As a non-religios person this frustrates me every day when I have to say the pledge of allegence at school. Why has our government not removed this phase when we are a country with no national religion, and a separation of church and state?
I was hopeing some one could clear this up for me.
Answer:
Because the U.S. is anything but secular.
I agree with you but the problem is that the founding father's did not think about this when they wrote the declaration or the constitution.
I feel that this is a battle that should be fought because not only is the God part referring to a particular group, but it also alieanates those who don't necessarily believe in a Christian God.
Seperation of Chruch and state is much more than just removing God from a government bill, but this is as far as the U.S. government is willing to go. America is not a secular government, if you don't believe me read the Protestant Ethic by Max Weber.
That phrase wasn't added to the Pledge until 1954. Considering how long it took for "under god" to make it in, I'd expect it to take just as long to take it out.
Vera, I would say just give it time. The way things are going around here, I'm sure soon some court will deem the phrase 'unconstitutional' and eventually ban it from being said in public places. Until then, remember... you have the freedom to say 'under GUARD' or whatever else you wish. One thing to keep in mind is this... because you don't agree with this phrase shouldn't mean (IMO) that you should go out and try to push for a law to ban this. I feel that that is the problem with our country nowadays; people who are faced with things they don't agree with automatically try to outlaw it. We have the freedom to do or not do that which we do or don't believe in. As long as it doesn't interfere with our health (i.e. smoking) or limit our freedoms in any way, then let things be. Live life for yourself and you only. The day someone FORCES you to say 'under God' then that's a different story. But anywho... that's just my 2 cents. Koodos to you for asking such a brilliant question!
Our nation was founded with a belief in God. Ever read the Declaration of Independance? If the pledge offends you then don't say it.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one
people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with
another, and to assume, among the Powers of the earth, the separate
and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God
entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires
that they should declare the causes which impel them to the
separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of
Happiness.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the
Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our
Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The constitution says freedom OF religion not freedom FROM. As part of our freedoms you don't even have to participate in saying the pledge. By the same token, those who WANT to say it have just as much to do so as you do not to say it. That, my friend is called TOLERANCE and THAT is one of the most important freedoms this country was founded on.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment