Monday, September 19, 2005

Pledge of Allegiance: Now Unconstitutional!

On September 14th a U.S. district court determined that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. Wrote Judge Lawrence Karlton:
"The court concludes that it is bound by the Ninth Circuit's previous determination that the school district's policy with regard to the pledge is an unconstitutional violation of the children's right to be free from a coercive requirement to affirm God."
Can't disagree with that at all.

This humble contributor believes in G-d and considers herself a spiritual sort, but she is also a firm supporter of the separation of church and state and believes that public schools - which are funded by taxpayers' money - should not promote anything religious. Spirituality - or lack thereof - are a matter for the family, not the schoolroom.

Just think of this: how would those insisting that "under G-d" stay in the Pledge (which is, in reality, a loyalty oath to a piece of cloth, fer Crimeney's sake) feel if someone forced their children to say, "under Allah," or "under Yaweh"? I'm thinking not too happy.

Put yourself in the shoes of others, that's all that's being suggested.

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