on the globe. No joke.
4. Gas money? Most Africans wish they could actually have the money to worry about gas money. Gas money isn't even a factor; it's the food and the warlords.
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If a society is willing to give freedom for temporary security, they deserve neither.
1. The majority of people against "under God" in the pledge are athiests. No Christian or Jewush religions would be upset since they, too believe in 1 God. And they ARE pledging allegiance to their country. "One nation under God." They're not saying anything about themselves believing in God. Also, many athiests don't even mind saying "under God," because they know they aren't actually saying they believe in God. The country was founded under God and you can't change that, so I don't see the problem.
2. No, you aren't forced. You can say the pledge while omitting those 2 words. And it isn't pledging any allegiance to God anyway. It's only saying (like I said before) that the nation is under God - that's just the way it's been founded.
3. And that's EXACTLY why it needs as many blessings at it can get! So people can change and not be so violent and just overall bad people.
4. I said I wasn't comparing myself to Africans, if you actually read what I wrote. We didn't have money for food, either. The point is just that I've been the most devoted to God in my hardest times. I know I'm fortunate to have never been as bad off as the Africans, but relative to other Americans, we were pretty bad off and I still prayed to God every day and never lost my faith in Him because He does provide when you need it most.
claiming the nation was founded "under god". It wasn't.
And your double talk that one can pledge allegiance "under god" without pledging TO "god" is outright dishonest.
America also allows people like you to bash non-christians, as you have just done. I will not accept your theocratic America, nor your infringment on my rights.
If you don't want to say Under God no one is forcing you to. I don't see why people are making such a big issue of this. It is just two little words in something that people say and don't even pay much attention to. If you don't beleive in god, then don't say it. But the majority of people do, so that's what wins.
All that need be added here is a reminder to slowly read the First Amendment. We have the right to choose whichever or no religion for OUR own selves. It is NOT for our government to choose a (or any) religion for us. THAT is what freedom is -- 100% individual choice, so long as it does not hinder or infringe on the rights of others.
It's not like they're making people say, "I believe in God." They're saying "one nation under God." So even if they don't believe in it, I don't see the problem. A student shouldn't have to say the pledge if they don't want to, but the words, "under God," should not be removed. Then what about money, government buildings, etc that say things like, "In God we trust."? Taking "under God" out of the pledge would lead to so much more.
America was builded on a religious foundation, the beginning schools taught children to read from the bible because it was the only book availiable, also they made laws and rules based on the ten commandments, so what are we suposed to do get rid of America? its the country's heritage, it cannot be easily wiped away because people decided not to believe in it anymore, and I don't think the majority of the people are going to let it go without a fight. I believe the correct morals were used in the American upbringing, and I say God Bless it!!
America was builded on a religious foundation, the beginning schools taught children to read from the bible because it was the only book availiable, also they made laws and rules based on the ten commandments, so what are we suposed to do get rid of America? its the country's heritage, it cannot be easily wiped away because people decided not to believe in it anymore, and I don't think the majority of the people are going to let it go without a fight. I believe the correct morals were used in the American upbringing, and I say God Bless it!!
Please provide proof of your claims.
I have a question. When you say the pledge of alligence do you really think about every word you are saying? Do you really notice that you even say "under god", or do you worry more about counting the stars on the flag or about how your day is going? I think by taking out "under god" you are limiting peoples right of free speech. You don't have to say "under god" when you are saying the pledge. If you don't like it being in there, simply don't say it at all. I think Americans today are making a little problem that could be avoided into a huge problem that is leading onto to more and more problems that have never been worried about before. Most people that say the pledge of alligence don't even worry about what they are saying and people that are holding change in their pocket aren't worried what so ever that it says "in god we trust". The final line is...if you don't want to say it, don't and if you don't want to read it, don't. It's not something most people need to worry about and too many people want their 15 minutes of fame.
It's not the actual words as much as what they symbolize.
It's great that religion influenced some of our behavior, and it's great that some people have faith in God.
But more importantly, our nation is supposed to be secular, and our people are supposed to have the right to choose whether or not they endorse a god on their own.
Most of our founding fathers were Christians. Yes, it's a secular nation, but the pledge is not making you believe in God. It's saying that the nation was founded under God, which is true.
Most of the Founders were Deists. Look it up. The nation was NOT founded "under god". Provide proof or abandon the lies.
I tstinks how a nation that was founded by Christians on Christian principles, (don't try to say it wasn't) Is turning it's back on God. Ht epilgrims came to America so they could have religious freedom because they were being persecuted for their Christian faith.
The Pilgrims, as well as many of the other colonies, were so upset by religious persecution that they instituted far worse persecution and religious intolerance in their own societies.
And no, the nation WASN'T founded on Christian principles.
I agree. Our nation is supposed to accept everyone's individual right to have their own religion. This country WAS founded on Christianity, but when we actually came here we were actually British. As AMERICANS we do not have the right to ask people to say "under God." True, they don't HAVE to say it, but I can see how they would be offended by the symbolism. However, God can refer to anyone's god. It can refer to an idea of a higher meaning that we live by. It can mean anything that we choose to make it mean. The point is that you can CHOOSE to be offended, or you can say, "Hey, I'll take it to mean that we live under ____ (whatever)." If you look for things that will offend you, you will find them.
You should be able to be patriotic without being religious, but honestly I don't feel the need to pledge allegiance to a country I seldomly agree with.
...why was it not in the ORIGINAL version of this oath as it was adopted into our laws?
The author of the Pledge, Francis Bellamy, did not include this phrase in the original pledge, and according to his family, would have actively opposed its inclusion if he had still been alive when it was added in 1954.
Personally, I think that the "crucial" parts of the pledge are those that were included in its orginial form, which was quite sufficient to convince the people of this country to acknowledge it by congressional adoption. THAT pledge read as follows:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
The 1954 addition of "under god" is plainly unconstitutional, and will in my opinion be removed in due course. It is just unfortunate that those citizens who are not christian have been forced to endure this abuse of their religious freedoms for as long as they have.
The Pledge of Allegiance
A Short History
http://history.vineyard.net/pledge.htm
percivale