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March 24, 2004
And Justice For All
As you may have heard, the constitutionality of the saying the American Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is being challenged in court due to the words "under God".
According to this article in the Detroit Free Press, the Michigan Senate approved two resolutions encouraging the US Supreme Court to keep the Pledge as it is. Senator Patty Birkholz (R) is quoted as saying "We proudly stand up and recite the pledge, showing our allegiance to our country and two-word reference that dates back to the Declaration of Independence".
It's a real shame how politicians know so little of their own country's history.
The Pledge of Allegiance was written for a Columbus Day celebration in 1892, over a hundrend years after the Declaration of Independence, and it did not include the words "under God". Those two troublesome words were added in 1954 to help differenciate God-fearing Americans from Commie Athiests. Really.
I guess no one told Senator Birkholz that the Cold War is over.
Comments
"Edward Bellamy, author of the American socialist utopian novels, Looking Backward (1888) and Equality (1897)."
It looks like I have my next two book purchases.
Posted by: ian at March 25, 2004 6:38 AM
It is also important to remember that the pledge was written by a former minister who was very strongly for the seperation of church and state.
Posted by: different ian at March 25, 2004 5:31 PM
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Posted by: Rob at March 27, 2004 1:49 PM
I think that it's also important to remember that they are just words. Beleive them or don't. It's as simple as that. Why challenge the Pledge of Allegiance? It's an institution. Masses of people are offended daily by blatently sexual advertising, or commercials promoting a beer-drinking, skirt-chasing lifestyle to our youth: but definitely, concentrate on getting God out of our lives first. Where will all this PC garbage end?
Posted by: Jen at March 31, 2004 9:13 PM