Secular Elation

It must be an axiom of human nature that someone who far disagrees with another person over a subject will venture ridicule or a comment of distaste toward that individual.

The day was Tuesday, during the later half of the month of March, in which I spent the bulk of day at my school, as is required of all students — unless one is interrupted by the unfortunate occurrence of illness or if one undertakes the opportunity of playing hooky. It so happened that neither of these possibilities took place on that day, and therefore I proceeded to school as usual. School would approach a close in two months, so I didn’t mind being there.

Shortly thereafter my arrival at school, the bell rang and the massive volume of students undertook the effort of going to first period. For me, first period was Algebra II, so in time that period came to an end after over a half hour of listening to my instructor’s lecture and recording notes, which on that day consisted of factoring polynomials.

Next I went to my U.S. History class, my only advanced placement course that year (others were honors courses though). A displeasing fact of second period was the Pledge of Allegiance, in which the entire class, along with the teacher, stood up, with right hands pressing against our chests, as we faced the flag that hung just below the ceiling at the corner of the room. Additionaly, as we all stood in that position, we recited the pledge.

Unfortunately, it was the new pledge, the one approved in the 1950’s. Two controversial words resided in the pledge, “under God.” If you inquire me of it, I think it is wrong to have these two words in the pledge. Not to disrespect the beliefs of others, but in fact to preserve those beliefs. I do not think the school, a public one at that, should condone certain beliefs in such practices as reciting the pledge.

Regardless, the class recited the pledge in entirety, and no one ever did object to the pledge or otherwise sit down in silence during it as a protest. Not even myself, a nonreligious person who disagrees with it. The teacher, the students, and the speaker over the intercom all joined one another in unanimous recitation of the pledge.

So what course of action did I undertake during the recitation, since I disagreed with that bit in the pledge? Well, what I have done varies from day to day. Some days, I’ll say “under God” while having my left hand in my pocket with fingers crossed, as to signify that I’m lying when I say that. This way, no student surrounding where I sat would discover my objection.

There are also days in which I shall insert a different phrase than those two words. I have said such things as “under good,” “under Dog,” or something similar. It was my hope that I could still protest the pledge while still having some sort of sound emit from my mouth other that “under God,” and then perhaps no student would bother me.

Finally, I decided that what I was doing was unnecessary, in that I shouldn’t pretend that I don’t disagree with it. Therefore, I assumed an air of boldness and insisted on silence during the saying of the two words. This I had done for a whole week, and no one noticed (or, if they did notice, they did not make any effort to voice objection). Therefore, I continued to stand up, hand over heart, reciting the pledge in second period of everyday, while maintaining a brief silence during the words “under God.”

If my hope was not to cause any disturbance, I was mistaken. On the aforementioned Tuesday, of which this story occurred, the class had just finished reciting the pledge whereupon a student, sitting cattycorner from my desk, apparently had qualms with what I had been doing.

”Why don’t you say 'under God?'" he stated, quite quickly, with a slight frown grabbing his face.

At this point, all the students in the classroom were acting upon sitting back in their desks. No one else was speaking, and this confounded student had the audacity to initiate a minor confrontation in the middle of class!

A second after my ears received his words, my heart ceased for a brief couple of seconds, and my stomach felt as if sugar had been poured into it. These feelings were amplified due in fact to that the whole class was there! Thirty people, all who could have seen and heard what my fellow classmate had to say. Arguing in front of everyone was not at all what I had interest in, and I consequently I took effort to undermine his objection.

”So?” I responded.

”No, I did, I clearly know that you didn’t say it.”

After this short exchange of words, we were both back in our seats, as with all the class, except the teacher who stood at the podium. But it was too late – I looked briefly behind my shoulder and saw that most of the eyes in the room were pointing in my direction, and it was clear that their attention was caught. Whether or not some of them heard all of what was said I was unsure of, but I dearly hoped that the teacher would intervene and begin the lesson for the day.

The student who caused this unpleasant occurrence said nothing more, for the teacher soon said, “All right, today we need to review on the Gilded Age era…”

The confrontation could have been worse, I am glad to say, but I am still unhappy that it occurred. I suppose it was only to be expected after time. If I had just conformed to the majority and recite the pledge in entirety, it perhaps would not have happened.

However, doing this would be at the expense of my integrity. It would compromise my adherence to the set of principles that I followed. After all, why should I be a hypocrite and acknowledge a supernatural being that I did not believe in? Alas, because of my quixotic ways in preserving my opinions, I had to endure that short experience.

I am at least happy that the pledge is voluntary, and this means that I was allowed to abstain from reciting part of the pledge that I had disagreements with. I have no problem pledging allegiance to my country, but I will not do so toward a being whom I think is nothing more than myth. I do not feel offended by the pledge, but I do think it is a bit unfair. Oh well, I'll deal with it.

Yet, if the words “under God” were not in the pledge, this wouldn’t be a problem. I wouldn’t be subject to ridicule by fellow students because I did not believe in the same things that they did. Proponents of the religious pledge fail to address this problem with students who disagree with the pledge. I will not conform to the minority, but yet I shall endure the distaste expressed by the members of the majority because I am a belief pariah.

