In August 1982 the pledge of allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy and was published in the Youth’s Companion, an American children’s magazine, on September 8th, 1982, as part of the National Public-School Celebration of Columbus Day reading: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all." Millions of children took part in reciting the pledge for the first time that Columbus Day Ceremony of 1982 according to the Youth’s Companion. During the National Flag Conference, in 1923, the words “my Flag” are changed to “the Flag” to help prevent confusion with immigrants. In 1954, Congress added the words, “under God” to the pledge lobbied by The Knights of Columbus, …show more content…
Newdow there have been four other cases filed against the pledge either fighting against it or for it. The words “under God”, stated within the Pledge of Allegiance creates a moral conflict because it has an influence on every American’s freedom of speech, freedom of religion, it defines the core values of our founding fathers and should not be removed from American’s daily lives.
The words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance plays a major role in religious freedom and our government. In 1954, the Knights of Columbus made a huge impact on America by influencing President Eisenhower and Congress by adding the words. On February 7th, 1954, Rev. George M. Docherty, pastor of New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D. C preached a sermon on the words “Under God” being a part of the Pledge of Allegiance in front of Eisenhower. Docherty spoke about how anyone within the United States that comes from a communistic nation and hated God could say the Pledge of Allegiance and it would mean nothing to them. Eisenhower was moved by these ideas and introduced the proposition. The resolutions were passed and signed by Eisenhower on June 14th, 1984, Flag
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They can come to this conclusion, by understanding the history of the pledge and what the founding fathers would have interpreted the pledge as. And some atheists may ask how they’re supposed to support a pledge that involves God, if they don’t believe in one? Every person believes in a higher cause, that being science or religion, but every American should support the pledge of allegiance because it is in respect of American history, culture, and country.
Another argument would be, the words “under God” are referring to the Christian God. What about my God or Gods? The whole point of stating “under God” in the pledge of allegiance isn’t about whose God it is supposed to support, freedom of religion will support all religions, but rather to love America.
In conclusion the American education system should teach that the words, “under God” should have a subjective meaning and was presented in way to unite America through our traditional values and history, rather than be offended by
The original Pledge of Allegiance was meant as an expression of patriotism, not religious faith and made no mention of God. The pledge was written in 1892 by the socialist Francis Bellamy. He wrote it for the popular magazine Youth's Companion on the occasion of the nation's first celebration of Columbus Day. It’s wording omitted reference not only to God but also to the United States. “Under God” should be removed from the pledge for purposes of creating equality in different beliefs and allowing each American their right laid out in the constitution. These are the original words to the Pledge of Allegiance.
The future of our country recites these words every day before starting class, in many countries among the nation. There is a reason why these words are recited. They express the deeply rooted values and patriotism of American people. In 1954, the phrase “under God” was added to the American Pledge of Allegiance, and it became the main source of many court cases throughout the years. Nowadays, these two simple but controversial word have caused a legal tangle with many court cases that mostly end up at the Supreme Court. For the most part, the debates revolve around the constitutionality of these words. The First Amendment to the Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…" Many people seem to think that the addition of the phrase to the American Pledge of Allegiance is counteracting the Establishment Clause. Nowadays, there have been many cases where it has been requested for these two words to be removed from the Pledge. The Pledge was made to unite all Americans together, in order to fight
Why the pledge of allegiance should be revised, by Gwen Wilde, is a very well written essay that the reader would most likely deem convincing. Gwen Wilde states that the Pledge in its latest from simply requires all Americans to say the phrase “one nation, under God,” when many Americans do not believe in God. She uses many different writing strategies to get her point across in a very precise and appropriate manner. Although there are some minor problems, this analysis will explain how Gwen Wilde uses certain writing strategies that are able to back her argument with a very convincing approach.
The allegiance was originated in August, 1892 but did not include the words “Under God”, which was added in 1933. There was some concern of the change, considering separation of church and state. By forcing students and American citizens to cite the allegiance, you’re there by forcing them into a certain religion, which violates the first amendment, “Freedom of Religion”. By forcing them to stand during the allegiance they are there by betraying their own beliefs of where they come from or who they are. Some may look at it, as disrespect towards America or our war veterans, but it also shows disrespect towards those individuals. We are not only ignoring their beliefs but we are disrespecting their history, their family, and where they originally come
This has become a very controversial topic these days because of one line in the pledge, “under God” This is a “questionable religious reference” (Tucker 1). “Congress and President Eisenhower add “under God” to the pledge” (Tucker 4) in 1954, this is completely unnecessary because it brings religion into the pledge of the country and some groups of people do not believe in god, yet they are being forced to say excluding California. Such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, a group of people that do not believe in serving the country, but believe in serving god. Ultimately, our counties schools should not be obliged to recite this pledge. It is “outdated and unnecessary” (Tucker 1). Using California as an example, it does not affect the performance of students, but does affect
(Harrison, Maureen. Gilbert, Steve. Landmark Decisions of the United States Supreme Court II.) The public schools systems are not trying to offend anyone. They are trying to uphold the system of educating American students. The views of a few people should not influence the greater good of the Pledge of Allegiance. It has been recited for many years and for many years people have fought against it. People are not fighting against the statement “In God We Trust” that is imprinted on each and every coin in the United States. There is no need to change the Pledge it is there for Americans to recite to show their appreciation to a grateful nation and as a way of saluting the American Flag. Mudhillun Muqaribu wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Times titled God and the Pledge: My Brother’s Quest. Mudhillun writes that he is a Muslim who grew up in America. When he was younger, other students made it clear to him and his siblings that “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance did not apply to them. He says that he began sitting out of the Pledge in the sixth grade. The main point of his letter was to applaud Michael Newdow for upholding religious diversity in America. (Muqaribu, Mudhillun. Letter. New York Times). Mudhillun was not persecuted by anyone for his decision in sitting out in the Pledge; it was his decision and he was respected for that. Michael Newdow and the others who argue against “Under God” in the Pledge have the right
From a young age, I remember starting a school day by standing, facing the American flag with my right hand placed over my heart, and reciting the pledge of allegiance. The pledge was as follows, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”, however, that was not always how it was worded. The Pledge of Allegiance that many Americans know today has been rewritten many times, by the United States' government. Moreover, the language of the Pledge was changed in a straightforward way for American citizens to show their patriotism for America.
