oriecat

I sent a letter to my Rep and to my Demo Senator (no point in writing to Smith, he's an idiot. Hopefully we'll get rid of him in November! ) Don't really remember what I wrote to Blumenauer, but here's part of what I wrote to Senator Wyden:

I am writing to express my extreme displeasure, or perhaps I should say disappointment, with your recent vote condemning the Ninth Circuit Court's Pledge of Allegiance decision. I would like to think that my elected representatives would believe it is important to uphold the Constitution. I would like to think they would read an important decision prior to condemning it. I would like to think that my right as an American to be patriotic would not be contingent upon my religious convictions.

Or something like that.

marylandnaturegirl

I sent a fax to my Congress Rep. (perhaps he will note that I was on his last fundraiser event list??). Also I wrote to Bush.

Anyhow, I wrote to my Congress Rep about the Under God thing. Hmmmm where did I put that. Ok, here it is. I didn't waste too much time laboring over it as this is one of those things that you have to strike while the iron is hot and before you lose your nerve.

I am writing to let you know that I oppose the pledge of allegiance
including religious references "under God". I hope that you will also
oppose its remaining in the Pledge of Allegiance in any upcoming
legislation. I wonder why this part of the pledge is even necessary? Why
should the school be the ones instilling religion in to children?
Shouldn't that be the role of parents or their churches? If parents want
religion in school can't they send their kids to a private religious
school?

Even as a child I wasn't a particular fan of the monotonous ritual of
reciting the pledge of allegiance in the classroom. I don't remember it
inspiring any patriotism in my classmates or myself. However I do have
strong patriotism and love for my country.

The inclusion of under God during the 50's McCarthyism era does
marginalize those Americans that are not theists or monotheists. Children
that do not say the pledge or that skip the "under god" part are often
teased or ostracized but often times this comes from the teachers
themselves. I have witnessed this first hand.

I have read the 9th Circuit Court ruling and the ruling makes perfect
sense to me. I hope that you and Congress do not rush to judgement on
thinking that the ruling is out of line. I commend the 2 judges that made
such a sound ruling.

Thank you as always for your consideration of constituent views.


Here is what I wrote to Bush. I kind of winged it as I was afraid if I edited and re-edited I would lose my nerve and never send it. Here's what I wrote:
am troubled by your statements yesterday in reference to the "under god"
part of the Pledge of Allegiance.

As I am sure you may know by now this part of the pledge was added during
the height of the McCarthyism Era and had obvious intentions of infusing
monotheism and fear of god in to Americans. It seems rather oppressive to
force teachers to recite this. Did it every occur to anyone that many of
these teachers required to read this pledge could be non-religious
themselves yet are forced to say this every day. Is it not the case that
the teachers are "required" to state this pledge affirming that there is a
god? What if they don't believe that? Is that not infringing on their
religious liberties? Why should they have to profess to a belief they do
not have?

I was troubled by your statements because it gave the appearence that you
will be supporting or requiring a religious litmus test for federal judges
to be appointed.

Is this what you said? "I believe that it points up the fact
that we need common sense judges who understand that our rights were
derived from God. Those are the kind of judges I intend to put on the
bench."


To me this seems to ignore a very important part of our constitution :

US Constitution. Article VI states "no religious Test shall
ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the
United States."

I would also like to kindly explain , as many people are unaware, that
many of our founding fathers were NOT religious and in fact had some very
strong words against relgion.

Perhaps you should be aware that Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Ben
Franklin, Ethan Allen, and Thomas Paine all had doubts and fears about
religion and some of them weren't even Christian. In fact they wrote some
very strongly worded letters and books against religion. Our founding
fathers would find it quite troubling that schools are REQUIRED to make
references to god every day in a ritualistic manner.

I hope you will reconsider this seemingly discriminatory attitude towards
those that are non-religious, non-theist, non-diest, for they are American
Citizens too and we need to hear their voices as well.

I in fact support the removal of the words "under God" from the pledge. It
seems those words are not necessary and the pledge was never intended on
its inception to be of a religious nature or to be a divider instead of a
uniter.

Can we not be welcoming of people of all religions AND respect those
without religion as well?

The under god part of the pledge IS coercive because if a child does not
say it, they are in a sense forced "out of the closet" about their being
non-believers. Coming out of the closet about something like this in our
Christian ruled society can be dangerous, even more dangerous than if you
were gay. Should children be forced to choose to either profess something
they don't believe to be true (basically lie) or not say it, thus letting
the whole classroom know they don't believe in god and thereby putting
themselves in danger for discrimination or even harm?

Thanks, as always for listening.

[ July 01, 2002: Message edited by: marylandnaturegirl ]</p>

eowynn

As I stated earlier, I wrote a letter to my senators and rep. This was the text of it, if anyone cares to make suggestions (it is not that great; I apologize):

I am writing this letter to affirm my support of the ruling of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals in the case involving the constitutionality of the phrase "under God" in the
Pledge of Allegiance. As I am sure you know, that phrase was added in 1954, during
the McCarthy era. It was then, and is now, a clear violation of the practice of separation
of church and state. Contrary to popular belief, this nation was not founded on
Christian principles. It was founded on the principles of compassion and humanity. It
was meant to be a place where anyone, regardless of the race, gender, age, sexual
orientation, or religious preference could be made to feel safe and welcome. The
Founding Fathers accomplished this by instating a wall of separation between church
and state. The phrase "under God" amounts to a government endorsement of the
Judeo-Christian religion, something that is clearly unconstitutional and discriminatory.

I love this country and wish to feel free to express my allegiance to it. However, the
phrase in question makes me, and all those who do not believe in a god,
uncomfortable. No atheist, agnostic, Wiccan, Native American, or other person with a
non Judaic religious background can recite the Pledge in its present form without
renouncing the beliefs he or she holds. It is unconstitutional for the Pledge of
Allegiance to include the phrase "under God." On behalf of myself, and all nontheists, I
ask you to give your support to this ruling, and help our country return to the
principles set out by the Founding Fathers. Thank you.