Judge declares Pledge unconstitutional

I just saw this as breaking news. For once I am speechless. What is our country coming to?

Some of us don't believe in God.

I don't think it's just about believing in God or not. Even our money says "In God We Trust". It has to do with our nation and it's history. I don't think these are things that should be changed.

I dislike being forced to say things that I don't believe in, no matter the historical context of it.

I doubt it will devalue our money.

I agree with this, as I am not religious either, but I'm sure there's some way to keep the patriotism of the pledge intact without making it completely null and void. Seems a bit extreme to me.

Why cant they simply keep it as it was originally written. WITHOUT under god. Those two words were added back in the 50's.

That would be A-OK with me.
We don't need anything drastic, but including a mention to God can be offensive to some. Not EVERYONE believes in God and we should all respect that!

God, is what this country's constitution was built on. Right now having God on things like our money and pledge is pissing off the group of people who dont believe in god, it offends them, they dont like it. When it is taken off of everything, the group of people who do believe in god are going to be pissed off. No one is ever going to be happy.

Who has forced you to say 'Under God' or 'In God We Trust'. Seriously, when is the last time you said that. Do you really read all of your coins as you recieve them and get offended. When is the last time you said the pledge of allegiance. Who stood behind you, with a gun in your back, telling you "You better say One Nation, Under God" or else... Honestly now?

Anyways...
Kids being forced to say the pledge of allegiance. That doesnt have a damn thing to do with believing in God. It has to do with Patriotism. If you dont want your kids to say Under God because you dont believe in God, tell them not to. The pledge isnt about believing in God, it is about supporting and being proud of your country. If they take out Under God, fine. But telling your kid not to participate in the pledge because of that one phrase is ridiculous. Like I said, it is about support and pride, not God.

I personally really dont care if it is removed or not. All the money spends the SAME! And I would still say Under God when i recited the pledge. Dont care if it offends.
But I find it appalling that in order to avoid offending some people, it has to be taken to the supreme court. There are tons of things that offend me. But I dont take it to the supreme court. It seems like people would have better things to worry about right now than this.

To people outside of the US, do we not look ridiculous worrying about what is printed on our money and pledge rather than the many other more important things that are going on in and around our country right now.
Where are people priorities?

I was forced to stand and say the Pledge in High School. Honestly.

And if you didnt say every single word, you were stood in front a firing squad, right?

Nope. But I still deeply resented having to say it in what is supposed to be a supportive, educational experience (not that High School was that anyway). Furthermore, if it is an attempt to make us feel patriotic, and I don't believe in god, then I don't fit in this Republic do I? How hurtful does that feel?

Honestly I wouldn't have a problem with under God staying if parents could op out of having their children say it. I don't know how it is now, but when I was a kid you got in trouble for not saying the pledge or not saying it correctly.

And quite frankly there are some things that the school doesn't need to be teaching my child (note: I don't have one yet but if I did.). I'm sorry but religion is one of them and a reference to God is about religion no matter how you look at it. Being a patriot is another thing that I don't need the school the teach my child.

Maybe I'm the monitority in this belief but the school is there to teach basic skills and knowledge, reading,writing, arthimatic (which I can't spell), geography and history. Quite frankly they don't do a very good job at those so why would I want them teaching children anything deeper?

And I'll just add into this that I believe in God but still don't want anyone to have a school or a government decide what to have children raised believing on that front. That is strictly the parents job.

Honestly, I was never, ever comfortable saying the pledge of allegiance when I was in school & yes it is something that you are forced into saying when you are in school. I didn't like having to mumble through that part, but I preferred that to saying it out loud. There are many people that do not believe in "God", so why should they be forced to use those words. Keep the pledge of allegiance, but lose those words.

I've had a problem with the prevalent use of "God" in our legal system & government for a while. If I had to go to court, why should I have to place my hand on a bible and swear to "God" that I was telling the truth. Sorry that's a bit off-topic, but it does bother me.

In elementary school we were "forced" to learn it and say it, in high school we were "forced" to at least stand out of respect during the recitation. I am pretty sure that no one was wounded by the experience. I proudly said every word, I had friends that left out "under God", I had friends that said nothing at all-just stood silently.

