U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the pledge's reference to one nation "under God" violates school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God."
Should "under god" be taken out of the pledge of Allegience?
why or why not?
Should students be allowed to sit while the pledge is being said in class?
Please explain why you feel this way. For more information, see this site:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfc_pledge.html
Lindsay Brooks (noon)
20 comments:
I don't believe that "under God" should be taken out of the pledge. Our nation was established by a God-fearing nation, and to change that part of the pledge would be we would also have to change other documents like the Constitution. Other documents written by the founders of our country speak of God in documents as well. Rights we have in some of our concrete documents are said to be "God given." I also believe that students should not be allowed to sit while the pledge is being recited. If we let children sit, we would be promoting disrespectfulness. It is still the country we live in and love. If you don't believe in a higher power of any kind then you don't have to say that part of the pledge, but don't sit down.
I think it's rediculous to say that the words "under God" should be taken out of the pledge of allegiance. In this politically correct world that we live in today, it's really hard to know what you can and cannot say, but the pledge of allegiance should not be changed just because some judge thinks that people are "forcing" the students to believe in God. If you don't believe in God, that's your choice, but for those of us that do I think it is important to be proud of our religion and to not be so uptight about being politically correct. If this topic would have been brought up 100 years ago, even 50 years ago, would it have even been recognized? I don't think so. Now, people back then were a lot more God-fearing than we are now, and that might have something to do with it. But the least we can do is show our forefathers some respect by leaving the pledge of allegiance alone. The pledge of allegiance is just that, a pledge made by those who live in the United States, to be allegiant to their country. If you have a problem with saying "under God" in the pledge, then don't say it, but otherwise just keep it to yourself.
- Jarett Crump
It should be withdrawn immediatly.
"In 1954, Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the words, 'under God,' to the Pledge. The Pledge was now both a patriotic oath and a public prayer."
The original pledge made no reference to God or a god for two reasons: It would violate the 1st amendment, the part about the state not being able to establish a denomination.(That is the most important part. How would you like it if the U.S. told us we all had to pray to a golden calf, And punished you for believing in anything else.) And the original author was a socialist, he did not believe we should form as a nation under any one god.
I think it shows a lack of respect and discipline, and a disdain for our country, its citizens, and its soldiers when somebody shows disrespect towards the flag or pledge. I would like to kick them out of America and take away their citizenship, but that would be against what our country stands for. So, students should not have to stand for or say the pledge, but they should have to step out of the classroom for the duration of the pledge.
Daniel Hooker (7:00)
I don't think that it should be taken out of the pledge. Why would we want to get away from something that this nation was founded on. Why would we listen to crackpot that wants to be politically correct. Somebody needs to give that guy a stern talking to. I think that if somebody doesn't want to say it, then they shouldn't have to. It is their free right to choose what they want to do. If the words under God really cause distress to these kids that don't want to say it, then they might as well have their own under God free schools. I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings. What is happening to this country?
Dustin Piercy (9:00)
"Under God" should stay in the pledge of allegiance. There is really no point in taking it out. If you questioned a pool of random people i am sure that the results would show you that they are not offended, and don't mind saying it. How many things is God used in; is anything going to be done to these? People should be proud to stand and say the pledge. It was a way of showing respect; be proud to stand up and support your country. Would you sit during the nation anthem? If you don't want to say "Under God" then thats fine don't say it, but don't make it a burden upon those of us who do want to say it.
Zach Burnett
"Under God" should not be taken out of the pledge of Allegiance. I believe that most of the rules we have today are based on the Bible; thou shalt not kill,or steal, just think a bought it;if these children hear nothing of God how are they ever going to know, and what will they believe in? I do not think they should be aloud to sit while the pledge is being recited because this is highly disrespectful. If they do not believe in God, and this offends them(not their parents) then they should be aloud to leave the room, but don't ruin it for the rest of our children.
Kassi
It should be left in the pledge. Taking it out of the pledge is against everything that this country was based on. Our founding fathers would be outraged. Politicians are screwing with the Constitution. Not being allowed to say "under God" is against the 1st Amendment. For those of us who believe in God, this is taking our freedom of speech away from us. It's not hurting agnostics to say under God. Personally, I believe that we should stick to the ideals of the founding fathers. The only reason a kid should be allowed to sit is if they are in a wheelchair or if they are not United States citizens. The rest of the kids should stand. It's disrespectful to sit. Unfortunately, kids don't care. We're raising disrespectful brats.
Liz Doty
I think that it is a load of crap that the government is trying to get something outlawed that has been the the pledge for how ever many years it has been around. I once did an exercise saying the pledge and trying not to say under god. It is damn near impossible not to say it. I think that it shows great respect to stand while saying the pledge, but we should never make a child, teen, or adult stand. It should be of their own free will.
Frankie Gaskill (9:00)
I think that if a child, or his parents want the child to say under god than he should be allowed to, and if they don't want to than they shouldn't have to. But I do not think a child should be allowed to sit while it is being said. It is a pledge of allegiance to this country, to the flag of this country, if you are not loyle to this country, than get out! Our flag represents the entire freedom that allows you to go to school and even say the pledge. Our country has it's problems yes, but they all do. This is AMERICA and if you refuse to say the pledge(with or without the use of under god)than your probably not a true american and you should just leave.
