Pledge Ban upheld ("no under God")

Fox News.com ^ | February 28, 2002 | FOX

[nicmarlo]

the federal Consitution forbids public schools or other governmental entities from endorsing religion.

No, the Consitution does NOT forbid anyone from speaking about God. In fact, the Constitution PROTECTS our freedom to speak OF God. Speaking of God does not endorse any religion; they must prove to which religion saying "God" does endorse. Is it the Jewish God, the Baptist God, the Catholic God, the Jehovah Witness God, the Mormon God, the Muslim God, the Pentecostal God? The Seventh Day Adventist God? Or some other religion I left out?

[RAT Patrol]

Should the Declaration of Independence be taught in public schools?

[marron]

Actually, she did home school when they were younger, but she is uneasy about it now that they are getting into higher grades.

Plus, step one is to disappear from the school systems radar. She is in their sights and trying to get out of their cross-hairs. You might not realize it, but if you don't toe their line, and somehow refusing to sign that letter has really triggered a response, they start building a case against you. They have actually threatened legal action; obviously not for the letter, but for some other trumped up stuff that, first, is untrue, and second, they told her they would "discuss" it as soon as she signs the letter.

She went on the offensive and they backed down, but it was sufficiently unnerving that she is pulling her two older ones out altogether.

[nicmarlo]

Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

[I Am Not A Mod]

Free Republic Highlights, 2/28/03

[ThinkDifferent]

Should the Declaration of Independence be taught in public schools?

Of course. So should the history of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and other religions. None of that constitutes government endorsement of religion, whereas teachers leading students in a pledge which asserts monotheism does.

[Sangamon Kid]

Should the Declaration of Independence be taught in public schools?

Ooooh...I don't know about that. Sounds dangerous. Might foment bad thoughts in the minds of our little ones. Nasty ideas like liberty, freedom and other such things.

[Man of the Right]

May the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals eat *hit and die.

[Russell Scott]

Mark my words, when the FULL gospel is preached in San Francisco by the Sons of God, they will either be on its knees asking God's forgiveness and mercy, or large portions of the city will be in the Pacific Ocean.

Now your beginning to understand what Armageddon really is. Man's final offer to accept or reject Christ's Kingdom before He returns to rule and reign.

Luke 10
8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

[PaxMacian]

If our allegiance to this nation is
NOT UNDER GOD,
then is it OVER GOD?
or is it ABOVE GOD?
or is it BEFORE GOD?

Exodus 20:3
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

[farmfriend]

pinging for the pledge.

[Sangamon Kid]

Agreed. The last vestiges of Christianity removed from a society are it's symbols. Just look at the history of Europe. Like the song says, "...the three men I admire most, the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, they caught the last train for the coast..." Christianity is in hiding in Europe. It will be in hiding here soon, if something doesn't turn.

[Pahuanui]

The Under God bit was added in the 50's so who cares if it's removed down the road.

Adherents to cosmeticism who think that including it is somehow something of importance.

Appearance is everything to those who understand nothing.

[mlo]

Should the Declaration of Independence be taught in public schools?

Of course. It is our history. Your question has nothing to do with the issues in this case.

The issue here is, can a state institution, a public school, require its employees to lead children in an endorsement of "god"?

It should be clear to everyone, regardless of your personal belief system, that it should not. That it isn't clear is a good sign that most people fail to appreciate fundamental constitutional principles.

[hattend]

And what no-one wants to acknowledge is that the original pledge didn't have the words Under God in it to begin with and the country seemed to do just fine.

The Under God bit was added in the 50's so who cares if it's removed down the road.

I care, for one. The country did just fine with it since the 50's, too. Leave it in.

[nicmarlo]

The part most like to forget too is that the original pledge was also written by a Socialist and you weren't supposed to put your hand over your heart, you lifted it in a salute identical to the Nazi salute!

sssshhhh.....he doesn't want everyone to remember THAT part, lol!

[jimt]

Be a God hater on your own time.

Keeping religion and government separate does not make one a "God hater". I have great respect for religion and religious people, and utter disdain for those who try to force theirs on others.

Mentioning God does not endorse a religion.

And proselytizing belief in God is fine, if not done by government or government agents.

President Bush saying "God bless America" does not require the hearer to profess a religious belief. Requiring little kids to recite "one nation, under God," arguably does.