"My parents arrived here from India in one of the waves of immigration that have brought millions of families to the United States during the past 300 years. These immigrant families want to be able to express their gratitude and loyalty to the country that has taken them in. But the assertion in the Pledge of Allegiance that this is a nation "under God" prevents many immigrants outside the Judeo-Christian tradition from participating in this fundamental ritual of American patriotism.
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments about whether the words "under God" must be omitted from the recitation of the pledge in public schools. As a legal matter, the required outcome is plain: A principled application of constitutional law calls for the words to be stricken. As a political matter, however, the case is more complex: It pairs patriotism with religious faith, matters that inflame passions when they arise in isolation and are downright incendiary when they coalesce. But it is precisely because the pledge pairs religion and politics that the phrase must be removed."
-- Doug _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
