9TH CIRCUIT COURT: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Fox News ^

[Recovering_Democrat]

UNBELIEVABLE. BREAKING ON FOX: SF APPEALS COURT SAYS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ENDORSES RELIGION, AND IS THEREBY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

[E Rocc]

This ruling will likely mean merely a small change to the pledge so that it doesn't affect or infringe on the rights of non-believers. The ruling affirms the idea that government can't place a manger scene in a courthouse lawn, and it shouldn't be able to force its citizens to pledge to a religious belief.

There's no force involved because the Supreme Court has long since ruled that kids can't be forced to say the Pledge in public schools (a decision a few districts probably need to review). The problem is the words "under God", which do actually tie monotheistic belief to patriotism.

IMO, no principles not in the Constitution should be tied to patriotism. Flushing the entire pledge is rather stupid, though.

-Eric

[Triple]

"In 1892, a socialist named Francis Bellamy created the Pledge of Allegiance for Youth’s Companion, a national family magazine for youth published in Boston. The magazine had the largest national circulation of its day with a circulation around 500 thousand. Two liberal businessmen, Daniel Ford and James Upham, his nephew, owned Youth's Companion…....snip...

In 1891, Upham had the idea of using the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' discovery of America to promote the use of the flag in the public schools. The same year, the magazine hired Daniel Ford's radical young friend, Baptist minister, Nationalist, and Christian Socialist leader, Francis Bellamy, to help Upham in his public relations work. Bellamy was the first cousin of the famous American socialist, Edward Bellamy. Edward Bellamy's futuristic novel, Looking Backward, published in 1888, described a utopian Boston in the year 2000. The book spawned an elitist socialist movement in Boston known as "Nationalism," whose members wanted the federal government to nationalize most of the American economy. Francis Bellamy was a member of this movement and a vice president of its auxiliary group, the Society of Christian Socialists(2). He was a Baptist minister and he lectured and preached on the virtues of socialism and the evils of capitalism. He gave a speech on "Jesus the Socialist" and a series of sermons on "The Socialism of the Primitive Church." In 1891, he was forced to resign from his Boston church, the Bethany Baptist church, because of his socialist activities. He then joined the staff of the Youth’s Companion(3)." - Whatdoyouknow.com

I was shocked to learn this as well.

[truthkeeper]

USSC, here we come.

[ex-snook]

I guess we are still occupied by England so this ruling throws out the Declaration of Independence.

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. "

[maxwell]

The "one nation UNDER GOD" portion was added later to the pledge. I can't see the need for outrage here. This is simply courts affirming the separation of church and state.

Nope, I think it's more a case of Newdow taking a big ol' ego-trip and p!ssing in the punchbowl...

Principles and whatnot are one thing, but his elementary-school child being "injured" by having to hear (but not forced to participate in, notice) the Pledge? PLEASE. This is all about Newdow's ego-trip and trying to force his personal belief system on everybody else. Kids have no rights; the U.S. Constitution DOES NOT APPLY to kids.

Any judge with a lick o' sense would kick Newdow out on his presumptuous atheist a$$.

[Lucas1]

STAR SPANGLED BANNER>....WILL BE NEXT - These words below from the song

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand, Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation; Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust" And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

[mattdono]

Yes...it is just so simple to destroy the foundations on which this country was built.

Sorry I can't be so cavalier...I actually care what happens to this country, unlike you...

[aomagrat]

[truth_session]

Well, he'll lose the case when it goes the Supreme court.

But why doesn't he just take his kids out of the public schools like a normal American if he can't get his way?

Should we all be forced to live the liberal agenda or should we be adults and live our own lives?

[E Rocc]

A Sacramento father who filed this suit didn't like the forced pledge.

If it was really being forced he would have won his case based on Barnette anyway. They wouldn't have needed to rule on "Under God".

-Eric

[Charles Martel]

Forget the Supreme Court. Line em up, give them a cigarette, a blindfold, and a bullet RIGHT NOW!

No blindfolds. Also, why waste perfectly good bullets when bayonets will do?

[Sabertooth]

California should be Booted out of the Union. Just give it back to Mexico. It is too much trouble to maintain.

You realize that would add a thousand miles to the common border with Mexico?

[sinkspur]

He won the case.

He hasn't won it yet. It goes back for trial, and is subject to a stay by the full 9th Circuit.

In any case, nothing will change in most classrooms, or Congress, or wherever this is recited. People will still say "under God," and nobody can stop them from doing so.

[Xenalyte]

Soupy, is that you?

[Humidston]

CRAP!!!!!!

[ohioman]

Yeah whatever. All those who are against the pledge as it stands are traitors.

[Dales]

but it dosen't

And to the Republic for which it stands.

[rwfromkansas]

There is cause for outrage because the court does not understand the meaning of th First Amendment. It does not support a separation of church and state.

[unixfox]

Forget the Supreme Court. Line em up, give them a cigarette, a blindfold, and a bullet RIGHT NOW!

Why be easy on them? I kinda like the idea of a public stoning.

If there are any patriots left in San Gaycisco they should form a human chain around this court and demand it be overturned.