[ladygreek]

This is not about whether one is a Christian or any other kind of religion. Especially since not every religion calls its deity God.

It is simply about the separation of church and state and the mandating of a pledge being recited that has religious overtones in an institution that is funded by public dollars. And if you go back and research why the amendment was passed in the first place it had to do with folx being persecuted by governments because of their religious beliefs. Think Ireland and the Catholic/Protestant wars.

And it is the same reason why every May/June we send letters to all public schools in Minnesota reminding them that mandating prayer at graduation is in violation of the Constitution. Every year we get schools who do it, and students/parents who then want to sue the school. And these aren't necessarily aetheists, but people of different religious beliefs who feel their particular belief is not being respected. Think Jewish students who are forced to listen to a prayer praising Jesus.

Personally, I do not recite the Pledge of Allegiance nor do I sing the National Anthem. But that's a whole 'nother issue.