That worked. It didn't even require a judicial rulling and games for media attention.

My entire point here, is people are going overboard with the under god thing. like i said, i dont give a damn if it is there or not, i would rather spend my time worrying about a different US issue. But people completley refusing to say the pledge because of two words, when they could simply not say those two words, seems compltely stupid to me.

I respect that people dont believe in God, and if it offends you being printed in the pledge and on money, sure do what you can to have it removed. I dont care. I am sorry if it is hurtful to you being on there.
It is just sending the message that "I dont belive in God, so I am not going to be patriotic or supportive of my country." And I happen to be a firm believer that you should always be proud of your country, not necessarily agree with everything, but be supportive. And it offends me when people are not.

There are a lot of things besides the pledge done in K-12 that are meant to instill patriotism into kids. It will always be like that. I have learned after taking a few years of variety of different history classes, that most everything that you learn in History classes in K-12 is complete B.S. And the reason, first; not to scare the hell out of the little kids and to instill patriotism. The government does have sneaky ways of making you "like" your country.

Anything dealing with God or religion does need to be kept out of schools. That is the parents responsibility.

words out of my mouth

Extremely correct, the people reciting the thing can just leave out the words. But, since the person leading the pledge is presumably inserting the words "Under God" that infers that that is the official, government endorsed stance and anyone else is a second class citizen. Although it sounds silly, what would it hurt to just have a short pause there, and the individual could insert the deity of his or her choice (or not) sort of like when a roomful of people take an oath with an [insert name here] spot?

You know what, I am so sick and tired of these STUPID judges. Leave it the way it is. One thing is for sure, NO judge is going to tell me what I can say or not, EVER. If you don't like the words, one nation under GOD, fine, that is your choice. Just don't say it!!!! Hey, I hate all these stupid reality TV shows. You know what? I just don't watch them. I hate Britney Spears, I don't listen to her. See how easy that is?? I don't go around crying like a baby wanting them removed from TV or her lousy music banned. One thing is for sure, I will forever shout, "one nation under God" anytime I am somewhere the pledge is recited. I am a believer in God and am proud to say it. I hide from no one. I hope nothing bad ever happens in these schools. If it does, you will here all these people, who may have wanted under God removed or felt it was unconstitutional, saying God please help our children.

The original pledge: http://www.usconstitution.net/pledge.html Google the "pledge of allegiance AND original" for far more info.

Can I ask something???

Is there any word, phrase, name, disease, animal, plant ect that doesnt offend someone...

I belive in God, but I am not very patriotic....do i get to complain about the rest of the pledge....Yesssss...willl I ....Nooooooo....because its rediculous.

In my opnion we have taken this PC crucade to a new and embaressing level.

I mean come on...I said the pledge almost everyday for like 12 years, and I do not concider my self a god obsessed drone.....

If this nit picking over every thing continues, what in the name of (whoever you believe in) are we going to be able to talk about, express ect....will we even be able to say anything??? Will we only be able to use sign language....or will the courts deem it unfair towards those who are deaf......

Honestly.....This is getting out of hand....end of story

None of this would be happening if they had just left it alone to begin with. Good thing there wasn't internet when the government added the words.

I couldn't agree more. I am about as unreligious as they come, and it bothers me to have everything based on something I don't believe in. I'm very patriotic, and I love the pledge....but those two words take a lot out of it for me. I don't belive in God.....so does that mean I can lie in court? JUST KIDDING! I wouldn't lie in court, because even though I don't believe in God, I DO have morals!

Amber

No one forces anyone to say the Pledge and never has.

Oh dear, what a horrible, terrible, inhumane thing to say the Pledge of Alleginace, I am sure you will be traumatized for life.
God is good. We can't even say God anymore, life is offensive people, get over it. This country was built on God.
I abhor activist judges, this country is going down fast.
Think people need to concentrate on what is really important instead of worrying about saying "Under God" I was proud to say it and still am.
Stuff like this just drives me insane.

then you think life is meaningless and there is nothing after life?
This is all just an accident?
I am sorry you feel like that and I am not being sarcastic, it is very sad to me