NationStates Jolt Archive

You are not required to say the "under God" part. You are not even required to say it. If the whole thing is optional, then why everyone making a big fuss about it?

Because my tax dollars are being used to pay a public employee to teach little kids to recite an article of religious faith.

Because my tax dollars are being used to pay a public employee to teach little kids to recite an article of religious faith.

But no one is forcing them to say it.
I think they should verbally say it's optional and no one HAS to say it, but if they want to, then they may.

But no one is forcing them to say it.
I think they should verbally say it's optional and no one HAS to say it, but if they want to, then they may.
Somebody's teaching it to them. What if your tax dollars were funding a teacher who taught her students to say "Jesus was a fag" at the end of the pledge? Would you approve?

True, I see your point, but if it said one nation under Buddha or Ghandi would you still be upset?

True, I see your point, but if it said one nation under Buddha or Ghandi would you still be upset?
Gandhi? That just wouldn't make sense. Buddha would bother me for the same reason as god. One nation under the founding fathers or something would be acceptable.

As a foreigner, the whole idea of pledging allegiance to a fluttering rectangle of fabric seems a little strange. (Yes, I know it's a metaphor, but it still sounds strange.) How about saying 'one nation under the sky'? That avoids the religious talk, and sounds slightly more poetic.

As a foreigner, the whole idea of pledging allegiance to a fluttering rectangle of fabric seems a little strange. (Yes, I know it's a metaphor, but it still sounds strange.) How about saying 'one nation under the sky'? That avoids the religious talk, and sounds slightly more poetic.

But remember: Practically everyone believed in God, be they quakers, catholic or whatnot, so they didn't think that 200 years from now that people wouldn't want to say the "under God".

Besides, if you don't want to say "under God" why not say "one nation, indivisible etc. etc."

As a foreigner, the whole idea of pledging allegiance to a fluttering rectangle of fabric seems a little strange. (Yes, I know it's a metaphor, but it still sounds strange.) How about saying 'one nation under the sky'? That avoids the religious talk, and sounds slightly more poetic.

It'd never happen in the USA. It sounds too hippy-like. :p

But remember: Practically everyone believed in God, be they quakers, catholic or whatnot, so they didn't think that 200 years from now that people wouldn't want to say the "under God".

Besides, if you don't want to say "under God" why not say "one nation, indivisible etc. etc."

Why bother saying anything in the first place?

Why bother saying anything in the first place?
Well, it is patriotic, but it's also optional.

But remember: Practically everyone believed in God, be they quakers, catholic or whatnot, so they didn't think that 200 years from now that people wouldn't want to say the "under God".

Besides, if you don't want to say "under God" why not say "one nation, indivisible etc. etc."
The original pledge never contained any reference to god. That was added in the 50s to discourage "Godless Communism". I don't think communism is a threat anymore. Can we retire that tacked-on piece of the pledge?

The original pledge never contained any reference to god. That was added in the 50s to discourage "Godless Communism". I don't think communism is a threat anymore. Can we retire that tacked-on piece of the pledge?

We can't now, if we do the Christians would get REALLY annoying, but if we leave it, then those against it get mad.
Either way, there's going to be a big fight over it.

I don't really care if they do take the "under God" part out as long as my kid has the right to say it if she wants to.

I don't personally think it should be there and there is a strong legal argument that it shouldn't there either.

But I think we have bigger fish to fry -- I don't want to get rightwingnuts worked up in a frenzy over this right now. Let's choose our battles wisely.

I don't personally think it should be there and there is a strong legal argument that it shouldn't there either.

But I think we have bigger fish to fry -- I don't want to get rightwingnuts worked up in a frenzy over this right now. Let's choose our battles wisely.

The "under God" part or the whole thing?

But remember: Practically everyone believed in God, be they quakers, catholic or whatnot, so they didn't think that 200 years from now that people wouldn't want to say the "under God".

Besides, if you don't want to say "under God" why not say "one nation, indivisible etc. etc."
“under god” was not added till the cold war … then we let the fear of “godless” communism scare us into making those changes

The original pledge never contained any reference to god. That was added in the 50s to discourage "Godless Communism". I don't think communism is a threat anymore. Can we retire that tacked-on piece of the pledge?
We should get rid of it, but we should wait for Bush's term to end first, so that we'll actually have some support.

It's just not necessary, and stupid. Freedom of religion and freedom from religion. That's all.

The "under God" part or the whole thing?

"under God"

shouldn't religious people be adhering to their god,
and not a flag or a country which humans made up?

there are US based religions who do not believe in taking
pledges or oathes of any sort.



maybe you've never been in grade school,
but social pressures there are quite strong.
maybe you've been sheltered and weren't allowed
to go to 3rd grade?

It should be changed to, "One nation under a Groove"
In honor of the other Clinton.

They teach it to the students as "One nation, under God..." because most first graders can't remember how to say "One nation, under a sprawling mass of overly-conservative government that has a drunken man who believes his benevolent, nonjudgemental, and peaceful higher power speaks to him and says to bomb the hell out of everyone else leading it all, as well as a tangly maze of red tape and political rights censored in the false name of freedom..."

Here is the original quote:

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

It was changed in 1923 (IIRC) from "my flag" to "the flag" and again in 1954 which added "under god" and took the emphasis away from indivisible.

It should go back to it's original form and even then NOT be required to recite.

My pledge:

I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty, justice and equality for all.