Brett Hall 12:00
Yes, under god should be taken out of the pledge of allegience. Or maybe we just should make a new one. My best friend grew up in Urbana and went to Leal school, where they pledge allegience to the world. I think this is a grand idea, that we are responsible to all humankind. I believe in seperation of church and state undeniably. That's not to say that you can't still be patriotic. Isn't religious freedom the flagship of our country? Students should totally be able to sit for the pledge, I do in almost all public stiuations. The pledge of allegience isn't what I subscribe to as American, and it's my right to say so, right?
Renee Hart
I do understand where they are comeing from with wanting to take it out. I don't really agree with it though, but then again i'm Christian. I can see how others would be offended by it. I don't think that they should be alowed to sit, becaue it is the pleadge for our country. And that is disrespect ful. I think that they could choose not to say that part though.
Dani Evans
I dont think that the pledge of allegence should be changed at all. Thats how it was written and if people that agree with what it says then dont say it. Dont change the writters work because you dont agree. Children arent forced to say it. No matter what religion you are, you look up to some god. Unless you are athiest but that is a small population of the earth. For them to change it just because they dont believe in what it says would be rediculous.
Jimmy Goudier (12:00 Class)
I do not believe "under God" should be taken out of the pledge of allegience. I dont think students should not be allowed to sit because that would be disrespectful to our country, however, they should not be forced to say it. Leave it the way it was first written.
Brianna Bugbee
The statement "under God" should never be taken out of the pledge. I don't think anyone is being forced to believe in God by saying it. If you don't believe God then you don't have to say "under God". There are people that don't even recognize the pledge by standing up and respecting the pledge. To me they should be more worried about that then the words "under God". When someone doesn't stand for the pledge of alligence it promotes so much disrespet on them as a person and our country. Once again it's rediculous that people even think about the words "under God" being taken out of our nations pledge. Not only is it an oath, it's a prayer.
Trevor Kohlrus (12:00)
I think that taking "under God" out of the pledge is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! I wish people would stop complaining about anything they can think. They need to just get a life and grow up. I feel that if one person doesn't want to say the words "under God" then they don't have to say them, don't make it seem like no one in world wants to say it. I'm sure that so many more people want to say "under God" than the people that don't want to say it. People believe in God and if you don't thats fine, but get over it when other people do believe!
--Jill Reinhart (noon)
"Under God" should definitely be left in. He is the one who this country was founded on. Plus, it's been around for ages that it would just be wrong to change that. Students should not be allowed to sit. If they don't like saying "under God" then they shouldn't. What's so wrong with saying "under God" anyway? Most all people, even those who are not Christians, believe in God; unless they are athiest, of course. Either way, it should be left in and children should always stand.
Elizabeth Kerns (9:00)
I am not a very religious person and I really don't understand why the "under God" statement is such a big deal to people. It was made that way for a reason and everyone needs to stop criticizing it. The way I see it is that if you don't feel comfortable or if it is not you "religion" to say the pledge of allegiance to our country, then don't say it. Sit down and don't say anything about it. It is your choice to say the pledge.
Brittney (7:00)
I don't think that the words under God should be taken out of the pledge of allegiance and this is because I do believe in God so I am perfectly fine with that phrase being in there. I do see that quite a few people have a point though. If I didn't believe in a god at all, I would not want to be forced to stand up and honor one, so we shouldn't make those same people honor our God. It is hard to say who is right or wrong here because there are so many different sides that a person can take. In my opinion, the words should stay in the pledge, but nobody should be forced to have to honor that phrase by standing up or saying the words if they don't want to.
Chris Bohnhoff (Noon)
I think the words, "Under God," should be taken out of the pledge of allegence. Not all American citizens believe in a God, let alone the Christian version, so why should this pledge, which is supposed to give all Americans a chance to pay homage to their country, bring up something that doesn't pertain to all American citizens. Shouldn't non-Christians be able to participate in the pledge without reciting something they don't believe in? It's supposed to be a pledge of allegence to one's country, not a public prayer.
As for it's recitation in public schools, noone should ever be forced to do or say something that conflicts with their personal beliefs. Of course people should be able to sit down during the pledge if they choose. Sure, a lot of people would find this disrespectful, but this isn't a communist nation. The government doesn't have complete control, which is why America is so great.
Tristan Cogswell
“Under God” should absolutely not be taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance. I don’t understand why some people are making such a big deal about something our country was founded on. As Americans, we have the right to proudly stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance as it is. I have enough respect for others, and their beliefs, to acknowledge that they have the right to not participate in something they don’t believe in. Why does it have to be so complicated? I wouldn’t take part in something I didn’t believe in, but I wouldn’t demand that it be changed either. Students who don’t believe in God should not be forced to stand, or be made to feel bad about their beliefs. This is a free country and we are all entitled to be respected.
Jennifer Wilson
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