Atheist Calls Pledge Unconstitutional

Yahoo! News ^ | 3/24/04 | Gina Holland - AP

[writer33]

"Aren't we a better nation because we got rid of that stuff?" Newdow, a 50-year-old lawyer and doctor arguing his own case at the court, asked before the argument.


You cannot compare this to civil rights. Civil liberties aren't in violation here. He is an advocate forcing his minority views on the rest of society.

[Chummy]

"Michael Newdow. . .


is an idiot."

...needs all of our prayers.

[IAmNotAnAnimal]

And your point is???

[Chummy]

..your point is taken, however it is flawed, unless you intend to portray Mormons as "non-religious."

[Deguello]

"He's a career trouble maker"

Saw a good program on Court TV last night about Madlyn O'Hare being knocked-off back in '95.

[IAmNotAnAnimal]

tryanny of the minority

[kellynla]

Prediction: four to four decision. This whole case is based on a lie, since both the child and the mother(the legal guardian) did not object to the pledge.

The history of the Pledge of Allegiance:

On September 8, 1892 a Boston-based youth magazine "The Youth's Companion" published a 22-word recitation for school children to use during planned activities the following month to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. Under the title "The Pledge to the Flag", the composition was the earliest version of what we now know as the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

The October 11, 1892 Columbus Day celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the discovery of America was planned for years in advance, and anticipated much as modern Americans look forward to and plan for the advent of a new century. The United States had recovered from most of the effects of its Civil War that began 30 years earlier, and people from around the world were flocking to the "Land of Opportunity". The previous year almost a half million immigrants had entered the United States through the Barge Office in Battery Park, New York and on New Years day of 1892 the new Federal Bureau of Receiving's station at Ellis Island had opened.

Two men interested in both education and planned Columbus Day celebrations around our Nation's 44 states were Francis Bellamy and James Upham. To this day it is still unknown which of the two men actually authored the words that were to become the Pledge of Allegiance. It was published anonymously and not copyrighted. James Upham was an employee of the Boston publishing firm that produced "The Youth's Companion" in which it first appeared. Francis Bellamy was an educator who served as chairman of the National committee of educators and civic leaders who were planning the Columbus Day activities. What we do know for certain is that the words first appeared in the September 8, 1892 issue of "The Youth's Companion", and a month later more than 12 million school children recited the words for the first time in schools across the nation. Our Pledge of Allegiance was born, but like anything new, it took many years to "reach maturity", and underwent several changes along the way. That first Pledge of Allegiance read:

I pledge allegiance to my Flag,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.

October 11, 1892


After the Columbus Day celebration the Pledge to the Flag became a popular daily routine in America's public schools, but gained little attention elsewhere for almost 25 years. Finally, on Flag Day - June 14, 1923, the Pledge received major attention from adults who had gathered for the first National Flag Conference in Washington, D.C. Here their Conference agenda took note of the wording in the Pledge. There was concern that, with the number of immigrants now living in the United States, there might be some confusion when the words "My Flag" were recited. To correct this the pledge was altered to read:

I pledge allegiance to my the
Flag of the United States,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.

June 14, 1923


The following year the wording was changed again to read:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.

June 14, 1924


The Pledge of Allegiance continued to be recited daily by children in schools across America, and gained heightened popularity among adults during the patriotic fervor created by World War II. It still was an "unofficial" pledge until June 22, 1942 when the United States Congress included the Pledge to the Flag in the United States Flag Code (Title 36). This was the first Official sanction given to the words that had been recited each day by children for almost fifty years. One year after receiving this official sanction, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that school children could not be forced to recite the Pledge as part of their daily routine. In 1945 the Pledge to the Flag received its official title as:

The Pledge of Allegiance

The last change in the Pledge of Allegiance occurred on June 14 (Flag Day), 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved adding the words "under God". As he authorized this change he said:

"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 will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."


This was the last change made to the Pledge of Allegiance. The 23 words what had been initially penned for a Columbus Day celebration now comprised a Thirty-one profession of loyalty and devotion to not only a flag, but to a way of life....the American ideal. Those words now read:

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.
June 14, 1954

[Adder]

You link notes that the Mormons were considered armed and dangerous. Thats hardly a ringing endorsement of your point.

[Modernman]

I'm curious, do they still have witnesses swear on the bible in court?

