Freethought & Rationalism Archive

David Bowden · 06-27-2002, 06:34 AM

Feedback encouraged. Copy and use what you like in your own letter to the editor, if you haven't written one yet:

On June 26 a federal court found that the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance are an endorsement of religious belief, and that it therefore goes against the grain of the Constitution for public schools to require that it be recited in its current form.

It is about time America dealt with this issue head-on. The Pledge of Allegiance, as originally recognized by Congress in 1942, did not contain the two words "under God." Those words were added during the McCarthy era, when communists were sought everywhere out of fear that they planned to undermine the noble institutions of this nation. The reasoning back then was that since most communists were also atheists, "under God" would send a clear message that America wasn't for communism.

But not all American atheists are communists, and "under God" doesn't belong in our Pledge any more than it did when Francis Bellamy, a Christian from New York, wrote it more than 100 years ago without the phrase "under God." Prior to 1954 (the year the phrase was added) our Pledge, reading "one nation, indivisible..." was perfectly fine for all of us. It was the Pledge recited by our soldiers, schoolchildren, and by citizens of all backgrounds and beliefs.

The McCarthy era additions should be removed and America should get its original Pledge back, a Pledge every American, whatever his or her religious convictions, can say with pride and integrity.

-[name]

[ June 27, 2002: Message edited by: wide-eyed wanderer ]

Bill Snedden · 06-27-2002, 08:17 AM

I very much liked your letter. I borrowed from it heavily in my own to our local paper. Thanks!

Bill

Godless Dave · 06-27-2002, 09:04 AM

Damn, that's better than my letter. Good thing we have two papers here! Set phasers on "plagiarize".

David Bowden · 06-27-2002, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Godless Dave:
Good thing we have two papers here! Set phasers on "plagiarize".

Fire away! I've sent letters to three local papers so far. Working on a reasonable appeal to fairness does more than fuming at the nonsense on TV, and it makes you feel a little better afterwards! Do all the good you can...

-Wanderer

David Bowden · 06-27-2002, 01:49 PM

Quick update - I just received email from one of the local newspapers: this letter will be in tomorrow's edition.

Keep plugging away; people will eventually get the idea that there are really are unbelievers who love America, and that the pledge should be for them, too.

-Wanderer

Bill Snedden · 06-28-2002, 09:01 AM

I just got word from my local newspaper that my letter will be published sometime in the upcoming week.

Here is what I sent (with thanks to WEW):

Quote:

On June 26 a federal court found that the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance represent an endorsement of religious belief, and therefore violate the Establishment clause of the Constitution.

The original Pledge, written by Francis Bellamy more than 100 years ago, didn't contain those words. They were added in 1954, during the McCarthy era. The reasoning was that since most communists were also atheists, "under God" would demonstrate that America didn't support communism.

But not all communists are atheists and, more importantly, not all Americans are monotheists. We are a nation of Christians, Muslims, and Jews, but we are also a nation of Buddhists, Hindus, atheists, and many others. "Under God" doesn't belong in our Pledge any more than it did when first written. The original Pledge was recited by soldiers, schoolchildren, and citizens of all backgrounds and beliefs and served us through two world wars and several national crises.

In this time of increasing diversity, we should be seeking unity, not division. Americans of all religious convictions, and those with none, should be able to pledge their allegiance to this great nation without having to abandon their First Amendment rights. The addition of "under God" to the pledge was made at a time when our fear of communism overruled our reason and trust in the ideals of the Founders. The McCarthy-era additions should be removed and America should get its original Pledge back. A Pledge every American, regardless of religion, can say with pride and integrity.

David Bowden · 06-29-2002, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Snedden:
I just got word from my local newspaper that my letter will be published sometime in the upcoming week.

That was great, Bill. My letter was printed yesterday in one paper, right underneath an editorial agreeing with the Federal court ruling. Unfortunately, the editor was about the only person who agreed with me; printed alongside my letter was a rant from an inarticulate Junior in college, and the local reaction to the ruling has been almost uniformly negative. So I'm glad I spoke up, and I'm glad others here are speaking up, too. Popular opinion is definitely misinformed and/or underinformed on this issue.

Here are some gems out of the paper that carried my letter:

"It seems as if the increased patriotism our country experienced after Sept. 11 has all but fizzled out." - from the Letter to the Editor across from mine.

