Why is "under god" in the pledge of allegience?

NJGuy

If you are so offended by it, go live somewhere else where there is no religion. You'll find that you have a very good life right where you are!!! Show respect for yourself and your country by standing and saying the Pledge of Allegiance -- just omit the "offensive" part. Then sit down and think about how fortunate you are living in a country where you have the freedom to have that choice in the first place. If you lived under another regime, you would probably have your tongue removed or worse for speaking the way you do!

By the way, are you attending a publicly funded school? If you are, then walk yourself out the door and NEVER come back! You can't be hypocritical in one aspect and still enjoy the benefits of the institution on the other. Go to Iraq and see how you survive and get along without religious beliefs!!!!

skonch01

so.. to maintain your principles, your hands must not touch any currency that has In God We Trust on it?

#1con

Just fell lucky that it isn't one nation under Ala.

MenifeeManiac

Think of standing for and saying the pledge as an American custom, not a political or religious statement.

Hopefully, with this in mind, you can conform to the unwritten rule of every classroom in the US, and stand for and state the Pledge of Allegiance.

You don't want to cut off your nose to spite your face...

Proud to be an AMERICAN

Because America was founded on the principle that certain rights are God-given and therefore can't be taken away by other perople - the state.

The language was added in 1954 (the same year segregation was declared illegal) to distinguish us from communist nations where they believed any rights came from the state, and could be taken away by it.

In America, you can sit during the Pledge because we believe God gave you that right. :)

PS There isn't (sic) laws prohibiting religious expression in schools. Such laws would be unconstitutional.

tonalc1

It was added in the 50s to show the godless Communists that we were a god-ful country.

Your teacher is an idiot.

I refused to say the pledge when I was in school (because I wasn't interested in pledging allegiance to a piece of cloth), but I would still stand--a combination of staying under the radar and a bit of respect for the other people.

Add: Regarding the "forefathers" wanting it there, of course you know it was written in the late 19th century.

Mark D

The words "under God" are in the pledge because Congress put them there.

The "seperation of church and state" phrase can mean anything you want for it to mean. And good luck on taking a guess as to what the Supreme Court will do, because with those people on the Court, it is always a perpetual guessing game as to what they will do next. There is very little logical consistancy in what they do with this doctrine.

To me, the only thing that the phrase "seperation of church and state" means, in regards as to the issue of the pledge, is that the words can only be officially added to the pledge by an act of Congress. No church or collection of churches has any authority to make laws for the entire country, nor for any state or local government. Laws are made by the people's elected representatives in legislatures. Laws are not made by churches as part of their goal to have influence outside of their own congregations. But so far as the law WAS made by the popularly elected legislature, then it passes constitutional scrutiny.

massacre[[Screamer for T.D.A.]]

To piss of the communists in the fiftys.

Dr. Luv

It is a vestage of history...even though we have separation of church and state all political leaders are religious in some way and want to belive their God looks down on us in approval...but i will say what your teacher did in lecturing you about God was inappropirate.

chatticathi52

I think it should stay. How rude and disrespectful of you to spit on all the mens graves who fought for this right and believed that our country was founded under God. You don't deserve to be a American

FRAGINAL-NOYPI

The forefathers believe that the existence of the state must be under the guidance of God.

garanger71

Yes there are laws to keep the two seperate but its hard to enforce i believe. No one can force you to believe one way or the other and ethically speaking they shouldn't even be trying. But this world is full of folks who are going to try and coerse you to believe what they believe, because it is basically you diagreeing with them and what they believe..Hope this helps....and good luck.......Believe what you believe and YOU make that decision dont let anyone MAKE you believe anything you choose not to.

beekster321

Hey you don't ever have to stand and say the pledge. Your reasons are YOUR reasons alone but if your teacher isn't satisfied with that then quote from West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette. I can't remember the words exactly used but it essentially said that no state or local government can force an individual to swear an oath to something they do not believe in. Whether it be for religious reasons or personal beliefs. It's most interesting that the Supreme Court came to this decision before the Pledge included the words "under God."(1940's) That was only added during the communist scare in the 50's to "catch communists because they didn't believe in God" or some non-sense like that.

Any Republican 2012

You're in the minority. Like you said, you're the only one you know who doesn't believe in God. That's just life. When you're in the extreme minority, you have to be tolerant of the majority. It's been the in the pledge forever, and it probably will stay in the pledge forever.

Why can't you just stand at least out of respect for your country and our soldiers fighting for us overseas? You don't have to say the "under God" part or even say any of it. Have some respect! And I challenge you to start asking yourself why it is you don't believe in God. You're a young man, give it some more thought, and research it. I researched it. And there's no way as complex as the human body or the universe is, that it just came about by chance! It had to have a creator.

cyansure

if you love your country as you say---> then show some respect.

Allegiance to the country IS love of your country...You can refuse to say "under god" because the USA ALLOWs you and me, to believe in anything- including deities, we want....
Your belief doesn't trump mine and vice versa..
...Thus, You can sit on your butt mumbling about how you "love this country" and whine about why people think you are "bad" because you are just being true to YOUR BELIEFS...
Be thankful that, in this case, YOUR belief isn't against the law...& this nation has laws that require tolerance..
In many other nations intolerance is the norm and your actions would be dealt with harshly...regardless of your "belief".that your need to be true to whatever you determine is "correct or true".

ramps

nuts like you are whats wrong with the good old usa.god was here along time before.u.move to iran.

buzz8bud

Go visit some third world country and you will not be given a choice. Just be grateful that here you have a teacher, not a torturer, and they only gave you a lecture not a lashing from a whip. You are in school to learn, so do just that. you still have a chance. HISTORY my young minded friend is what you need to concentrate on, not MTV or SPONGE BOB.

boingwally

Your gross. You will have a grand time in the end. Tuff tooties for you bro.

Mel

Because that's what our founding fathers of America agreed & pledged to uphold; symbolic to the foundation of our freedom, beliefs and duty to honor/protect our rights as Americans. It is what it is and to love your country, is to honor the pledge, regardless of your religious preferences or beliefs as an individual. You have a right to your beliefs. You also owe it to those who fought and still fight for our freedom, as a nation of people that came together as ONE, bonding as a nation driven by one unwavering common shared belief in God. Selfless acts bond diverse unity as a nation in whole.

Sunny

thats weird because I have complete different belief, I am a firm believer in god but still do not wish to pledge allegiance to a material, and nation undergod, I dont believe this is gods nation. This nation is ruled by man, and all men our imperfect>no imperfect man can rule over an imperfect man. the world is suppose to be gods country. IT may seem hard to believe how our god could let such turmoil take place on earth, but rember its a blink of an eye. why is that so hard to contemplate. Is it easier for one to think this was our reason for being created to live in this turmoil forever That this is the way its suppose to be and i I believe god has a plan and that when he created us we were to live forever on earth, he gave us free will and tested his creators which decieved him out of greed and was disobediant. Therefore we now are living in the last days, death, crime, old age, disease, earthquake after earthquake, we are living in satans time. God will intervene, and all this corruption, death, false religion, etc will be done.

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