Supreme Court to take up the phrase "Under God"

[lotrfan55345]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=558&e=1&u=/ap/20040324/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_pledge_of_allegiance

I guess there are more people who's brainS is dominated by faith, not logic. :ohmy:

[Godsgifttomankind]

I guess there are more people who's brainS is dominated by faith, not logic. :ohmy:
Lotrfan, I take it by this comment that you are against a pledge of allegiance to any higher power or authority?

[Strife]

IMHO, I don't really know why athiests or people of other religions will take the allegiance so seriously as to go this far. The majority of Americans are of Christian related faith, so let it be if this way because this country was found under the faith of god. They should understand this and keep it that way. No harm will be done to say the allegiance everyday if you know in your heart that you follow a different belief. Try to believe the allegiance is a way of respect to those in this country. In other word's 'play' by the rules. It’s as simple as that, just ignore the meaning to it and live your life without worrying about it.

[Godsgifttomankind]

IMHO, I don't really know why athiests or people of other religions will take the allegiance so seriously as to go this far. The majority of Americans are of Christian related faith, so let it be if this way because this country was found under the faith of god. They should understand this and keep it that way. No harm will be done to say the allegiance everyday if you know in your heart that you follow a different belief. Try to believe the allegiance is a way of respect to those in this country. In other word's 'play' by the rules. It’s as simple as that, just ignore the meaning to it and live your life without worrying about it.
Strife who's rules are we all playing by anyway?
I would hazard a guess that the allegiance will not be upheld by the Supreme Court. This is based on an understanding that it is the will of God that such an allegiance has run it's course and the way has to be paved for national pride to be superseded by the more important needs of the world as a whole. We all know the devastation that unbridled nationalism has inflicted upon the world. We live in an age of global awareness and yet we adhere to nationalistic egos that we convince our self that of our superiority over other nations. This is as fallacious an argument as any other form of prejudice and inequality that has infected the peoples of this vast and wonderful Globe. I take pride in my heritage but you will not see me using my solitary wooden shoe, my lucky shamrock or my thousands of other sacred traditional items to prove my superiority over those around me. I thank God for all the gifts that I have been given and the diversity by which he has blessed his people. I have traveled enough and count myself friends with the people of all nations, a citizen of the global community. Those people that feel their nationality makes them superior have not tasted of the abundance of this planet we call earth.
The Earth is but one country and mankind it's Citizens.

[lotrfan55345]

The phrase "under god" was added in the 1950's in the height of the cold war to unite the Americans from the Athiesm or the USSR. The cold war is over, so should it's traditions.

[DontBeAfraid]

Most little kids, the ones being MADE to recite the pledge, dont know what they beleive in their hearts and making them state that they beleive in any god or gods is religious indoctrination. If there parents want them to be indoctrinated they can send them to church.

[evilwill]

That man deserves a great deal of respect. Not many would challenge almost a whole nation single handedly. I also agree with his point, even though it doesn't effect me.

[lazserus]

I think this whole thing is idiocy. I don't see why a country should change ANY of its traditions because a handful of tight assed atheists enjoy hating. Every atheist argument in these cases are completely intolerant and ignorant. It gives all the mature, intelligent atheists a bad name. These screaming atheists are being hypocritical in the sense that a vast majority hate Christians due to intolerance, yet they are just doing the same thing on the opposite side of the fence. They're being completely irrational.


Most little kids, the ones being MADE to recite the pledge, dont know what they beleive in their hearts and making them state that they beleive in any god or gods is religious indoctrination. If there parents want them to be indoctrinated they can send them to church.
I agree with this entirely. I don't think certain phrases should be taken out of the pledge, but I also don't think the pledge should be forced. That goes against America's foundation of beliefs when dealing with freedom. Forcing patriotism is tyranny. Children should have a choice on whether or not they want to say the pledge because it's their right, not because of religious reasons. What I mean, is that it shouldn't have to go as far as a separation of Church and State - the buck stops at freedom.

[Clete]

Lazserus, the "under God" part of the pledge has only been around since the fifties, that's not much of a tradition. Slavery and segragation had much longer histories as traditions in the U.S., but we still abolished them (as well we should have). Just because something's a "tradition" doesn't mean that it's good.

