Posted on 06/28/2002 6:08:42 AM PDT by areafiftyone
TEANECK, N.J. (AP) While most people are fuming over a former New Jersey man's challenge to the Pledge of Allegiance, his family could not be prouder to see him take a stand.
Michael Newdow, a 1970 graduate of Teaneck High School, has drawn sharp criticism since a federal appeals court ruled in his favor on Wednesday. The panel said students cannot recite the pledge because the phrase ''one nation under God'' amounts to a government endorsement of religion in violation of the separation of church and state.
That ruling, though, is now on hold. Judge Alfred T. Goodwin, who wrote the 2-1 opinion, said Thursday that it would not take effect until his fellow members of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decide whether they want to alter course. Goodwin gave no reason for his decision.
However, family members say this new development is unlikely to deter Newdow, who now lives in Sacramento, Calif.
''We're very proud of him,'' his mother, Rosalyn, told The Record of Hackensack for Friday's editions. She and her husband, Ira, have lived in Teaneck for more than 30 years.
''We believe in what he stands for, and I think the judges who made this decision were very brave,'' Rosalyn Newdow said.
The couple said the idea to challenge the Pledge of Allegiance was born in 1997, when their son took out a coin to buy something for his daughter and noticed the phrase ''In God We Trust.''
In 1998, Michael Newdow unsuccessfully tried to challenge the pledge in Broward County, Fla., where he was a part-time resident. At the time, he promised that if he didn't win, he would refile the case in another district.
Rosalyn Newdow said she and her husband raised their three children without ever indoctrinating them in a religious faith. They said Michael filed the suit in an attempt to do the same for his daughter, who now is in elementary school.
''If you want someone who has a genuine regard for the country and the Constitution, you couldn't do much better than Michael,'' Ira Newdow said.
Should the current case go to the Supreme Court, the couple said they will stand behind their son, no matter what the outcome.
''He has no place else to go with this, but he may just find other constitutional issues to argue,'' his mother said.
You are proud of what you child has accomplshed in life. I don't think you stated what all he has accomplished but, lets say the only thing he did was this challenge to GOD. Yes, you are proud, I bet your walking around all puffed up like a blow fish. You just can't wait to get around all your friends and share your offsprings accomplishments. I congratulate you on your guidance and the path selection you helped him select.
You see on the other hand I would have felt entirely different about this same subject. Had my child done the same thing. I would put him over my knee and spanked him. I would not leave the house from shear embarrasment. I would neve tell a sole he was mine.
But, again this is America and it allows you to make choices. Isn't it just great to be an American.
Aren't these the same folks who said the 9-11 hijackers were "brave freedom fighters" and that America deserved what it got?
Whaddya mean?! The motto's still there! ;-)
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