On March 24, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Elle Grove Unified School District vs. Newdow over the decision that the words, “Under God”, in the Pledge of Allegiance. Michael Newdow, being an atheist, did not want his daughter to learn of a “false” or “fake” God. He did everything in his power to try and get the phrase removed from the pledge and from society all together. Newdow states, “And every morning my child is asked to stand up, face that flag, put her hand over her heart and say that her father is wrong”. Although the 9th Circuit Court originally agreed with Mr.Newdow’s contention, the court stayed the ruling after a national uproar ensued. People did not want someone who has a biased thought process to decide whether or not a simple phrase in the pledge, should be removed. Newdow states, “For 62 years, this pledge did serve the purpose of unification, and it did do it perfectly”. Newdow does not want anything to do with any God in this world just because he has a biased thought
Each morning, millions of students across America recite the Pledge of Allegiance, the thirty-one words that essentially summarize the meaning of being an American. The pledge was intended to bring Americans together and unite them. However, two out of these thirty-one words, “under God,” contradict the United States Constitution, which protects the freedoms of Americans. There are many different religious beliefs in America. Religion for many people is seen as a sensitive subject, and it may cause a breakdown within the people. Therefore, the Pledge of Allegiance should be interdicted so that we, Americans, can have our rights that we deserve.
“I pledge allegiance to my flag and for the republic for which it stands: one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” This was the original pledge, it should also be the current pledge. When President Eisenhower was in office in 1954, he made it law that “under God” was to be put in the pledge. It was not until Judge Alfred T. Goodwin argued that those two words violated one of the most important parts of the first amendment to many American citizens. Many people come to America to seek religious freedom. It is evident that “Under God” should be taken out of the pledge by showing that it goes against the first amendment, it has had an affect on our history, and it can confuse young kids in school.
Before examining both sides of the issue, the phrase, “under God” should not be in the Pledge of Allegiance. Including the term, “under God”, violates the idea of separation of church and state, which is deeply rooted in the U.S Constitution. Now after analyzing both sides of the debate, I still support removing the phrase, “under God”, but the reasons for doing so has changed. For example, despite opposing viewpoints claiming that the U.S federal government and documents have many allusions to religion and God, Founding Father Thomas Jefferson firmly believed that religion should not be involved with politics (ProCon). The term “under God” originally did not exist in the Pledge of Allegiance; it was only in 1954 when President Dwight Eisenhower
Many people ask if we should keep “under god” in the pledge of allegiance. We should keep it in there because it has been in there since the pledge was ever invented, It is a national symbol for American society. The pledge of allegiance has nothing to do with church or state. It is a patriotic saying to show our loyalty to our country and show support to our troops. If it wasn't for the pledge of allegiance this country would have nothing to stand up for. I feel that if it offends people to say the pledge the way it was written then they shouldn’t say it at all. If they have a problem with the way our pledge is written they don’t have to say it at all. The pledge is being said less and
The phrase “Under God” is a big reason behind why a lot of individuals choose not to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Religion should be separate from patriotism due to a significant amount of United States citizens belonging to different religions or having no religion at all. It is inconsiderate to people of different religions to make them recite a Pledge with another god’s name in it, just as it is inconsiderate to include a phrase involved with a singular religion in a pledge that children in a whole country are expected to stand for and
The argument of being made to stand and say the pledge has become a hot topic. People believe that the portion of “Under God” is unconstitutional and should be taken out. However there are also people who believe that everyone should say the pledge to their country. There is deep and rich history on the pledge itself. The pledge should still be said in public schools to keep a sense of patriotism in the country.
In the early year of 1893, Francis Bellamy beautifully crafted a pledge that will be twisted over years of alteration, creating a constrained symbol of national bond submersed in religious controversy. The original text of Francis Bellamy’s Pledge of Allegiance was recited with a salute as, “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands-one nation, indivisible-with liberty and justice for all.” Reading this text, one may notice a lack of a well known excerpt; “under God.” People refer to this line as being a part of American culture, something so immersed into the history of the country it can not be altered; though, after finding that the original Pledge did not include this phrase Americans question the true