Liberty and Justice for All?
So, what do you think about the Pledge of Allegiance being recited in school? I was watching World News Tonight at dinner earlier when I heard yet another report about the pledge being considered unconstitutional. The man, Michael Newdow (an atheist & lawyer), who has started this latest argument is the same one who tried to argue this point last year in front of the Supreme Court. He was suing on behalf of his daughter, but it turned out he didn't have custody at the time, so his case was dismissed. But now, he's back with the support of a whole whopping three--yes, three--families who agree with him.
Lawrence Karlton, a U.S. District Judge out of Sacramento, CA, ruled today that the pledge is unconstitutional because it violates a child's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God." Also, he plans to sign a restraining order preventing three Sacramento County schools from reciting the pledge (the schools where the children of the plaintiffs attend). So, basically, what that means is that Karlton feels children are being forced to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. That is just not true. No child is forced to say the pledge in public school. They can stand there quietly and daydream if they wish.
What makes me so angry about this is the fact that the freedoms of other children are being taken away by this ruling. Those other children have every right to say the pledge if they wish, and now they can't do it. I'm sorry...but why should, say, 97% of a school's population have to change for the 3% that don't agree, especially if that 3% is not being forced to say anything against their will to begin with? It's just plain wrong.
Granted, parents have every right to raise their children as atheists if they wish. If they want to deny the fact that there is a God, then who is stopping them? Until someone forces the words "under God" out of the mouths of their children, then, in my opinion, they don't have a leg to stand on.
You can read more about this at ABCNews.com
4 comments:
Air,
Thanks for your comments. I understand completely what you are saying...you know me--I wholeheartedly believe in keeping an open mind! However, you should know that the majority of religions in our country have a "God" in their faith.
Christians, overall, make up around 80% of the U.S. population. Non-Christian religions, including Judaism & Muslim, actually do pray to a "God" even though they may call it by another name. The terms "under God" do not specify only a Christian God.
You mentioned Buddhism, but the fact is they only make up around 0.5% of religion in our country. Buddhists do not have a belief in a Creator-God, but they do have belief in various supernatural beings.
Finally, atheists or agnostics make up around 15% of our population.
So, basically, all I'm saying is that, based on the reality of religion in our country, I don't think it's fair to amend the constitution to nationally restrict the pledge of allegiance (which is where this guy is trying to get to).
i believe our country was founded by a christian people and the whole foundation of america is "under God". i believe that if people don't agree with saying the pledge of allegiance to OUR COUNTRY than they don't have to say it.. that's what all the men and women over in iraq and various other places are fighting for. i believe taking God out of this country is the worst thing that can happen. once you lose your faith.. what else do you have? i agree with you col.. why should such a small percentage of people overpower the majority.. our country is also based on democracy.. right? if people don't like the term "under God" than maybe they should stop using another federal system that has imprinted on every piece "in God we trust." you can figure out which system i'm talking about i'm sure! :) by the way.. i like your blog... good stuff :) miss you babe!
I wonder if the atheist lawyer has a problem with 'In God We Trust' being printed on the bills or coins of money he has in his bank account. The more disheartening thing to me about that report was that 2 out of 3 Americans do not know the words to the Star Spangled Banner and Pledge of Allegiance. This is another great piece Colleen. I am working on a list for your music of the 90's post. That was very well done and a joy to read.
I think the the pledge should be kept the same using 'under god' Even if I was an athesist I don't see how I could be offended by it. The right of minorities are important, and is one of the things that is great about this country, but this is getting completely carried away. If a very large majority of the population believes in god, and probably a very large majority of athesist probably don't care about this issue, then it's probably like .01% of the population that is offended by this. I don't think laws should be changed because an extremely small minority don't like them. Plus, I personally don't see how this can be discriminatory to anybody.
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