I also think that the original, secular pledge was rather constructive as well as avoiding divisiveness. “One nation, indivisible…” is a great phrase, for it includes everyone in America. But when a deity is credited for residing over this nation, this disrespects those who don’t even accept this being.

Of course, I am simply a “whiny, selfish, politically correct liberal who fails to recognize that this country was founded on Christian principles,” so the opinions above are only expected. At least, these are the things that many politicians and radio show hosts feel confident in proclaiming. And I am a proponent of smaller government! Not exactly fitting the definition of a liberal.

Well, it’s not a problem now. The pledge of allegiance has been ruled to be unconstitutional because of those infamous two words, and so I might not have to say those two words again. That is, if the decision isn’t overturned in time. But in wake of the ruling, it’s harsh to even admit to being a nonbeliever amongst the swell of backlash.

Alas, my fellow people, religious or otherwise, who support the ruling, be steadfast, and do not suspend the strength of your convictions because they are unpopular. If you ask me, that’s what makes it all the more fun.

[ July 20, 2002: Message edited by: Secular Elation ]</p>

szcax

Thought provoking story!

I have a feeling that you are just making a mountain out of a molehill about what happened in class, though. As long as you don't live an an extremely fundy area, nobody's going to sneak into your house at night and slit your throat. I think that your classmate's "why didn't you say 'under god' " query was motivated by curiosity more than by shock or offense. In my school, at least, the kids don't have extremely strong feelings on religion.

Anyways, hang in there! And whatever you do, _don't_ start saying 'under god' again... that just means that you're insecure and you've given in and are submitting to peer pressure against your personal beliefs. Also, if you said 'under god', imagine trying to come up with a response to "why did you say 'under god' this time and not last time?".... that's not a place you want to put yourself.

Hey - thanks for sharing your story, and good luck in the hundreds of 2nd periods to come!

Alonzo Fyfe

Rally?

Where I went to school, we did not say the Pledge of Allegiance. (Strike the 'extremely fundy area' qualifier.)

But another student asked me once if I believed in God. I don't know why. I answered 'no.'

He told his friends, who told other friends. The next day, two of my friends said that they would no longer be allowed to visit me, or I to visit them.

That was not the worst of it.

Over the next two years, until I went to a different school, I was beaten countless time. I went to home room to find my desk tipped over, its contents scattered around the floor broken or torn. During swim class, I was held under water in mock 'baptisms' -- once to the point where I paniced and screamed for help, even though I was under water.

You do not need to be in an "extremely fundi area." You simply need a bunch of kids in the same school with the attitude that an atheist is fair game.

I think about what those two years would have been like if, in addition to everything else, I had to make a choice each day between saying the Pledge or not. And the other kids watching me, taking note.

The pledge law is just a violation of the Constitution. It is not just a bad idea. It vicitizes children. And I am certain some (those who speak most loudly in defense of such laws) know what will happen to kids who opt out of the pledge. Perhaps they don't care. My guess is that they sincerely believe that atheist children deserve whatever happens to them. They want to force those kids into a situation where they have a simple choice: convert, or suffer the consequences.

(Okay. Calm. Deep breaths. That's it.)

One of the last sane

How Christian of them. Bullies for God.

Nira

What a perfect opportunity to say that as an ethically conscious Atheist you feel it's wrong to lie, and that for this reason you can not say the words 'under God'.

4th Generation Atheist

SE, that's exactly the experience I had, only I was in elementary school and the person who heard was behind me.

In 1973.

I'd rather hoped that some things had changed since then, especially since my subsequent experience involved the students who couldn't play with me, the shunning, and the frequent beatings mentioned by other posters in this thread. But of course I was wrong.

I don't think the fundies are "not thinking" of the behavior of other students toward atheists and other "dissenters" when they propose their policies. On the contrary, they want atheists and non-Xns to be beaten up, accused of being un-patriotic, and abused in other similar ways. They want the public to assume that you have to love their God to love America. This way, they hope, people will be pressured back into the churches---and pressured to bring their children there. This way, they hope, they will gain more political power and receive larger economic contributions from an ever-growing credulous contituency.

It's basically a scam, and one of the most callous ones ever.

As regards your theory concerning human nature, it's mentioned in Spinoza's Ethics (17th cent.); I suspect when the cave-paintings are properly decoded there'll be some mention made there as well.

[ July 22, 2002: Message edited by: 4th Generation Atheist ]</p>

szcax

Alonzo Fyfe: Interesting point. I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you during your school days . I guess that really proves that the reactions to not saying 'under god' will change in a case-by-case basis and I guess I can't really make a fair judgement based on Secular Elation's situation unless I was very familiar with his school community and his standing in the social structure of the school.

Secular Elation - any news? Are you keeping God where it belongs (out of the pledge)? Anybody at school confront you?

DMB

Secular Elation: It can be hard, but you will feel better if you remain true to yourself. Religion is a great divider and the most enthusiastic bullies for religion are usually the ones who know least about the doctrines they profess to believe.

Corgan Sow

Too bad. My country has "I believe in God" under the pledge and it's IN the constitution. Curse of an Islamic nation.