(Advertisement)

COMMENTARY: It Means What It Says

By Rusty Turner

Posted: November 15, 2010 at 2:50 a.m.

We’re often told that kids today don’t know much about their government, or how it works, or even what their rights are.

This story is only available from the archives. Click here to contact the online desk.

Opinion, Pages 5 on 11/15/2010

(Advertisement)



« Previous Story

PUBLIC VIEWPOINT: Health Care Letter Right On

Bravo, Ms. Patty Meyers! Your letter in Public Viewpoint (Oct. 21) hit the nail squarely on the head. Read »

Next Story »

HOW WE SEE IT: Grocery Tax Cut Deserves Suppo...

We support cutting the remaining sales tax on groceries by a half-cent, even if that leaves no room for other tax cuts or for more state funding for highways. Read »

Comments

To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Please read our comment policy.

A moment of silence would be appropriate for those who silently want to pray or remember a lost loved one, student or just self reflection. But because we are the USA the pledge is important and should not be changed but all citizens and future citizens should participate.

Posted by: martywilliams105261712

November 15, 2010 at 10:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

When I was a kid in school (1930s and 1940s) the pledge did not contain the words "one nation under God." I think the phrase should be removed for two reasons.
First, it discriminates against not only atheists but others who have a spiritual orientation that does not include a personal God, including Buddhists, Hindus, animists, and others.
But maybe the most important reason is the implication that the United States is specially blessed and guided by God. This notion can lead and has led in the past to the destruction of native peoples and many incursions into other countries that are always justified with some kind of self-righteousness.

Posted by: Coralie

November 15, 2010 at 12:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Coralie - As soon as you can get it off our currency then I will support you. This country was built around faith of all religions. Good luck in getting that accomplished. I doubt you will succeed.

Posted by: Apbacker

November 15, 2010 at 12:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

I'm one of those Christians that thinks that Prayer in School may be a problem for true believers. Maybe the prayer should be offered before leaving home every morning.

That said, I think it is a stretch to assume our founding fathers were thinking about Islam, Buddhism, or even Jewish religions. After all, it was considered quite a feet to get from Europe to the East Coast (the West was yet to be discovered).

No, I would think it safer to assume our founding fathers were thinking more about Christian religions. After all, wasn't that part of what the revolution was about? COMMON sense should prevail. A country should have a culture to show for ITSELF. We were BROADLY Christian.

Posted by: SFret

November 15, 2010 at 12:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Pledges have been ruled unconstitutional. Pledges are strictly voluntary.

Posted by: cdawg

November 15, 2010 at 7:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

considering the fact that Thomas Jefferson owned and studied the Quaran it's NOT a stretch to assume that some of our founding fathers were thinking about Islam or other religions besides Christianity when they were framing the constitution.
They also knew that there were Jewish immigrants, Buddhists, Pagans and even polytheists who were part of our soon-to-be nation.
Add to that the fact that many had come from nations where the church and state were one and the same and you can see why they thought that the government sanctioning of one religion over all others was a bad idea on many levels.

Posted by: Dave_Barnes

November 16, 2010 at 12:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

A black sharpie blocks out "In God We Trust" on all of my cash. Just my little protest against the holier than thou's trying to force their christian myth on all of us.

Posted by: imagine

November 16, 2010 at 6:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

A comment after the Constitutional Convention by Henry Abbot, Baptist clergyman, July 30, 1788: "But it is objected, that the people of America may perhaps choose representatives who have no religion at all, and that Pagans and Mahometans may be admitted into offices. But how is it possible to exclude any set of men, without taking away that principle of religious freedom which we ourselves so warmly contended for? This is the foundation on which persecution has been raised in every part of the world."
That was back in the days when Baptists were among those foremost in promoting religious freedom.
Mahometans means Muslims.

Posted by: Coralie

November 16, 2010 at 12:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Freedom of religion, including the choice of atheism, is one thing. Defacing currency is another.

Posted by: Champ188

November 16, 2010 at 3:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Rusty, your opinion is supported by Article 6 of the Constitution. It says "...no religious test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or Public Trust under the United States." Most of the Founding Fathers were religious to some degree, but no all and these same men rejected a proposal by Benjamin Franklin during the Constitutional Convention to open each day of deliberation with a prayer. What does this say about the separation of church and state?

Posted by: Afranius

November 17, 2010 at 10:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Registration is required to make comments. Click here to LOGIN.
You can register for FREE to post comments and receive alerts.