It's not required. All you have to do is raise your right hand and swear (or affirm) that you'll tell the truth.

[dsmatuska]

I don't believe Christians in America have ever been a threat to the non-religious.

Then you would be wrong. Christians have a rich history of killing or driving off people who do not believe as they do. Historically, one could go back to the Crusades, but one need not go back that far; even in US history. I offer this link as evidence that Christians were not nearly as tolerant as it is today.

Sadly, that's true.

Simeon Janovsky, former administrator of the Kodiak colony during the early 1800's, wrote the following in one of his letters:

"On another occassion, I was relating to him (St Herman) how the spanish in California had imprisoned 14 Aleuts, and how the Jesuits were forcing all of them to accept the Catholic Faith. "But this Aleut would not agree under any circumstances, saying 'We are Christians.'

"The Jesuits protested, 'That is not true, you are heretics and schismatics. If you do not agree the accept our faith then we will torture all of you.' "Then the Aleuts were place in cells until evening; two to a cell. At night the Jesuits came to the prison with lanterns and lighted candles. They began to persuade the Aleuts in the cell once again to accept the Catholic faith. 'We are Christians,' was the answer of the Aleuts, 'and we will not change our Faith.'

"Then the Jesuits began to torture them, at first the one while his companion was the witness. They cut the toes off his feet, one joint - and then the other...And then they cut the first joint on the fingers of the hands, and then the other joint. Afterwards, they cut off his feet and his hands; the blood flowed. The martyr endured all and steadfastly insisted on one thing: 'I am a Christian!'

"In such suffering he bled to death. The Jesuits promised to torture to death his comrades also on the next day. But that night an order was received from Monterey stating that the imprisoned Aleuts were to be released immediately, and sent there under escort. Therefore, in the morning all were dispatched to Monterey with the exception of the martyred Aleut.

"This was related to me by a witness, the same Aleut who was the companion of the tortured Aleut. Afterwards, he escaped from imprisonment, and I reported this incident to the supreme authorities in St. Petersburg.

"When I finished my story, Father Herman asked, 'And how did they call the Martyred Aleut?'

"I answered, 'Peter, I do not remember his family name,' The Elder stood up before an icon, reverently made the sign of he Cross, and pronounced, 'Holy newly-martyred Peter, pray to God for us!'"

http://www.sthermans.ca/resources/aleut.html

[newcats]

SOme people are overeducated to the point where they lose touch with reality and reason.

That has nothing to do with my question.
Thank you Mr. Strawman.

[anonymous_user]

I think people who don't believe there is a God are offensive

Right, that's not fair. I find THIS GUY offensive.

[God'sgrrl]

Anyone seeing the link on Drudge? Pledge of Allegiance, 'Under God' Backed at US Supreme Court...

[Blood of Tyrants]

Teh SC could sidestep it and throw out the case by declaring that Newdow has no standing to bring the suit but this would only waste time and money as I am sure that the ACLU has God and America haters stacked up 100 deep just itching to please Satan and would have a new case filed tomorrow.

[miloklancy]

Wrong, your link relates to what I see as an inter-religious dispute. Although many may disagree, I believe the Mormons were a Christian cult that later became a bonifide church. Mormons are by no means non-religious. I have never seen historical accounts in America of the persecution of the non-religious.

[freekitty]

I wonder how this was allowed to come before the US Supreme Court in the manner that it came about? Common sense and decency have all been thrown out of America. It just seems like there were lies and deceit that brought this about. I am appalled. Our Founding Fathers intended that one religion should not rule; not throw out the freedom of religion. I believe that is clear to the majority. Let's hope the Supreme Court Justices who have their very jobs because of our country, warts and all, understand this.

[newcats]

Nice tap dancing there...Spin it baby....

[writer33]

Don't you know it. This redundant argument is used when liberals try to degrade something.

[Godzilla]

"That's only because no atheists can be elected to office," Newdow responded.

What a whiner, don't think he earned points on that comment.

[miloklancy]

I believe there are alternative options for non-religious individuals when taking the oath in a court of law. I'm not sure on the specifics though. I'am disturbed by the forced secularist agenda in our society. If it isn't broken don't fix it. I don't think there was great strife between the religious and non-religious in this country in the past. But I do think this forced secularism stuff will tear people apart.