And I don't think these atheists taking issue with the "under God" part of the pledge makes them tight-asses. I'd imagine that if the pledge contained the phrase "under Vishnu", Christians would have a probblem with it. Would that make them tight asses?

[Kohler]

That man deserves a great deal of respect. Not many would challenge almost a whole nation single handedly. I also agree with his point, even though it doesn't effect me.

The bottom line is America is a Christian based nation, NOT athiest based. If anyone who is an athiest doesn't feel comfortable pledging alliegience to our flag then there is one simple solution. Leave our country.

[lotrfan55345]

The bottom line is America is a Christian based nation, NOT athiest based. If anyone who is an athiest doesn't feel comfortable pledging alliegience to our flag then there is one simple solution. Leave our country.

Our country was founded by settlers who wanted RELIGOUS FREEDOM.

[DontBeAfraid]

Our country is full of christians but it IS NOT built on christianity.... It is based on freedom and has nothing to do with religion. If you want the government to take a role in the religious indoctrination of your children then move to the middle east. Here in america you will have to indoctrinate them yourself.

Laz, its people like kohler that make challenging the words "under god" vital. They already beleive that their religion is the "national religion" and are just waiting to turn this country into a theocracy....... We all know how well theocracies do, just look at EVERY country ruled this way throughout all of history to present day.

[VegasRonin]

I think its much ado about nothing. As long as the pledge isn't forced upon anyone, what's the big deal? I've never seen anyone forced to recite the pledge when I was going to school.

[Victoria]

One nation to me sounds a little too much :bs:

[lotrfan55345]

As long as the pledge isn't forced upon anyone

Go to a local Elementary School. (Atleast here in MN)

[VegasRonin]

We've already ascertained that you go to a jacked up school, or did. Your guys problem in MN. is a lot more than the words in the pledge.

[DontBeAfraid]

It is 'forced' upon almost every public elementary school student in the nation VR. Making it 'voluntary' isnt really making it 'voluntary', as any student who might possibly have the courage to actually sit out will be outed by the rest.

[VegasRonin]

I doubt that! I remember being in elementary, and if you didn't want to recite the pledge then ya didn't have to. You had to stand but you didn't have to say anything.

[Strife]

I doubt that! I remember being in elementary, and if you didn't want to recite the pledge then ya didn't have to. You had to stand but you didn't have to say anything.

It still is carried on today VegasRonin. Everyday, my teacher get's angry when the students in my class ignore the pledge when we are asked to. "Have some respect and stand!" she would say. Sure, I would stand while they announce the pledge with my hand over my heart, but most of the time I choose not to say it outloud.

[VegasRonin]

It still is carried on today VegasRonin. Everyday, my teacher get's angry when the students in my class ignore the pledge when we are asked to This teacher's behavior needs to be brought to the attention of his/her superiors. Your parent(s) should handle this. America is not a fascist state, and won't become one under my watch.

[DontBeAfraid]

This case wouldnt be going to the supreme court if it wasnt a problem VR.

[lotrfan55345]

Sometimes it is not the teachers issue, but the peers. They will/might shun the person who dosn't stand up. Thats a totaly different issue though...

[Assassin X]

Heres one for you all.

Under God is just some words. Why remove it? I mean it just words and as the saying goes:

Sticks and stones may brake my bones but words will never hurt me! :D


Technically if people dont like it then it shoudlnt be removed.They should make it where you dont have to say it.

I dont like msot anyone on this planet but does that mean i should go nuke everyone because i dont like them?

[lotrfan55345]

Sticks and stones may brake my bones but words will never hurt me! :D


Take a child psycology class, and hear what they have to say about that "saying"


I dont like msot anyone on this planet but does that mean i should go nuke everyone because i dont like them?

You don't like most people, even though you've never met them?!?!

Also, idk the nuking portion has any revelence to your point.

[MetalMilitia]

"under god" stays

The plaintiff, they said, did not have sufficeint standing do bring the case on behalf of his daughter.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20040614/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_pledge_of_allegiance_10

So go pray to whatever invisible man you want. I always wondered why they just didnt add the word 'my' before god, so it would be "one nation, under MY god" and then if you were an atheist it could be "under my lack of god" or whatever.

-MM- :crs:

[DontBeAfraid]

Wow, that is a super weak technicality.... Whats worse is its going to misinterpreted by beleivers to mean that they are right when he lost on grounds that have nothing to do with the real issue.