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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 18840
[Schools/Ed]
Date Posted:
11/3/2007
1:03:13 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 5,011
RSS: 12,467
Comments: 9
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Duo Disputes Use Of 'Under God' In Schools
Author: Andrew Wolfe Source: Nashua Telegraph (NH)
Title: DUO DISPUTES USE OF 'UNDER GOD' IN SCHOOLS
A California man whose challenge to the Pledge of Allegiance was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court three years ago has joined a Hanover couple to take up the same fight in New Hampshire.
An anonymous Hanover couple filed suit against their school district Oct. 31 in U.S. District Court, represented by Michael Newdow of Sacramento, Calif., and accompanied by the Freedom From Religion Foundation of Madison, Wis.
Their lawsuit contends the Pledge of Allegiance and a state law requiring its recitation in schools are both unconstitutional, because of the phrase "under God."
Children shouldn't be coerced to assert the existence of God, let alone allegiance to a supreme being, Newdow said in a phone interview Friday. By way of example, he suggests parents consider whether public schools could urge students to swear there is no God.
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Community Thoughts: There are 9 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Pledge Is A Fine Thing... | Nov 6th. at 12:01:59 am EST
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Jeff Kincaid (Lynchburg, Virginia) - Email Me
There is nothing wrong with Pledging allegiance to the Country, after all, you are a citizen, your should be proud to do so. I would rather see the "under God" part removed.
Making children recite it will not damage them for life and to suggest that it will is rather silly.
I think we need to return a bit of citizenship to our children, just without the religion in it.
Peace and Light
Jeff
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| Oh What A Tangled Web We Weave.... | Nov 5th. at 5:32:03 pm EST
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Séadhna (Moro, Illinois) - Email Me
Quote "."There are numerous instances where kids are traumatized for life," as a result of being ostracized for their religious beliefs, he said. "" End Quote
Please, I'd love to see the citation on this.....
And, presumably because of social stigma? Come on people, if you're going to pull a stunt like this, put your name to it....
I grew up saying the pledge, I don't recall ever feeling traumatized, and I was not raised to be a Christian... but wait, if I claim I was traumatized by it, is there a chance I could sue the school, and the state, and the federal government and win millions of dollars... okay then, maybe I was traumatized, and just never realized it until now...
Whatever... get over it folks.
No, I don't think it's right to force anyone to say the pledge as it is currently worded. The original pledge did not include God, nor did it even include the specifier "United States of America", the former was shoved down our thorats by the Knights of Columbus in 1954, the latter forced on us by the American legion and Daughters of the American Revolution in 1924.
Revert to the original wording, and yes, I would support the pledge again... not to force anyone to say it, but I'd be much more in favor of it.
Find More info -- HERE
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| Oh What A Tangled Web We Weave.... | Nov 5th. at 5:31:03 pm EST
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Séadhna (Moro, Illinois) - Email Me
>."There are numerous instances where kids are traumatized for life," as a result of being ostracized for their religious beliefs, he said.
Find More info -- HERE
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| Does It Matter?? | Nov 5th. at 4:06:37 pm EST
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Mysteries Child (Garfield, Arkansas) - Email Me
I'm not in favor of doing away with the Pledge. I can't say I'm really against it either, though.
Frankly, I think it's an awfully big stink to be making over the words "under God," though I do understand that there are morons in the world who use those two words to justify the persecution of those who call their Deity by some other name.
Neither the words nor the concept of pledging allegiance really bother me...
...but here is something that does.
They have taken what is, actually, a solemn oath and, in effect, reduced it to the actual stature of answering 'Here!' at roll call.
My daughter says the Pledge in school every morning. I don't mind that. I believe that an individual should be willing to stand up for his/her country in time of true need. I believe in the idea that we should view ourselves as one nation. I even believe that it does all of us-- perhaps especially our leaders-- good to think of ourselves as under and answerable to some Higher Authority.
So I tell her that I think it's important.
And then I ask her what it means.
And she tells me that it means they're going to talk about the weather next.
So I try to explain it to her.
And she's a great deal more interested in telling me that someday, when she's in fifth grade, she'll get to be on the TV.
Granted, she's six. I don't really expect her to fully understand what a pledge is, or that when you make one with your heart, you are bound to your word, or that you shouldn't make one if you can't do it with your heart.
But...
...if they're going to ask anyone to pledge and re-pledge something on a daily basis, shouldn't they have at least some rudimentary idea of what it is they're saying??
Isn't it worthless if they don't understand??
So many people pay so much attention to this controversy. Is anyone paying attention to the actual lesson (or lack thereof) at hand??
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| I Love The American's Creed | Nov 5th. at 2:05:12 pm EST
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Zianna Elanesse (Lusby, Maryland) - Email Me
I have never heard the American's Creed before, but I love it and would like to see it replace the pledge of allegiance. The sad thing is that I just shared the American's Creed with a friend and she said that she didn't agree with what it says. She doesn't think that we have a government of the people, by the people, for the people any more. I think that if this or the constitution were read before congress instead of starting a session with a prayer, that our country may reclaim a lot of what we have lost over the years.
Blessed Be,
Zianna
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| Making It Rote.. | Nov 5th. at 11:47:23 am EST
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
only makes it mechanical, but not necessarily believed--except by robots. I say do away with it.
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| Sad | Nov 4th. at 5:39:15 pm EST
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Firefalcon (Springfield, Illinois) - Email Me
Has anybody stopped to ask the children what they think? My guess is that they don't even say the pledge. Nowadays you do not have to recite the pledge most teachers just ask that you stand out of respect but many don't even do that. As a pagan even I stand when the pledge is recited simply out of respect for my country and those who serve it. This is a ridiculous fight why is it so hard to just accept peoples beliefs?
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| Time For A Change | Nov 4th. at 9:25:33 am EST
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GreeneDragon (Palmdale, California) - Email Me
I think the Pledge of Allegiance should be removed entirely from schools and replaced with "The American's Creed" which Congress official accepted in 1918! (see Congressional Record, No. 102, April 13, 1918)
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The American's Creed
by William Tyler Page
I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, - a democracy in a republic, a sovereign nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable, established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
I therefore believe it is my duty to my Country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its Flag; and to defend it against all enemies.
---
Of course if people actually recited this they might understand their rights as Americans and start using their votes ... that scares the politicians.
Find More info -- HERE
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