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06/27/2002 Entry: "A nation "under God"?"
This story has the folk here in Fruitland Park all worked up.In a 2-1 decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the phrase "one nation under God'' in the Pledge of Allegiance (recited daily by millions of US schoolchildren) amounts to a government endorsement of religion in violation of the separation of church and state - hence the Pledge is unconstitutional.'Leading schoolchildren in a pledge that says the United States is "one nation under God'' is as objectionable as making them say "we are a nation under Jesus," "a nation under Vishnu", "a nation `under Zeus", or "a nation under no god", because none of these professions can be neutral with respect to religion,' Circuit Judge Alfred T. Goodwin wrote.Just in time for the Fourth of July.Read the BBC report.
Replies:
Well yes, it is quite a flap over a few words, isn't it? Remember though that most of us Yanks were raised reciting this pledge, in class, each and every school morning. The form of it, from sheer repitition, is very firmly entrenched in our collective psyche. To hear that a U.S. circuit court in California has, (apparently out of the blue) ruled that part of the pledge, the phrase that declares that we are all under God's wing, suddenly unconstutional, is unbearable.To this, we take umbrage. Even in this secular and increasingly hedonistic society, some things are held sacred by the masses. This attempted expunging of God from the venerable Pledge of Allegiance simply could not be tolerated. Hence the flap, the hue and cry.
Posted by Rick @ 07/01/2002 05:57 PM CST
I am amazed at the sheer amount of reaction this ruling has produced - it has dominated the media here since Wednesday night. I can't imagine anything similar at home. I'm planning to say a bit more about it, but I've got more thinking to do.
Posted by Richard @ 06/29/2002 01:42 AM CST
As a non-American, Brit, outsider, foreigner, etc. don't you find this kafuffle over a 1954 clause a bit much?
Posted by Bene Diction @ 06/27/2002 08:05 PM CST
