Pledge of Allegiance

For those of you who haven’t already heard, a federal appeals court issued a ruling earlier today that may well prove to be detrimental to the freedoms that we all hold so dear.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, CA, declared that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because the words “under God” violate the separation of church and state.

In his decision, Judge Alfred T. Goodwin wrote “A profession that we are a nation ‘under God’ is identical, for Establishment Clause purposes, to a profession that we are a nation ‘under Jesus,’ a nation ‘under Vishnu,’ a nation ‘under Zeus,’ or a nation ‘under no god,’ because none of these professions can be neutral with respect to religion.”

While this ruling will only immediately impact the nine states under 9th District jurisdiction (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington state) we, too, will suffer the consequences if the ruling is allowed to stand.

This example, perhaps greater than any other in recent memory, clearly shows the great division between those of us who are God-fearing, law-abiding citizens who love America and the radical left who will not rest until our great nation is reduced to rubble.

We have seen this in my current campaign to become the next Attorney General of Kansas. The liberal left of both parties will not rest until they can ensure that their agenda will be preserved in the office of the Attorney General and other offices of high-importance throughout the state.

When current law mandates that pornography be allowed in our public libraries and at the same time will not allow the Pledge of Allegiance to be said by our children, we have no choice but to act and act strongly.

WE MUST RALLY TOGETHER TODAY AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED AND THAT WE WILL FIGHT TO STOP ANYONE WHO TRIES TO TAKE OUR PLEDGE—AND OUR FREEDOMS—AWAY FROM US!

I need your help now to ensure that our message that we will not stand for this and the other reckless attempts on our freedoms by the liberals is heard loud and clear by every Kansan

To wage this war, I need your help today. If you have already joined my fight through your financial contribution, please know your help is and will continue to be greatly appreciated. Your support has made a difference. If you have yet to contribute, please consider doing so today.

I have proven many times during my service in the Kansas legislature that I am not afraid to fight for the causes that we believe in, regardless of the personal cost to me and my family. Now, I need to you stand beside me once again.

Won’t you please consider offering your support in the sum of $20, $50, or $100? For many of you a gift of $5 will require a great leap of faith. For others, writing a check for $2000, the maximum gift allowed by law, will require little thought and will cause little discomfort. Regardless of the level that you can give to support me in this great battle, your support will make a difference. No matter the amount, I need your support today.

Please forward this message to your friends and relatives so that they will know just how real this war is. And let them know that they will have a voice in the Attorney Generals office if I am elected. I will not back down and allow the reckless liberal agenda of my opponent and the other liberals like him to march over our precious freedoms. And I’m confident you will stand with me.

Idea for FReeper Activism:

Independence Day is coming. In my area, and I'm sure in many other areas, the fireworks display includes some sort of pre-fireworks programs. In my town, we have the 36th Army Band play a brief concert, have a few fireworks and cannons go off during the 'Overture of 1812' and then we have someone sing the National Anthem right before the fireworks begin.

The program has never included a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance before. In light of the disgusting, anti-American decision by the 9th and in my patriotic desire to resist tyranny, I called the director of the fireworks display and suggested he add the Pledge to the program. He loved the idea and the reason behind it! So, in my town thousands of people are going to celebrate their independence on Independence Day by asserting it and reciting the Pledge on city property at a city-sponsored event. You can rest assured that we will emphasize the "under God" portion of the Pledge.

Independence day is fast approaching. Many FReepers plan on attending various 4th of July events to include fireworks displays, etc. Get on the phone now and do as I did and get the full Pledge of Allegiance to be recited at the events in your area.

Here is my collection of ideas of what we should do and say in response to the ruling based on what I have seen on FR.

First, we need to contact the White House. This is what the press secretary said today:

"MR. FLEISCHER: The President was informed at the G-8 Summit about the San Francisco court decision pertaining to the flag. The President's reaction was that this ruling is ridiculous.

The Supreme Court, itself, begins each of its sessions with the phrase, "God save the United States and this honorable court." The Declaration of Independence refers to God or to the Creator four different times. Congress begins each session of the Congress each day with a prayer. And of course, our currency says, "In God We Trust."

The view of the White House is that this was a wrong decision, and THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS NOW EVALUATING HOW TO SEEK REDRESS."

This is good....but let's keep the pressure on to show Bush he can do a lot even in this situation from the judicial branch.

Here is the switchboard for the WH: 202-456-1414
Here is the comment line: 202-456-1111
Here is the fax number: 202-456-2461

In contacting the White House, I think we should say the following:

1. The President should address the nation and demand his judicial nominees get voted on, since this ruling would not have happened if his nominees would have been put on the bench instead of having a judge come out of retirement to fill the vacancy.
2. The President should call a joint session of Congress, calling for a Constitutional Amendment. No, we don't need one, but the judges aren't able to understand plain language, so let's make it plain. Bush should demand an amendment that will protect the right of God to be in the public schools and that will also restrict the authority of judges in making rulings. They should be required to cite precedent clear back to the founding period on issues that go back as far.
3. The President should publicly call for the impeachment of the two judges in this case.
4. The president should publicly call for a radical changing of the 9th circuit or a defunding altogether.
(Both numbers 3 and 4 could be dealt with heavy-handedly in a joint session of Congress as well).
5. The President could even take a more extreme approach by arresting the judges for arousing disturbance in a time of war.
6. The President should encourage the use of the Pledge by using it more often in public appearances.

As for Congress, we should call for impeachment of the judges in the House. In the Senate, we should call for VOTES ON BUSH'S NOMINEES!

U.S. Capitol numbers (thanks to Mo1):

HERE'S THE TOLL FREE NUMBER FOR THE CAPITOL: 1-800-648-3516

US Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

We could freep the judge that wrote the opinion (thanks WakeUpChristian). Call Federal Judge Alfred Goodwin and demand
that he immediately resign... (415) 556-9800

Also, an idea of mine:

Are there Freepers from California that are teachers?

I seriously think we should consider encouraging them to violate this ruling when school starts up if they want to. Do we have any money left over from the legal defense fund? We could even support them with that if they have to go to court.

Idea for FReeper Activism (thanks to Spiff for this idea):
Independence Day is coming. In my area, and I'm sure in many other areas, the fireworks display includes some sort of pre-fireworks programs. In my town, we have the 36th Army Band play a brief concert, have a few fireworks and cannons go off during the 'Overture of 1812' and then we have someone sing the National Anthem right before the fireworks begin.

The program has never included a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance before. In light of the disgusting, anti-American decision by the 9th and in my patriotic desire to resist tyranny, I called the director of the fireworks display and suggested he add the Pledge to the program. He loved the idea and the reason behind it! So, in my town thousands of people are going to celebrate their independence on Independence Day by asserting it and reciting the Pledge on city property at a city-sponsored event. You can rest assured that we will emphasize the "under God" portion of the Pledge.

Independence day is fast approaching. Many FReepers plan on attending various 4th of July events to include fireworks displays, etc. Get on the phone now and do as I did and get the full Pledge of Allegiance to be recited at the events in your area.

Petition to the President of the United States and Members of Congress

I speak as an American citizen. The recent decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco where the Pledge of Allegiance was ruled Unconstitutional is an attack on America by way of the legal system. We are indeed "One Nation Under God."
To declare that anyone who pledges allegiance to the Flag of our Country is breaking the law is to declare the President of the United States and every member of Congress to be law breakers.
It has become abundantly clear that the two judges that voted for this must be impeached and removed from office. Please use the authority that you have been invested with and immediately vote to impeach judges Stephen Reinhardt and Alfred Goodwin.
To sign the Petition, click HERE.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.