[allmendream]

The phrase “Under God” was added to the pledge after lobbying by the Knights of Columbus.

Valedictorians being denied free speech is abhorrent, they have the right to worship freely and that is abridged when a government agent decides that their speech is “too religious” or whatever.

Should taxpayer monies be spent to create public religious displays to be displayed by public servants on public land? Is that OK if the religious makeup of the community is 99% in support and 1% opposed, and less OK if it is 95% to 5%?

Should Deerborne Michigan put up a green crescent during Ramadan on public land?

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"The phrase “Under God” was added to the pledge after lobbying by the Knights of Columbus."

And your point? It's not as if the pledge was created by our founding fathers and unchangeable. It was actually written by Francis Bellamy who was an avowed socialist. So what. It's important for our kids to pledge their allegiance to their country (if they are willing to).

"Should taxpayer monies be spent to create public religious displays to be displayed by public servants on public land?"

Uh, most of those public religious displays are often donated. Also, if the vast, vast majority of the community is okay with it, then yes it's okay to do. It does not hurt anyone. The reason most of these communities pull their displays is not because they would lose in court (they have had a lot of victories in court), but because the deep pockets of the ACLU could bankrupt them and it's not worth going broke over.

"Should Deerborne Michigan put up a green crescent during Ramadan on public land?"

If the concensus of the community is okay with it, I'm fine wiht it. It's called freedom. Someone being offended by this is ridiculous. You can be offended by anything, does that mean I have to acquise because someone is offended. I'm offended by welfare mothers with 8 kids to 6 different fathers on the public dole. Who do I get to sue for that? These athiests aren't really offended, they just want to project their "godless" religion on the rest of us.