Two words do not make U.S.
by Brian Shults, ne news editor

    Recently, to the chagrin of many Americans, a federal appeals court ruled the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional, stating it violated the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause because it uses the phrase “under God.” This catalyzed a frenzy of righteous indignation in just about every public figure. What a shame.

   It is a shame because politicians felt the need to posture themselves in accordance with the 95 percent of Americans who say they believe in a god.

   The Senate quickly passed an amendment refuting the decision, and the House called out the media hounds and before a deluge of cameras dutifully recited the Pledge so evening news viewers would know whose side they were on.

   The shame comes in how our public leaders reflect us. Are we so skittish a nation that we cannot pause for a moment and have a calm, lucid debate on the subject?

   If we discuss the rationale behind its being unconstitutional, our heads are not going to explode and the earth is not going to open beneath our feet swallowing us into an inimical abyss, probably (at least it hasn’t happened yet).

   Let’s discuss this then. The Establishment Clause forbids the government from exercising any religious nepotism, hence no official religion or endorsement thereof. President Eisenhower and Congress, in 1954, inserted “under God” so that Americans could display their faith in God in a counter action to the atheistic Soviet Union.

   The nation, being at the rising tide of the Cold War, concurred that anything which gave peace of mind during those pernicious times was worth a shot.

   I believe one of the dominant arguments against removal is the fear of how such a deletion would reflect on our country, our moral bedrock, etc. Yet the more important question is how the cacophony of citizens decrying the court’s decision and their rhetoric reflect on the resolve of our nation.

   However, a deletion of the phrase “under God,” as a friend of mine pointed out, would not be stating that we are a nation without a god; it simply would not be saying anything about God. It would be neutral, neither confirming nor denying. Thus it would leave the decision of religion and faith solely to the individual, to whom it belongs, as the Founding Fathers intended.

   Neutrality does not imply denial, which is something frequently overlooked in modern religious society; it does not imply anything. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

   More important is how the majority of citizens’ knee-jerk reaction of disgust reflects on our resolve as a nation.

   The Pledge of Allegiance is a single paragraph that we recite as a symbolic gesture of unity and patriotism, which we share with each other and is useful in its own right.

   With or without the phrase “under God,” the Pledge is essentially words, and there are no actions within.

   The Pledge does not fight for our freedom; it fights no wars for us. Liberty is not secured by it (it is merely a reflection of liberty).

   It does not keep our markets free, nor does it distribute equal voting rights. It does not intrinsically make us the democratic nation we believe in and find solace with.

   I am concerned that we have already or are becoming a people who define ourselves by an arbitrary litany, instead of by actions. Our deeds and the way we choose to live our lives truly define what type of people we are, not a recitation of a pledge.

   American history has given us a proud heritage of penance and victory, from abolishing slavery to overcoming European fascism.
And now that America faces a fight against terrorism and theocratic fascism, any schism allowed from the ideal American stoicism is an ugly concession of the American Spirit—an intangible so much nobler and magnanimous than any pledge can be.

Counterpoint

Pledge reflects freedom
by Roxanna Latifi, reporter

  We live in a democracy where America is the home of the free and of the brave. I think most would agree that this freedom is a gift from God, and that we are truly blessed to live in a country as great as America.

  So why would someone wish to deny this gift from God? It is after all a blessing that shouldn’t go unnoticed.

  The phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance was deemed unconstitutional by two judges from the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

  However, if one wishes to nit-pick and start there, why not change our court system, our currency, the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address or the numerous other articles that all contain references to God?

  When people step into court and are about to take the stand, they are forced by law to swear that they are telling the truth, and the whole truth under God. Furthermore, they actually swear on the Bible, something that I’m sure everyone would agree has something to do with once again, God.

  Most public officials also recite the words “under God” when taking an oath of office.

  Dennis Miller, comedian and television personality, confronted the two judges who declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional.

  “So, Your Honor, the Pledge is unconstitutional because it says 'Under God.' Guess that means when you were sworn in with your hand on a Bible, and at the end of your oath repeated, 'So help me God' that makes your job unconstitutional; therefore, you have no job, which means your ruling doesn’t mean anything,” he said.

  If the ruling stands we would have to change our currency; on every dollar and coin carries the phrase “In God We Trust.”

  No one has ever taken a dollar bill to the Supreme Court and declared it unconstitutional. And I am sure that if these two judges were to receive ten billion of these dollar bills, they would spend the money rather than refuse it because the money is unconstitutional. Besides, they spend their paychecks that are paid by money that is unconstitutional.

  The Declaration of Independence holds several references to a creator or, if you will, God.

  Our Founding Fathers wrote this intriguing document fueled by the thought that the creation of America would hold truth and justice to natural law, laws that are inherited and cannot be taken away from any one person because all are created equal and are born under natural law.

  However if one were to ignore this concept, then one would have to honestly ask himself where these laws come from.

  Millions of immigrants from all over the world risk their lives to seek America’s liberty. Mind you, America’s liberty is possible because we are one nation, under God.

  And the last time someone explained to me what a democracy is, it was majority rule. Therefore, the majority will continue believing in God.

  I now must question if hearing God Bless America or America the Beautiful was unconstitutional. During the Sept. 11 tragedies, did anyone stop the singing of these songs saying they were unconstitutional? I think not.

  America needs to be now—more than ever—one nation under God.