Essay about Remove God from the Pledge of Allegiance

Gwen Wilde’s essay “Why the Pledge of Allegiance Should Be Revised” highlights key reasons why the Pledge of Allegiance should be changed to be less divisive towards Americans who do not believe in a God. Wilde begins her essay by informing the audience of the countless alterations the pledge has gone through over the years. The earliest version of the pledge, which was published in 1892, left out the words “under God.” The words “under God” were not added until 1954 when president Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the pledge we all know today. Wilde goes into detail about the hypocrisy illustrated within the Pledge of Allegiance. She explains how the words “under God” are needlessly divisive in a nation that is said to be indivisible. However,

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.

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 It is “outdated and unnecessary” (Tucker 1).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

Every morning over 75 million students around the nation recite the Pledge of Allegiance verbatim (Digest of Education Statistics). If one walks up to one of these students and asks them about the meaning and the origin of this pledge, what would they say? Nothing. However, even though more than a million students recite these words every day, not more than half probably know the true meaning behind these words. One cannot deny the fact that most of these children just want to get this pledge “over with” to continue talking to their peers. The Pledge of Allegiance has gone through several changes since Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, wrote it in 1892. The pledge acts as a source of patriotism, national pride and controversy. The

Socialist minister Francis Bellamy wrote the Pledge of Allegiance in August 1892. In 1923, the words, "the Flag of the United States of America" were added. Then in 1954, President Eisenhower encourages Congress to add the words "under God." Communist threats during that time period lead to the issue of whether those words should be added. This resulted in the pledge that many American citizens know and say today: "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." This pledge states the federal government’s promises to all American citizens. Since our Founding Fathers declared the United States’ independence from Great Britain on July fourth, 1776, American politicians have hailed our country as both a beacon and leading exemplar of individual liberty and freedom. Although the pledge states “...liberty and justice for all,” the United States has not lived up to the promise of freedom and the claim in the Pledge of Allegiance because it does not apply to every citizen, even though that is what the Pledge of Allegiance promises; immigrants were, and still are, mocked and discriminated against, and certain genders, races and religions are not given the same rights as others and are treated differently.

The Founding Fathers created this country on the concept of separation of church and state; the line “under God” is found in, however, implies that America is one nation kept together by the will of God, which does not uphold the Fathers’ principles. The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause prevents the government from making any laws that hold one religion over another (Procon.org). Based on this clause, the Pledge should not have been able to have “under God” added to it, so it is only rational that the phrase is removed. Though at least 80% of Americans support keeping it in the Pledge, one of the key components of American democracy is upholding the rights of the minority as well as the majority (DemocracyWeb.org). As shown, the will of 80% of Americans, who are presumably Christian, should not be able to silence the will of the other 20%, especially considering all people are supposed to recite the

The history of the nation’s Pledge of Allegiance is a crucial component to this issue. Often times students are taught to recite the Pledge but not to understand the history and meaning behind it. The Pledge of Allegiance holds tremendous importance to this nation; an importance that is often forgotten. The reciting of the Pledge represents patriotism to America. In America citizens are tremendously protective of their rights. The First Amendment of the Constitution establishes religious freedom. The phrase “Under God” was not a part of the original Pledge but added in the early 1950’s. In the article, “One Nation, Under God: Tolerable Acknowledgement or Unconstitutional Cold War

The First Amendment is about the freedom of religion and being able for anyone to express what they believe if the government was forced to remove ‘under God’ from the Pledge of Allegiance it would violate the freedom of religion of those who do believe in God. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” (“First”). If congress did make a law restricting the use of ‘under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance it would be a breach in the rights of American citizens. Included in that is the complication of the fact of freedom of speech which in addition to freedom of religion is a part in the Amendment. “It [the First Amendment] guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely” (“First”). By not allowing citizens to say the words ‘under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance would be breaking the inalienable rights of all American

“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.” The Pledge of Allegiance was originally written in 1892, but the version we all know and recite was rewritten in the year of 1954 when President Eisenhower convinced Congress to add in “under God” during times of communist threat. “I pledge allegiance,” when we are taught in kindergarten to say this with our hands over our heart, we are being coerced into pledging allegiance without even truly knowing what it is. We are promising to be loyal and devoted to the following things that are to be said. “To the flag of the United States of America,” the flag represents the land we are on which is the United States.

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.

Those who do not support the standing and reciting “Pledge of Allegiance” mostly have conflict with the words, “under God.” This is understandable for those who do not identify as Christians to say those two words. In 1954, the phrase “under God” was added to show resistance to the Communist Movement in America. Keeping with tradition and the support of capitalism, “under God” is a valid part of the Pledge therefore each

One third of the founding fathers, even George Washington himself, were not even christian; why should “Under God” be in the Pledge of Allegiance. Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli states “...United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,” so why is “Under God” in the pledge of allegiance? No religion is ever mentioned in the constitution, so why is “Under God” in the pledge of allegiance? In the 2004 case, Elk Grove Unified School District v. NewDow the supreme court ruled “ The Pledge is 'consistent with the proposition that government may not communicate an endorsement of religious belief.” So why should “Under God” be in the pledge of allegiance? It should not and there are no reasons it should

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

Originally the Pledge of Allegiance did not carry the words “under God”. “The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an oath of loyalty to the national flag and the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892. The Pledge has been modified four times since then, with the most recent change adding the words "under God" in 1954” (Wikipedia). Additions to any thing are always made to make things better. No one makes an addition to something so important that it is stated everyday at every school, before every sports event, even before some ceremonies with the intent of defiling it; they make an addition only to perfect and complete it.