one nation under god

[low_delta]

How do you feel about the reciting and/or banning of such reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance in school? You know, because of that line, "one nation under God."

The Wisconsin state legislature has just mandated its recitation or the singing of the national anthem. Madison schools have banned the pledge, due to public complaints.

Comments

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

LOL.....i understand that what people in Madison want, is not necessarily the wishes of the rest of wisconsin......

i grew up saying the pledge of allegiance and singing "America" in grades k-6, we just did the pledge in 7-9 in first period, and then in 10-12, the pledge was only at the beginning of assemblies, etc....i can't say that the "one nation under God" phrase did anything to change my own feelings regarding religion, patriotism, etc.......

[melonaise.livejournal.com]

I would have no problem with reciting the pledge, except for that "under God" part (added in the 1950s). I disagree with that part of the pledge because God is one of the major things this country is definitely NOT united under, with all the different religions we welcome. It's one of our founding principles to agree to disagree where religion is involved. Forcing children to mouth a falsehood will not make it become true.

For middle/junior- and high-schools, I don't think there should be any over-reaching law banning or requiring the pledge. It should be put to an anonymous vote in each homeroom-- if the teacher and all the students are comfortable with it, go ahead.

For elementary schools, things are more complicated. Many kids in that age range don't even know the words of the pledge, they know the sounds of the pledge. Even if they fully realized what they were saying, their parents have more of an opinion on the matter.

My solution-- take out the words "under God" so there's less to protest. In a generation or two the average person will think the pledge has always been that way.

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

I agree!

I liked it...

[shoo.livejournal.com]

That was the highlight of my day...I felt proud to say it every morning with the GOD in it...I didn't care...and I still don't...I liked pledging my allegiance to the flag damn it!

I wanted my kids to be able to say it as well...but a bunch of whiners made it nearly impossible for that to ever happen again.

they try to ruin Christmas, Halloween and many other holidays that I had fun with in school as well....

you have obviously struck a cord with me...

I want the old days back damn it!

Why do we have to call the Halloween Carnival ( which it has been know as forever) now the Harvest Festival....damn church poopy heads...

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

Poopy Heads! *GASP* Such language... ;)

[banana.livejournal.com]

I like the word "poopy". I can swear without offending anyone. Just have to worry about them thinking I'm odd.

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

I didn't mind saying the Pledge of Allegiance in grade school. I don't mind saying it at public events, and the National Anthem gives me goose bumps.

I like the idea of it being said, but hate the idea of anyone being forced to say it.

I hate the fact that it's become another battlefield for the people who want to judge how patriotic somebody is.

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

We are not one nation under God. We're one nation under a variety of Gods, or gods or goddesses, or no deity whatsoever. And what about the so-called separation of church and state? That line should be taken out and the Pledge restored to its pre-50's version.

With or without that line, the Pledge absolutely positively should never be mandatory or obligatory. Still, all children and adults should know it, and, if it's recited, feel free to join in or not. These days if I say it, I simply refrain from saying One nation, under God.

Under God

[zitronenhai.livejournal.com]

Arg. I think private schools can do whatever they want. I believe in the separation of church and state, so I am one of those annoying people that want the "In God We Trust" removed from all US coinage. I am against the compulsory recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools. The US national anthem doesn't bother me so much, because (having spent years in school choirs, I know it well) it doesn't fuss with that God person and all. However, I don't think anyone in the public school system should be forced to sing, recite or pray anything. I think that Freedom of Religion is real in America if you are Christian, and in large part, the rest of us are somewhere between tolerated and reviled.

Re: Under God

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

Hey, we are not annoying. That phrase in the Pledge is annoying!

Re: Under God

[zitronenhai.livejournal.com]

I stand corrected! I tend toward self-effacing adjectives...sorry to drag anyone else into it. :) Would you also like to see the "In God We Trust" pulled from coins? I would. I think it is preposterous to have that phrase on money. What do you think?

Re: Under God

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

Yeah, good idea. I hadn't thought of it before.

Star Spangled Banner

[zitronenhai.livejournal.com]

Just to add this...having been in choir throughout my American public school education, I actually like singing the national anthem. It is fun to sing, especially if you're a soprano. I love baseball, and I love to sing the anthem at games, because I am actually a good singer...and I blues it up a little. And inevitably, I just know I could do it better than the person they chose. I still want to sing the national anthem at a major league baseball game someday. Of course, I have also dreamt of being the first female major league umpire...

pledge, smedge.

[malkav.livejournal.com]

I personally don't agree with pledging my allegiance to any "country." I also believe in the separation of church and state. However, some kids really do like saying the pledge. I feel that if you want to say the pledge, say the darn pledge. If not, shut up and sit down. Unfortunately, in my school that was not an option... you either said the pledge, with your hand on your heart, standing up, or you had a Saturday detention. *That* is ridiculous. Freedom of religion means freedom for EVERYONE. (((end of rant)))