Pledge of Allegiance ruling is ridiculous
Saying the Pledge of Allegiance is now unconstitutional. That’s what this country was told by a federal appeals court panel Wednesday when it rendered a ruling declaring it unconstitutional for school children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance with the words “under God” in it.
Stated as concisely as possible, the court ruling is absurd. And our national lawmakers were echoing those same sentiments yesterday on the heels of the decision.
Sen. Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota) called the court’s decision “just nuts.” Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Connecticut), a potential 2004 presidential candidate, agreed.
“There may have been a more senseless, ridiculous decision issued by a court at some time, but I don’t remember it,” Lieberman said.
First and foremost, no one is forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance. It is commonly recited by school children, by U.S. senators and representatives before their daily meetings, and is often incorporated during various nationwide ceremonies such as Memorial Day.
As Americans, we can say the pledge in its entirety if we wish, or we can choose not to say it at all. We can even say portions of the pledge and leave out the suddenly controversial phrase, “One nation under God” if that phrase is in fact too offensive for some folks to utter.
Reciting a portion of a patriotic pledge has nothing to do with the separation of church and state. There’s a vast difference between the government sanctioning one and only one religion and showing respect for your country.
In this time when the United States is at war, and the threat of a terrorist attack always lingers, the Standard finds absolutely no reason why any of our citizens and our children should not be able to recite the Pledge of Allegiance whether they be in California or Irving College. It does no harm.
Many people across the globe aspire to one day make it to America where they can work to fulfill their dreams. For these people who are not Americans, if they are living inside United States borders, they should respect our country and our flag. For the people who do not believe in a higher power or exercise religious freedoms which don’t make reference to a god, they are not forced to recite the pledge.
But for the vast majority of red, white and blue Americans who take pride in supporting this country and who boldly stand behind the United States, saying the Pledge of Allegiance is a privilege they deserve. It’s a privilege many of us do not want taken away by a panel of judges.
On our currency and coins, are the words “In God we trust.” Our Declaration of Independence mentions God or the creator four different times. Even our own Supreme Court begins each session with the words, “God save the United States and this honorable court.”
Is a panel of judges going to someday find those references offensive? Are we going to alter the principles of what this country stands for because it may make a few people angry?
There are real problems we face in this country and in this state. President Bush calls the latest ruling “ridiculous” and he’s right on the mark. In this great nation known for its many freedoms, a court has ruled saying the pledge is against the law. That is far more offensive than any phrase contained in the Pledge of Allegiance itself.