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“Under God” Should Stay in U.S. Pledge of Allegiance: Poll
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| Most Americans feel the pledge should not be changed
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By
Neveen A. Salem, IOL Washington D.C.
WASHINGTON D.C., June 30 (IslamOnline) – Following a ruling in San
Francisco last week that condemned the words “under God” as
unconstitutional and a failure to separate church and state, a
Newsweek poll released on Saturday stated that nine out of ten
Americans believe the words should remain in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The patriotic pledge, recited by U.S. students at the beginning of the
school day – as well as by many other Americans at different events
ranging from the political to the athletic – came under fire when an
atheist in California slammed the pledge, saying that it goes against
the U.S. Constitution’s assertion of the separation of church and
state and freedom of religion (or the lack thereof).
California doctor Michael Newdow, 49, was offended that his daughter,
whom he wants to raise as an atheist, would have to listen to her
classmates say the pledge in school. Students are not obligated to
recite the pledge, which consists of standing up, placing the right
hand on the heart and reciting the pledge while facing the American
flag.
A federal appeals court in San Francisco backed the man’s suit and
declared the pledge unconstitutional, much to the dismay of the
majority of American citizens and leaders.
The U.S. Constitution firmly asserts that the government shall not
impose or preach any religion and that all Americans have the right to
worship or shun religion as they wish - a right highlighted by the
Bill of Rights’ Amendment defending the freedom of religion.
The Pledge of Allegiance did not contain the phrase “under God”
until the 1950’s when America was at the peak of its Cold War with
the U.S.S.R., which was believed to be a “Godless” nation due to
its Communist ideologies. President Dwight D. Eisenhower inserted
“under God” in 1954 through an act of Congress.
Critics of the phrase claim that Eisenhower’s act is precisely the
reason why the phrase is unconstitutional.
Bailey, a law student and a devout Catholic, claims that Eisenhower
went against the Constitution when he added the phrase.
“Obviously our forefathers and creators of our Constitution did not
add ‘under God.’ They were adamant about the separation of church
and state. To add in the phrase means that the laws of the
Constitution are not being respected,” he told IslamOnline.
The pledge now reads: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one
nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"
U.S. President George W. Bush slammed the ruling, saying that it
"doesn't violate rights" and is "a confirmation of the
fact that we received our rights from God, as proclaimed in our
Declaration of Independence."
Senators also criticized the suit by Newdow and the subsequent ruling
as “nuts” and “shameful” and voted unanimously (99-0) to do
everything in their power to ensure that the pledge remains unchanged.
Salma, an American Muslim lawyer, told IslamOnline that she did not
feel it was offensive to have the words “under God” in the pledge.
“It doesn’t tell you which way to worship God. It just says that
our great country is being protected by God. Every person worships God
in his or her own way.”
She did go on to state that those who do not believe in God should be
respected and should not have to recite the pledge if they feel
uncomfortable with the wording.
“It is up to them. Our Constitution does say that religion is
separate from the state. But during these times, I think those who do
believe in God need to be able to express it all the more. Our country
and the world are going through a rough time right now. We need to be
able to turn to God if we want.”
From a legal point of view, Salma stated that the ruling has weight.
“The Constitution is clear about the separation of church and state.
According to U.S. law, the word ‘God’ should have no place in
affairs of the government.”
Christina, who considers herself a Buddhist, stated that she is not
offended by the words “under God” and that the pledge is a way to
show her patriotism to her country. “Saying ‘under God’ just
helps me make my patriotism more personal.”
She too also stated that those who do not believe in God may be
offended by the phrase and have the right to walk away if it is being
recited.
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