What the...? "Fizzled out"? Quite the opposite, bud. He goes on to claim that we "under God" opponents are hypocrites, because right after Sept 11 we were all singing "God Bless America" along with everyone else.

"I feel the pledge is very important to not only who we are as Americans but also how other people see us. I think it's very absurd that people would try to break what we hold so dear to our hearts." - another college student

"Once we steer away from God, which people are really trying to do, then I think it's going to be a very terrible state for our country." -another student

"The constitution never says the US should ignore religion entirely." - a local pastor

<img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

"With all the things going on in the world, it's good to have strong beliefs and customs." - another college student

(I'm trying to block out disturbing visions of Hitler Youth in Boy Scout uniforms smashing my apartment windows...)

Bill Snedden · 07-01-2002, 02:36 PM

The N&R printed my <a href="http://www.news-record.com/news/opinions/letters/monlets01.htm" target="_blank">letter</a> in today's edition.

I must say, I've been somewhat surprised at the reaction here in the Triad. The normally progressive (albeit crappy) N&R prints an editorial denouncing the decision, but there's almost no mention in the letters to the editor. Two out of the three letters (Chuck's and mine) that have explicitly mentioned it have supported it.

In addition, when I got home from work this afternoon there was the most amazing message on my answering machine. I'm going to print a transcript here because I feel sure that the woman who left it wouldn't mind and I was so utterly blown away by it. The caller seemed elderly and had a definite foreign accent, although I couldn't discern the nationality.

Quote:

I don't know whether you are Bill Snedden that has the letter in today's News & Record. I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for such beautiful way to express it because I wanted to say the same thing but of course I was limited to do it as well as you did and I want to thank you. You give me hope that there are still loving people in this country, The reason why I came here. Thank you so much.

'nuff said.

Bill Snedden

[ July 01, 2002: Message edited by: Bill Snedden ]

Darwin's Finch · 07-01-2002, 02:41 PM

Very cool, Bill. I'm glad someone got it.

David Bowden · 07-01-2002, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Snedden:
In addition, when I got home from work this afternoon there was the most amazing message on my answering machine...

06-27-2002, 06:34 AM	#1
David Bowden Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Everywhere I go. Yes, even there. Posts: 607	my Letter to the Editor - comments welcome Feedback encouraged. Copy and use what you like in your own letter to the editor, if you haven't written one yet: On June 26 a federal court found that the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance are an endorsement of religious belief, and that it therefore goes against the grain of the Constitution for public schools to require that it be recited in its current form. It is about time America dealt with this issue head-on. The Pledge of Allegiance, as originally recognized by Congress in 1942, did not contain the two words "under God." Those words were added during the McCarthy era, when communists were sought everywhere out of fear that they planned to undermine the noble institutions of this nation. The reasoning back then was that since most communists were also atheists, "under God" would send a clear message that America wasn't for communism. But not all American atheists are communists, and "under God" doesn't belong in our Pledge any more than it did when Francis Bellamy, a Christian from New York, wrote it more than 100 years ago without the phrase "under God." Prior to 1954 (the year the phrase was added) our Pledge, reading "one nation, indivisible..." was perfectly fine for all of us. It was the Pledge recited by our soldiers, schoolchildren, and by citizens of all backgrounds and beliefs. The McCarthy era additions should be removed and America should get its original Pledge back, a Pledge every American, whatever his or her religious convictions, can say with pride and integrity. -[name] [ June 27, 2002: Message edited by: wide-eyed wanderer ]</p>

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06-27-2002, 08:17 AM	#2
Bill Snedden Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,597	I very much liked your letter. I borrowed from it heavily in my own to our local paper. Thanks! Bill

06-27-2002, 09:04 AM	#3
Godless Dave Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: With 10,000 lakes who needs a coast? Posts: 10,762	Damn, that's better than my letter. Good thing we have two papers here! Set phasers on "plagiarize".

06-27-2002, 01:49 PM	#5
David Bowden Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Everywhere I go. Yes, even there. Posts: 607	Quick update - I just received email from one of the local newspapers: this letter will be in tomorrow's edition. Keep plugging away; people will eventually get the idea that there are really are unbelievers who love America, and that the pledge should be for them, too. -Wanderer

07-01-2002, 02:41 PM	#9
Darwin's Finch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Gardnerville, NV Posts: 666	Very cool, Bill. I'm glad someone got it.

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