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A New Pledge Case is Born

By TChris, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Wed Sep 14, 2005 at 11:28:25 AM EST
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by TChris

Another pledge of allegiance case might work its way to the Supreme Court.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the pledge's reference to one nation "under God" violates school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God."

TalkLeft background on the case that reached the Supreme Court, only to go unresolved on the merits, is here.

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    A New Pledge Case is Born | 14 comments (14 topical)
    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:48 PM EST
    there has got to be more important things to deal with then this. This ruling will just make lots of noise & blather and will distract from the real issues facing this country.

    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#2)
    by roy on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:48 PM EST
    Indoctrination of children isn't a "real issue"?

    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#3)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:48 PM EST
    As I am sure there were more important things to worry about during the red scare when the "under god" portion was added to the pledge. I say bring back the real, original pledge of allegiance. Or change "under god" to "under the sun".

    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#4)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:48 PM EST
    Or change "under god" to "under the sun".
    So why do you hate the moon?

    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#5)
    by roy on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:48 PM EST
    Or tag the whole Pledge as unconstitutional, regardless of religious content, because pointless feel-good hoodoo is not among the enumerated powers. Those who wish to pledge their allegiance can find a more creative way to do so.

    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#6)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:49 PM EST
    I did not mean to offend moon worshipers, I'd be happy to compromise with "under the heavens".

    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#7)
    by desertswine on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:50 PM EST
    I kind of favor- ...one nation, "by the power of Greyskull!" indivisible...

    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#8)
    by roy on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:50 PM EST
    Somewhat more info here, including a quote from Bill Frist:
    ... The pledge has long provided an opportunity for students to recognize, respect and honor our nation's heritage and the unique rights and responsibilities they have as American citizens. ...
    "Personal responsibility" takes a back seat to "brainwashing children". Children who, obviously, still have the "opportunity" to say the pledge if they choose. Also the "opportunity" to be coerced into saying the pledge by their parents or by teachers at a private school. Every article about the Pledge or prayer in school should come with a standard disclaimer: "Children are still allowed to talk to and about God at school, on their own time, alone or in groups, if they choose to."

    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#9)
    by aahpat on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:50 PM EST
    PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE I pledge allegiance to the Constitution and to the Bill of Rights of America. And to the Declaration of Independence, Upon which we stand as One nation under law. Indivisible. With liberty and justice for all.

    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:50 PM EST
    A Baptist minister wrote the original Pledge in August 1892, a while before he was driven from his church for his socialist ideas.
    "In 1923 and 1924 the National Flag Conference, under the 'leadership of the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution, changed the Pledge's words, 'my Flag,' to 'the Flag of the United States of America.' Bellamy disliked this change, but his protest was ignored. In 1954, Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the words, 'under God,' to the Pledge. The Pledge was now both a patriotic oath and a public prayer."
    And, consequently, unconstitutional. Yesterday's ruling will stand for another fifteen minutes, before the entire 9th Circuit slathers themselves in Sacred Crisco, and reaffirm their pledge to always lick BOTH sides of flag stamps.

    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#11)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:51 PM EST
    dwine....hysterical. I like your pledge aaphat. Maybe the best idea yet is to just read the Bill of Rights every morning. To me, that is the strength and beauty of this nation. Forget the flag, forget the boogeyman....just give me the goods.

    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#12)
    by peacrevol on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:51 PM EST
    Why do they have to recite a pledge? I mean, I guess I dont get to work early enough to stand facing the flag and say the pledge of allegiance b/c I dont remember ever doing that after about the third grade. I think it's a stupid idea and quite pointless.

    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:52 PM EST
    Peacrevol: "Why do they have to recite a pledge?" It trains young minds to be ready to enlist in illegal genocides for profit.

    Re: A New Pledge Case is Born (none / 0) (#14)
    by peacrevol on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:53 PM EST
    I think you're right paul. Let's teach all of our kids to salute the flag and be ready to stand up for the police state that we will have by the time they're adults. I think that's what the point of reciting this thing is.

    A New Pledge Case is Born | 14 comments (14 topical)