Do you think "Under God" should be taken out of the Pledge of Allergiance in Public Schools?
368971
I agree with you Tory.\n\nThis situation is getting nuts all over because of a handful of people.\n\nMy sister teaches at a CATHOLIC school. She had her class make Easter Cards for their parents with religious pix from old Christmas cards, etc. and had them hang them on the wall.\n\nThe principal had her TAKE THEM DOWN because they were 'religious'!!!  \nAnd there were non-Catholic kids in the school!!??\nHello?? What is wrong with THAT picture?\n\nMy opinion with the Atheists....\nthey want every 'God' related word removed from our history, buildings, etc.\n\nWhat they fail to realize is their belief of non-belief is also represented -\non government buildings....any blank spot or wall ...\nrepresents the Atheist.\non our currency....the white blank border.....\nrepresents the Atheist.\nWhen we are finished saying our "Pledge of Allegiance" under Our God and we are silent for the 30 seconds following...that is for the Atheist!!\n\nGet my drift?\n\nTheir non-belief \nis very much represented \nin our Government!!
787470
It is everyone's right NOT to recite the Pledge if they don't want to, or to omit the speaking of any words within it that they may happen not to agree with.\n\n     ALL schoolchildren should be advised of this.  And then if they ever are put into a position of being forced to do otherwise, they either should ask their parents to report the incident to the ACLU, or do so themselves, if they're old enough to know how.
717078
It should be removed because it is not part of the original pledge...Eisenhower added it in the fifties to appease the Christian fundamentalists during the cold war, and separate us from the godless communists. The founding fathers would be p!ssed off if they knew what has happened to this country.
868660
It should not be used to guide policy or legislation, nor should the government be in the business of suggesting preference for one set of religious beliefs over another.  The Constitution also states that no religious test should be required to hold public office.  I just wish the voters themselves would follow that precedent rather than waiting to see who throws out the most references to God or Jesus in campaign speeches.
993513
The people who wrote the First Amendment never imagined they would be accused of being against God or against religious beliefs.  Their only concern was that no religion be established as the official religion of the nation, and therefore have an advantage over other religions.  \n\nAs to the line "In God we trust" on our coins and the phrase "under God" in the pledge of allegiance, the term God is generic enough that it does not belong to any one religion, not even to Christianity, not even to a more general Judeo-Christian tradition.  It means Higher Power, however you define it.  Or as the twelve step programs say, "God, as we understand him," and many 12-steppers amend that to "him or her."  Many others say "as we fail to understand him -- or her," which is still more honest.
530032
YES!! There needs to be prayer in schools! This is the FIRST generation growing up without prayer in schools and the removal of God from everything, look how it is turning out!\n\nThere is NO SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\nthe only thing Jefferson was saying was the Government cannot impede on Church dealings or establish a religion or prohibit free exercise of religion, read the letter pple instead of jumping on a stupid band wagon not knowing anything about it!!!!!!!!! instead of using the Internet for dulling your mind use it for research now and again! read a book now and again pple.
911519
When our forefathers created our government with "seperation fo church and state", they were trying to PROMOTE religion! The idea was to allow people to believe in a faith of their choosing. (Keep in mind that back then, many nations, such as England, had a government endorsed religion.) It was never intended to prohibit religion.\n\nWe ARE one nation, under God. We have the freedom to choose how we believe and worship God, but God is central to the reason why our government arose in the first place. The pledge stays! Even if they TRY to remove it, we will be vocal and recite the original version with pride!
213680
The pledge did not include the phrase "Under God" originally.  That phrase was added in the 1950's during one of the most shameful periods of paranoia in American history.  Perhaps you've heard of it, it's called the McCarthy Era.  The pledge was good enough for this country for a very long time before "Under God" was added.  What happened in the 1950's to necessitate a change?  Oh, that's right, we started hating other people for not believing in  God, that's what happened.  \n\nNo, I think that letting a small minority of believers add the phrase in the first place was a huge mistake.  It should go along with the rest of the pledge.  The US is one of a few countries to demand that people affirm their allegiance to the country and it's flag  almost constantly.
246699
I think a bigger question or a different approach is " does it hurt the student's actions. And what religion are you talking about? If it's Christianity then how can the teaching of love, morals, respect, and humility hurt? Religious classes shouldn't be forced in school but it could be an elective.
