No that was decided already from what I understand and it's not considered a religious term legally.

-Rudey

The words should be left exactly where they are. If for no other reason than to help us Americans retain some shred of humility.

I don't know. It's against Jehovah's Witness belief to say the pledge period (or in our case here in Canada, sing the national anthem), but I've heard of kids who stay in the classroom anyway.

I think they should change it to say "under what ever higher power you believe in, or don't...it's all good"

ah ah ah...

let's not mix Canadian and American culture ok? Americans are told time and time again that the culture in Canada is different, which it is. So if something is accepted in Canada, it doesn't mean it will parallel the beliefs of Americans.

She's not mixing the 2 cultures. She discussing Jehovah's Witnesses.

She also stated she heard of kids who stay in the classroom.

SImply because in Canada they might be ablle to do that. It wouldn't be as easy in the U.S. Children are bastards....

Therefore, in a sense, yes she was mixing the cultures. Unless she's talking about children staying in the classroom in both countries but I didn't get that....

I believe she was talking about both countried. She happened to through the example of Canadian children singing the national anthme in, as we have no pledge of any sort to recite.

When I was a kid, I was athiest. I didn't say the "Under God" part, never got picked on for it, I don't think anyone noticed, and it didn't make me even remotely uncomfortable.

In other words - not a big deal.

The thing people have to realize is that it's not just a YOU situation but a THEM situation. Whether you think you would feel comfortable not saying those parts or not saying them at all is different from whether someone else might feel uncomfortable.

I personally am torn on this issue. While I would like to say it's good to say it, the question is good for who? Is this representative of Islam and Judaism as well or simply a Christian saying? Is religion's role good or bad in society - and is this an issue of religion or one of humility as a certain other user posted.

-Rudey

A true thinker...

Lady Pi Phi is right. I was referring to Jehovah's Witnesses staying in the classroom during what's often termed as "morning excercises", which in the case of Canadians, means singing "O Canada". It's against Jehovah's Witness belief to say the pledge or sing national anthems of any country. However, to avoid being considered outcasts, many Jehovah's Witness kids stay in the classroom anyway. It's no different than not saying "under God" during the Pledge.

I would want to see it removed. Although I have a strong Christian faith and have no problem saying it myself, I try to put myself in others' position. If it said "Under Buddah" or "Under Allah", I would be upset. Since one of the main reasons people came to this country in the first place was for religious freedom, I think we need to respect that freedom and remove it from the pledge. I am in favor of future money being made without the "In God We Trust" on it also. With as often as they change the $20 bill and the recent state quarters, I don't believe it is that expensive to change the design to exclude those words.

Dee

There was a big debate over whether or not the pledge would be required in the Madison school district right after 9/11. The debate grew so heated that it attracted national attention and a number of religious leaders from throughout the country pressured the school board to require it. The school board bowed to the national pressure and voted to require either the pledge or playing the national anthem every morning, despite the fact that most Madisonians believed the pledge should NOT be required.

I think most of the schools (especially middle/high schools) stuck with playing the national anthem to sidestep the whole "Under God" issue.


Personally, the way I feel is this: If you leave the words in, it could lead to problems. Most of you are right that it probably won't, or if they do cause problems they won't be that bad. However, it COULD potentially cause some major problems. Taking the words out is NOT going to cause problems -- it's not like the words are the only thing holding together the morality of society and the second we stop saying them everything is going to go to hell.


Personally I think the whole national anthem thing is an okay alternative if "Under God" is getting too many panties in a twist.

I agree, and taking those words out will expand the common ground on which all Americans can together stand.