Tom Reese wrote:
Tom C wrote:
Let's take one case the ACLU is involved with... to the best of my
recollection. The case in California (I believe... I'm typing from memory
not the transcript), where an athiest has sued a school district because
his elementary school age daughter is made to feel uncomfortable when the
Pledge of Alegiance is said because it contains the phrase 'under God'.
That phrase is objectionable to a lot of people and should be eliminated
IMO. Suppose all the atheists recited the line as "one nation, there is no
god". Can you see the possibility of that becoming a problem? How about if
one group tried to shout their phrase louder than the other group?
The phrase does not belong in an oath to government allegiance. It excludes
people who believe do not believe that there is a god.
Tom Reese
Not really, Tom.
I am a person who believes there might be a supreme being, maybe, but
eschews the practice of any formal religion and all their trappings.
Still, I recognize the phrase "under God" as recognizing the founding of
this country as being religious in origin.
The Pilgrims arriving on these shores in 1630 [or so] were fleeing
religious persecution, and when they came here, it was with a fervent
desire to practice their religion as they saw fit, without interference
from any government!
Our bill of rights even recognizes that as a fundamental right of a
citizen of the United States, the freedom of religion. The right to
practice what you believe without a government saying you may not, you
CAN not.
So, our currency and our Pledge of Allegience to the symbol of our
country recognize that 375 year old break from persecution, and says
proudly "under God."
That's the way our country started, and even today, longer than any
other country professing democracy or the existence of a republic, we
have survived all insults to that establishment and said, this is how we
started, and how we believe today.
We recognize the freedom to do so when and as we wish, and we also allow
those who disagree with us to go their own way. As we once did ourselves.
I ask you, how much better can it be?
keith whaley
