Atheist Groups Warns Florida Schools to Comply with New Pledge of Allegiance Law - Or Else

The Pledge of Allegiance has always given me a creepy vibe, but as Lewis Black once said, it's used now as a type of "coffee for third graders." In other words, it gets them up and helps focus their minds. I don't so much object to it being used in that way as long as people are given the option to opt out of it (which they are). I'm pretty sure the POA came about as a response to nationalist movements in Europe in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries (and also as a way to help encourage recent immigrants to adopt a loyalty to the new country). And, yes, the "under God" phrasing was added in the 1950s as an intended counterbalance to "godless" Soviet communism. Hardly "foundational."

Anyway, my opinion is the same as the one Justice Jackson articulated in 1943:

"If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us."


West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)
 
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Maplerock said:
I take those that sit during the pledge as ungrateful for, or ignorant of the providence in their lives that allows them to live in the United States of America.

If they choose not to recite "under God", no problem. No one can make anyone stand or sit during the anthem or pledge. That comes from either living with a patriot, or a parent that has taught them otherwise.

That's how we are in America. Kids tend to emulate parents when it comes to religion, politics, and patriotism. Live with a staunch Baptist, you'll probably grow up Baptist. Live with an Atheist that takes every opportunity to disavow God, and kids will likely follow. It is everyone's right.

I just don't understand why anyone would brag about being an athiest.

As to CGA82, I don't know him, but I respect him. Has he been banned? And, was it for something in this thread?
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If a Christian can state they are Christian, why can't an atheist say they are an atheist? I don't bring it up normally unless asked. I don't ask anyone if they are Christian when I meet them. Also, I didn't brag, I just stated my stance on this forum because I disagreed with CGA very much so. He was making blanket statements that I proved false. You are free to disagree with it. Heck there are people who have known me for years who probably don't know I am. Its not that I hide it or am embarrassed by it by any means, it just 1 thing about me in general. Actually most people who find out and ask why and we can have an intelligent conversation find it rather interesting and respect my decision. I was raised in a Christian household as were the overwhelming majority of the Atheists I know. Most of us who have children have actually educated them on the Bible, Koran, and other religious documents because we find them to be important documents in our nation and feel kids should be informed in regards to religion, philosophy and science. In fact all of them encourage their kids to think on their own and if they want to attend church they are welcome to. I realize not all people are like this, but the majority I know are. That is probably more related to my social circles developed through work, activities, school and the USMC.
 
sprog said:
The Pledge of Allegiance has always given me a creepy vibe, but as Lewis Black once said, it's used now as a type of "coffee for third graders." In other words, it gets them up and helps focus their minds. I don't so much object to it being used in that way as long as people are given the option to opt out of it (which they are). I'm pretty sure the POA came about as a response to nationalist movements in Europe in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries (and also as a way to help encourage recent immigrants to adopt a loyalty to the new country). And, yes, the "under God" phrasing was added in the 1950s as an intended counterbalance to "godless" Soviet communism. Hardly "foundational."

Anyway, my opinion is the same as the one Justice Jackson articulated in 1943:

"If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us."


West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)
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Thanks to having recently finished reading "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson, I'll raise my hand here....

The Pledge of Allegiance was written for the purpose of promoting the 1893 Chicago World Fair. The dedication of the World Fair coincided with the anniversary of Columbus discovering America and it was something that school children all over the country could recite at the approximate same time. It was, in essence, a nifty marketing gimmick.

I know right!
 
Kyguardmom said:
Thanks to having recently finished reading "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson, I'll raise my hand here....

The Pledge of Allegiance was written for the purpose of promoting the 1893 Chicago World Fair. The dedication of the World Fair coincided with the anniversary of Columbus discovering America and it was something that school children all over the country could recite at the approximate same time. It was, in essence, a nifty marketing gimmick.

I know right!
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And, apparently, to sell American flags to school districts.
 
I know this is "an Off Topic post" but this is way Off Topic as started by the OP. Let's leave it alone and too each his own.
"I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's (woman's) reasoning powers are not above the monkey's" MARK TWAIN.
"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as excuse for withdrawing from a friend." THOMAS JEFFERSON.
"but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness, so I got that going for me". BILL MURRY as CARL SPACKLER.
 
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AF6872 said:
I know this is "an Off Topic post" but this is way Off Topic as started by the OP. Let's leave it alone and too each his own.

"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as excuse for withdrawing from a friend." THOMAS JEFFERSON.
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+1

See John Adams/Thomas Jefferson relationship. Some of their strongest disagreements were similar to those exhibited in this thread. However, except for a brief period, their friendship only ended at their deaths.
 
July 4, 1826. Can we not all emulate these great men and have a civil discourse without injecting insinuated name calling, politics or religion. I had many friends during my service time and never did I ask about their politics or religion and they never offered. Only once did I have a problem when another student in my instructor class told us that we would not be accepted to heaven if we did not adhere to HIS beliefs. I told him in class that based upon their principles the Buddhists and Sufis would probably beat us there.
 
Somebody forgot to let the Principal of my daughter's HS know. 625 graduating seniors and the thousands of guests all recited the Pledge of Allegiance at the ceremony.
 
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