111574
Kids can still pray in school.  They just can't be forced to, and they're not given a designated time to do it during the school day.  If prayer were forbidden in school, I would never get through a day of teaching!  I find it sad that moments of silence have been removed from schools b/c it's nice to have a small moment at the beginning of the day to collect your thoughts, pray, or zone out.  Nothing can stop a person from having a personal relationship with God.
105485
you know the pledge has already been changed once. "under God" was added I believe in 50's or 60's Anyways why does America keep messing with a good thing. Not saying that we should take it out just leave it as is.
463481
Taking mandatory prayer out of the schools is a good thing. (No, I'm not a Satanic worshiper). The reason being is because there are so many different cultures in America, along with so many different religions. I wouldn't want my children "forced" to say a prayer in any religion. \n\nAt my High School, every morning, the FCA and teens from different churches would meet together at the flagpoles, hold hands around it and say a prayer. There was never anyone who tried to "ban" this activity because they were not imposing their religious belief on others. \nReligion will never fully be removed from the lives of children. Most of History tells a great deal about different religions...the rise and falls of. \n\nHowever, I do believe it is wrong to take "one nation under God" out of the pledge of allegiance. They already have it that a kid doesn't have to say that line if they, or their parents do not believe in God. \n\nIf a person wants their child to be raised in a religious environment, then their parents should send them to a private school based on their religion. In the mean time, pulic schools need to stay unbiased in religion because so many different religions attend public school. \n\nOh, and no, I don't believe Satan has won. He will never win. He is no God. He is a fallen angel, but like us, he is still a creation of God. He's like a little boy at the Mall who throws a fit because his mother won't buy him a piece of candy. He gets punished, but still sulks in the corner...mad now because he didn't get his way and that he was punished. This is how I view Satan. \n\nI hope I have answered your question. Best wishes.
765366
Double standard, yes.\nAm I pissed over it, AMEN. You bet.\nMy son went to Catholic school for 9 years, then public. I told him if you want to pray, talk to God, say things out loud about God, DO IT. I'll be there to fight your battles. He's never, ever had a problem. He even includes the Lord in some of his reports and never an issue. If the rules are not going to change, let's just teach our children how to remain to be themselves, be true to their religion and in a respectful way...you know, don't push your beliefs on others they way the government does, but don't step down from what your heart tells you to do.
1134994
I totally agree with you.  Kids today have no religion or God. That means that Satan will take over their spirits and he has.  There is definitely more evil in kids since there is little consequences to their evil deeds.  They have no conscience.  If kids followed the 10 commandments, the USA would be a much better place to live.  I think that all the psychotic drugs kids are on in the schools for ADHD and ADD are one of the direct results of taking God and prayer out of the schools. When I went to school, none of the kids had to take these medications for self-control, etc.
349441
Christianity is allowed in schools.  Any child can pray anytime and anywhere they want, as long as they don't disrupt class or otherwise break school rules.  What they cannot (and according the Thomas Jefferson and James Madison should not be allowed to do) is use their government funded public school to help establish their religion.  This is for the protection of both our Constitution and Bill of Rights as well as their religion.
672106
Make it optional, no need to pledge allegiance to the flag every morning at all, and make the "God" part optional when saying it.  I think it's more important for kids to understand the Constitutional principles for which this country is founded and is the LAW than some abstract references to what the "proper religion" was at the time of its creation.  I can't find a single reference to a "state religion" in that or any document, including all the articles of confederation.  All I see is that Congress shall make NO LAW regarding the establishment of religion or the free excercise thereof.\n\nMeaning to me that people are freely allowed to excercise their right or abstain from referring to God or Gods in a public forum.  On another note, I don't want any reference to religion in school, that's what the home, church, and parental responsibility are for.  If a religious group wants to meet after school, go for it, but don't make it compulsory or degrading.
1073235
The phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear in the Constitution, but rather is derived from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to a group identifying themselves as the Danbury Baptists. In that letter, Jefferson referred to a "wall of separation between church and state."\n\nIf say, "prayer in school" was enforced by law, it would be unconstitutional because it would violate the first part of your quote. Laws cannot respect an establishment of religion. In essence, that's what separation of church and state is. (ANY church - not just Christian.) Prayer in school is an ESTABLISHMENT of religion.\n\nI have no personal feeling, I'm just speaking about the law.