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"I dont think you are any less a patriot for not saying those words. But, you handle it correctly by simply not saying them - not attempting to have them removed. . ."

OK, but not everyone feels as you do. I attended this year's Veteran's day ceremonies at the local cemetery, since I'm a veteran. When it came time to say the Pledge, I did it as I always do. A guy next to me, another veteran, I'm sure, swore at me afterwards, then called me a traitor for not saying "under God."

I just smiled at him.

I just smiled at him.

Religion and Politics. Two subjects that even the best of friends can find difficult to talk about.
The stranger who swore at you and called you a traitor obviously had some emotional issues. (I suspect he probably felt bad afterwards, we all act in ways that are not becoming sometimes, especially about God and country).

Unless you left out the two words in an obvious manner, to attract attention to your non-belief, or to deliberately cause hurt to someone else, you were wronged in the worst way. It still seems you handled it in a proper manner - I'm not sure I could have done the same in your position.