Fiach

The American Pledge of Allegiance, mandatory in American schools is as follows: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag, of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, UNDER GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

See the contradiction they created when President Eisenhauer in 1954 added "under God."

First: If America is "under God" that implies exclusion of those who are not under God, Atheists, Agnostics, Freethinkers, Ignostics, polytheists (Hindus, Pagans, Wiccans).

Secondly: If those not under God are excluded, then America is not ONE NATION. It is two nations, a Theistic/Christian Nation, and a non-Theistic nation of second class subjects (not citizens.)

Thirdly: If those not under God are excluded, then America is not indivisible. It is purposefully divisible into the ruling class of Theists and the subject class of non-theists.

Fourthly: If those not under God are excluded, then America cannot possibly give liberty and justice for all. It must give and does already give more freedom and liberty to Theists, really to Christians than to non-Christians. Christians can put Christmas Creches on State lands, the Christian 10 Commandments can be posted in Schools and court houses. In that atmosphere an Atheist cannot expect equal justice.

Solution: Either drop the "Under God" and restore the original pledge that was not self-contradictory. Or to be fair and just, add in place of "under God" this revision, "under one God, many Gods, or no gods" with liberty and justice for all.

Fiach

Buffman

I think it would be safe to say that many thoughtful folks who desire that America remain a constitutionally secular nation recognized this divisiveness from the beginning.

When you couple that governmental action with the one designating our national motto as "In God We Trust" rather than standing by the original motto of "E Pluribus Unum," it becomes unquestionably clear that America in no longer a secular nation. Our capitalist government joined the "God" business in a big way.

When Americans deny the possibility that any minority religious cult could take over the government of this country, they do so in the same blind ignorance that conditioned them to believe in the supernatural. That reality happened long ago. All that is happening today is that cult is solidifying its gains and flexing its mindless muscle.

Berenger Sauniere

You're right Fiach, in essence, the US Government is not acknowledging literally millions of its citizens as citizens. It does acknowledge them when it comes to paying taxes though.

Autonemesis

Even on aesthetic grounds, the new pledge destroys what was a simple, straightforward patriotic sentiment.

"...one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

The new pledge sounds like you're ordering at McDonald's.

"..one nation, under God, indivisible, super-sized, with liberty and justice for all, to go."