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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.
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