batguano

Whats next?


SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge in San Francisco ruled Wednesday it is unconstitutional for public school children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the pledge's reference to one nation "under God" violates school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God."

Karlton said he's bound by precedent set by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled in 2001 that it was unconstitutional for the Pledge to be recited in public schools.

DiamondDave2005

I agree with that. As far as I'm concerned, if the word "god" appears in the pledge, it automatically makes it religious.

Those of us without religion should be able to recite the pledge without having to leave out two words, or leaving them in and feeling like a hypocrit.

Even practitioners of other religions with different gods must feel awkward reciting the pledge as it stands.

I agree with everyone's right to practice their religion, but I don't want it forced on me in what is essentially a government prayer. I can't become a citizen without believing in God? That's not the America I signed up for.

dean

Amen to that! Preach on Brother Dave! Can I get a Hallelujah?

JonasM

I'd give you one, but it's against my philosophy (can't say religion).

JonasM

Morris

Hey Bat, are you getting wet? Are you close to the coast?
(sorry to hijack your thread)

dlq04

Well, it's the America I grew up in. So I say it stays. You are free to visualize the word God anyway you want - including no God - but I am tired of people who believe in nothing trying to change everything about a country that lets them believe that way.

batguano

Thanks. We are doing OK here. My son lives on the coast and we are a little worried. I am about 2 hours away from the coast but we are getting a little rain and some wind but no big deal.

Honda 367

Can you explain that please? If I might ask, what did you sign up for?

Honda 367

Most of the great paintings displayed in the Capital have Christian themes from Bible being displayed to people praying. Even the Supreme Court chambers have Ten Commandments as part of the decor. I wonder if we should deface all of those paintings or take them down completely so that there is not a single shred of evidence that we as people once acknowledged God in everything that we did.

History must change I suppose in order to appease all those people coming into the scene some 230 years later expressing their displeasure with what our early fathers have accomplished.

I hope the will of the people of this country will be upheld whether by executive branch, legislate branch or the judicial branch or combination of all. Most of all, I hope however loud but few voices will not prevail over the voices of many who have come to love and cherish the values and principles this country was founded on. If we continue to move toward the lowest common denominator in so far as appeasing every voice in the country, I just wonder where we would end up.

valentine

Well said.