Anyone kow the reason for the Pledge of Allegiance controversy?

Question

Back in the '50s, there was this giant Communist scare, and the phrase "under God" was put into the Pledge at that time because some people thought it would protect our country from Communism.

Knowing that, do you think that phrase should be kept in the Pledge of Allegiance?

I don't really know whether or not I'd want to keep it in there... Do people really think one little phrase is going to protect them from evil when they do everything they can to avoid God? I don't think so! The Pledge is basically a lie. One nation? Not really...at heart, there's many. Under God? Sure doesn't seem like it to me! Indivisible? Nope! Part of the country hates Bush, part of it loves him, and the 3rd part really doesn't care... Liberty and Justice for all? Yeah, right! Can anyone can give me one instance in U.S. history when there's been liberty and justice for ALL?

darth_julian_ii: I used to say my own version of it, too, the part on quotes coming from a Calvin & Hobbes comic book. This is what I'd say:

"I pledge allegiance
To Queen Fragg
And her mighty state of hysteria,"
And to the repugnant,
for which she stands,
One nation, under fraud,
very divisible,
With liberty and justice for none.


Now, though, I stand up, but I don't say it.

I'm not "rewriting history", Whitiepossum. Read again if you have to. I only said that the phrase "under God" was put into the Pledged in the '50s.

one4god: How does that answer the question?

jms043: Sorry if what I say isn't to your liking, but that's the way things are. People may say all these wonderful things about this country, but that doesn't change the fact that it isn't exactly what the Pledge says it is. Living in THIS COUNTRY is what has taught me that.
Still, I personally think that the phrase "under God" should be kept in the Pledge.

Answer 1

Exactly. And to answer your question, no, I don't think that this phrase should remain in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Answer 2

Every time you change something, you make some kind of statement. Adding the statement to the pledge was not done lightly and made a statement about intent. So to change the pledge now and remove "One nation under God" would be a deliberate act, making a deliberate statement. Is that statement that we are not "one nation under God"? that "one nation under God" is somehow an inappropriate statement? My perspective is to leave things as they are unless there is a great need to change them. I personally, have no problem being "one nation under God." I wouldn't change the National Anthem either (even though it is difficult to sing and many butcher it trying). There's no compelling reason to change it. If a majority of Americans really want to become a secular nation, then changing the pledge would be appropriate. I don't think that is the case at this time, however.

Answer 3

Me, I think we should keep it in the pledge. There is no real reason other than I am lazy and I don't want to have to not say it because that is stuck in my head since I was in kindergarden. The one thing is I just want people to stand up when the National Anthem is being played. That can show that you at least care for this country.

Answer 4

Every day in school I will stand up and recite the Pledge, but just leave out the "under God" part because I am an agnostic. It's my own little silent protest.

Honestly, I don't think it's worth the time and energy to complain about.

Answer 5

A pledge of allegiance should be able to reflect all of the people in the US. Therefore it would be most appropriate to remove a phrase that has no meaning to a large minority of the people in the US. Why should we force people who don't believe in god to acknowledge a god?

And for all of your information the phrase "under god" was NEVER spoken in the pledge until the 1950s.

Answer 6

The whole problem is when you have organizations like ACLU always sticking their head up someones behind
to glorify themselves! And trying to change everything they see unfit, along with a minority of people...this is what happens CONFUSION!


Ever heard of the saying,"if it ain't broken - don't fix it"!

We had no problem until they got involved !

Democrats sounds familiar with your issues about Iraq?

.......with the BIG screw Bush instead !! Whats next force my kids to learn spanish ? (look at force before saying anything)

Answer 7

i say take it out...it may have served a purpose then, but no longer. however, removing references to god would be troublesome from an historical perspective. after all, whether or not certain members of the founding fathers were 'christians' is irrelevant in light of how many times a 'higher power' is mentioned in official documents like the constitution or individual correspondence. like it or not, and i don't, god is part of this country's history...

Answer 8

Because, some people have no sense of proportion.

It's just not imortant. Kids don't even know what it means. Heck, some of them think this nation is supposed to be "invisible" according to the pledge.

Answer 9

I am ashamed to say that i fought a war so that you could say these things out loud. Do you have any idea what would happen to you if you were to say these things in an arab country? Its a shame that some one has taught you to be this way.

Answer 10

Well, since you phrased your question that way....



No, I don't think the phrase will protect us from Communism so it should be removed.


But, I don't believe that is the reason, the only reason, that it was written into the Pledge in the first place.




g-day!