Freethought & Rationalism Archive

stryder2112 · 08-14-2002, 09:58 AM

<a href="http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20020813&Category=APN&ArtNo=208130536 &Ref=AR&SectionCat=NEWS02" target="_blank">Here's</a> an article that, unfortunately, shows where this whole pledge thing is going. Note that the parents asking that the pledge be dropped or for "under God" to be removed are not atheists, but Native American / New Agers religious folks. Here are some excerpts from the newspaper article:

Quote:

More than 150 people shouted "under God" and held up signs bearing crosses and flags as the school board turned down a request to take the Pledge of Allegiance out of classrooms.

The crowd spilled from the Okaloosa County School Board's meeting room into the lobby and hallways in this Florida Panhandle military town, which is surrounded by Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field and is deep in the Bible Belt.

Quote:

[The parents requesting removal of the pledge] were greeted by angry shouts, clapping and singing from the audience. The crowd earlier screamed "under God" when saying the pledge as the meeting began.

"The only way I'd change it is if federal troops came down here and made me change it," said Board Chairman Rodney Walker.

Quote:

The crowd, many dressed in red, white and blue, shouted "Hallelujah" when Gaetz promised to keep the pledge. It also broke into a chorus of "Amazing Grace" when Stephney Aigret tried to speak past a three-minute time limit.

Stryder

[ August 14, 2002: Message edited by: stryder2112 ]</p>

hezekiah jones · 08-14-2002, 10:02 AM

Why the "thumbs down"?

Perhaps some of the pitchfork-waving peasants might eventually come to their senses and understand that this is not an exclusively "atheist" objection.

Krieger · 08-14-2002, 10:05 AM

"Help fight the War on Tolerance."

--Angry mob of fundie-Xians

stryder2112 · 08-14-2002, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hezekiah jones:
<strong>Why the "thumbs down"?

Perhaps some of the pitchfork-waving peasants might eventually come to their senses and understand that this is not an exclusively "atheist" objection.</strong>

The "thumbs down" was more about the attitude expressed by the pitchfork-waving peasant more than anything. Unfortunately, I don't completely agree that the whole issue with the objection has been that its seen as a purely "atheist" thing, but as an "unAmerican" thing where Americanism=Christianity. I guess what good can come from this is with the moderates who will eventually see that it's not just an atheists thing as more and more non-atheists challenge "under God".

Stryder

p.s. talking about marketing the idea, he's a good one I heard from some neopagans discussing this issue:

Quote:

"Under God" or "indivisible", which is it?

[ August 14, 2002: Message edited by: stryder2112 ]</p>

Toto · 08-14-2002, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Stephney Aigret said she prays to Share, an American Indian goddess of liberty, and that her children are not taught to believe only in a Judeo-Christian god.

"This is not a nation where all pray to God," she told the board. "Your words have been indoctrinating my children into a religion against my will and telling my children that there is no Goddess."

GaryP · 08-14-2002, 10:14 AM

It also helps to point out the lie of it only being "ceremonial deism".

Stephen Maturin · 08-14-2002, 10:37 AM

Quote:

"The only way I'd change it is if federal troops came down here and made me change it," said Board Chairman Rodney Walker.

Wonderful. Yet another graduate of the George Wallace School of Federal-State Relations, nestled quiety on the campus of Lost Causers University.

Still, it's not all bad seeing these frothing-at-the-mouth fundy screwballs showing their true colors en masse. If they want to expose themselves publicly as the kneejerk reactionaries they are, that's fine by me.

simian · 08-14-2002, 10:43 AM

From the article:

"The Pledge of Allegiance is not a public prayer," Gaetz said. "It is the first expression of patriotism a child learns."

Sure it is not a public prayer.

Of course it equates patriotism with christianity.....

Simian

god-free-pen · 08-16-2002, 08:14 PM

I live just a few miles from Fort Walton Beach where all of this took place. I wrote a letter to the Northwest Florida Daily News and hand delivered it. The girl at the front desk was wearing a cross the size of a football. Maybe my letter got lost as it has not been printed.

I'm planning a picket in front of the school district offices.

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08-14-2002, 10:02 AM	#2
hezekiah jones Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: WI Posts: 4,357	Why the "thumbs down"? Perhaps some of the pitchfork-waving peasants might eventually come to their senses and understand that this is not an exclusively "atheist" objection.

08-14-2002, 10:05 AM	#3
Krieger Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: ... Posts: 2,191	"Help fight the War on Tolerance." --Angry mob of fundie-Xians

08-14-2002, 10:14 AM	#6
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	It also helps to point out the lie of it only being "ceremonial deism".

08-14-2002, 10:43 AM	#8
simian Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: St. Louis, MO area Posts: 1,924	From the article: "The Pledge of Allegiance is not a public prayer," Gaetz said. "It is the first expression of patriotism a child learns." Sure it is not a public prayer. Of course it equates patriotism with christianity..... Simian

08-16-2002, 08:14 PM	#9
god-free-pen Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Navarre, FL Posts: 109	I live just a few miles from Fort Walton Beach where all of this took place. I wrote a letter to the Northwest Florida Daily News and hand delivered it. The girl at the front desk was wearing a cross the size of a football. Maybe my letter got lost as it has not been printed. I'm planning a picket in front of the school district offices.

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