The Cellar - View Single Post - Atheist Plans New Lawsuit Over Phrase 'Under God'

Kitsune · 06-30-2004, 05:06 PM

Never mind the phrase "under God," why should little kids in effect be programmed with a loyalty oath everyday before school? Doesn't that seem a little Orwellian?

A lot of people who enter this country from elsewhere in the world find this aspect of American life to be one of the strangest. I've had more than one visitor from Europe and South America note that they found it creepy that children recite the pledge almost robotically every single morning. "Why do you need to pledge your allegiance every day? Don't they believe you the first time?" When viewed from an outside perspective, I suppose it does seem really odd, but I can't remember a school day going by without it, ever, so I don't know anything else.

In thinking of it this way, I became really curious as to the origins and reasoning behind the pledge.

Pledge Origins

Back in November of 2001, in reaction to the September 11th terrorist attacks, Wisconsin passed a law requiring all schools to offer the Pledge or anthem daily in grades one to twelve.

This is really weird even to me -- an American who attended school and heard it everyday. Why must a law be passed in order for students to reaffirm their patriotism? Shouldn't that sense of pride in your country come about on its own?

From this day forward the millions of our schoolchildren will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our Nation and our people to the Almighty. ...Over the globe millions have been deadened in mind and soul by a materialistic philosophy of life. ...In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever shall be our country's most powerful resource in peace or in war.

06-30-2004, 05:06 PM	#2
Kitsune still eats dirt Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 3,031	Never mind the phrase "under God," why should little kids in effect be programmed with a loyalty oath everyday before school? Doesn't that seem a little Orwellian? A lot of people who enter this country from elsewhere in the world find this aspect of American life to be one of the strangest. I've had more than one visitor from Europe and South America note that they found it creepy that children recite the pledge almost robotically every single morning. "Why do you need to pledge your allegiance every day? Don't they believe you the first time?" When viewed from an outside perspective, I suppose it does seem really odd, but I can't remember a school day going by without it, ever, so I don't know anything else. In thinking of it this way, I became really curious as to the origins and reasoning behind the pledge. Pledge Origins Back in November of 2001, in reaction to the September 11th terrorist attacks, Wisconsin passed a law requiring all schools to offer the Pledge or anthem daily in grades one to twelve. This is really weird even to me -- an American who attended school and heard it everyday. Why must a law be passed in order for students to reaffirm their patriotism? Shouldn't that sense of pride in your country come about on its own? From this day forward the millions of our schoolchildren will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our Nation and our people to the Almighty. ...Over the globe millions have been deadened in mind and soul by a materialistic philosophy of life. ...In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever shall be our country's most powerful resource in peace or in war.