Peakah's Provocations...

I'm not always one to argue politics, but this one moved me so here we go...

First, some definitions to get some grips:

Pledge: a binding promise or agreement to do or forbear
Allegiance: devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause
Flag: Symbolizes our Country

So the basis is to promise loyalty to our country. Where and why God came into play here is strange to me in the first place. Adding God in 1954 didn’t help things; it just separated the non-believers from the believers. We certainly haven’t been stronger since.

Unless “God” is to symbolize a specific religious figure “(Christian God, Allah…), no one but the Atheists should be bothered, as the definitions of God are as follows (even though is *was* meant as the Christian God when added):

1 the supreme or ultimate reality: :: the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshiped as creator and ruler of the universe
2 : a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship; specifically : one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality
3 : a person or thing of supreme value
4 : a powerful ruler

And as for the Atheists and those who believe the word “God” to be a specific deity, I can understand why they are uncomfortable with the Pledge. Putting your hand on your heart and stating that you will have loyalty to this country under a God that is not yours or that you don’t believe exists would be a horrifying task. If the tables were turned and you (meaning anyone) were asked to do such a thing, you would think similarly. I think that the change to the pledge sounds ridiculous, but for those who cannot see the world “God” another way, or for Atheists, it works, and I see it as a change that is respectful to all. We are one nation, yes, but we are a very diverse one, and that’s not going to change, nor should it. Differences in religion should not be seen as a barrier between us…religious extremists have done enough damage to our country and throughout our world. We cannot stay constant while everything in our country is changing. There are some traditions that must be tweeked to be fair. Not to make everyone happy, but to see the beliefs of others and their rights, even if they do not agree with our own, and to be fair to them. We are America.

…And of course the easy (and possibly best) answer to all this is that those who don’t like the “under God” portion could simply not say it…just because those around you are isn’t offensive…that would mean you would have to be offended by the fact that the kid next to you is wearing a cross while you wear the Star of David. Of course those who choose to omit this part could not be punished for doing so, which I have heard reports of. Adding “God” in 1954 didn’t help things; it just *separated* the non-believers from the believers. We certainly haven’t been stronger since.

Our country's source of strength most definatelly, at least in its inception, was our belief in God and that the belief that we are living in a land where we may worship as we see fit. There have been many books written about and by the founding fathers making this crystal clear.

Those who do not believe in God are in no way negatively affected except maybe by their own lack of historical knowledge because this land was not set up by atheists (although it was set up for them if they can appreciate it). Even so, no atheists have been punished for their beliefs despite their repeated attempts to eradicate our Country's foundation of Judeo-Christian values, or at least the acknowledgement of them which I do not understand the harm in at least appreciating and respecting the foundation of a land that provides them with as much liberty and freedom as it does a Christian, or a Jew, or a Muslim. There is no caste system here seperating us... except for the one that seems to be emerging by this atheist movement to remove any reference to God in our Government... they seek to set up exactly that which they are seeming to rail against!!

So the basis is to promise loyalty to our country. Where and why God came into play here is strange to me in the first place. Adding God in 1954 didn’t help things; it just separated the non-believers from the believers. We certainly haven’t been stronger since.
President Eisenhower purposefully signed in the "under God" addition to distinguish the pledge of our citizens to America from the "pledge" Soviets had made to their state, the Soviet Union.

Our country was not only set up to provide a free and prosperous land but to provide a place where people can openly revere and worship their God without retribution from the State. A very different concept than the Soviet Union was running under. This distinction was necessary, not only for those of our country but to show the world that there is nothing wrong with being a member of a religion who worships an Almighty Being that's greater than any governmental state, or to not if you so choose.

The following 50 years have proven the power of the "under God" admission. Where is the Soviet Union now?

This "under your belief system" is a shallow attempt to dismiss the power of the "Under God" statement that distinguishes this country from all others on the face of this Earth. That was the true purpose, not to bring us all together; we're already together by virtue of our American Citizenship. If you don't like it, don't say it... guess what, you're free to do so. To dismiss this glue that binds us as Americans throughout the last 2 centuries is ignorant.

I know that we haven't said "Under God" in some pledge for that long, but before 1954, it was just understood.

Universal agreement isn't a requirement for something to be true. Acknowledging that our country is "under God"'s favor doesn't even necessarily have to be true either.

The purpose is the perpetuation of our founding father's assertion that there is an ultimate authority above any governor or judge. It's the outward expression that regardless of how powerful a government we have or how much power a particular politician can achieve in our nation the Pledge of Allegance reminds that individual or government as a whole that it's not the ultimate power here on Earth.

There's no inconsistency with the First Amendment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

There's no law requiring anyone to say the pledge or to believe in God. It's only an acknowledgement of the concepts spoken of above and to remind people of our heritage. The erasing of this grand heritage is what destroys cultures, only to save someone's own manufactured hurt feelings.

And the heathen say's,

We are one nation, with many belief systems, but to actually put that in the pledge of allegiance is about as moronic as blaming a pencil for a spelling error. Anybody that lets one word (God) bother them so much needs some serious mental counseling. I mean, for crying out loud, if you are an athiest and don't believe in God, why do you let the word bother you so much? If you are dyslexic and athiest, does the word dog send you into a tailspin?

These fools that are so intent on removing God and religion from everything associated with life would be better off building a support network to help themselves get over it. Maybe something similar to alcoholics annonymous, but without the referance to a higher power(afterall, they are athiest).

For those of you that don't believe I am a heathen, tough, you'll just have to take my word for it. Josh, can confirm it with his dad, I've worked with Mike for years, and he's unsuccessfully attempted to get me to church for all of them.

Keep blogging Josh, I love your perspective on these isues.

Alan

Mike (Dad) spent many years getting me in Church too! Look what its done to me!!

Talk about heathen!
He probably thinks now that I've lost my mind... sheesh... quoting James Madison and stuff. Whoa, true sign of a psycho eh?

*grin*
Just messin wit'cha Pops...