The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 5 of 13)

br> Chilliwack, BCV, Canada /p> p> PLEDGE OF ATHEISM br> Re: Harold Johnson's Father Doesn't Know Best : /p>

The opinion piece by Harold Johnson demonstrates the failure of logic that supports the position of those who wish to keep the words "under God" in the pledge, as amended in 1954. However, rather than argue the Constitutional merits, for which there is no rational basis, he argues the procedural measure of who has custody and legal standing to bring the suit on behalf of his daughter. To do this, he relies on the words that were overlooked in the Murga opinion, concerning who has the right to make ultimate decisions concerning a child's religious upbringing. Why is anything that relates to "religious upbringing" a concern of someone arguing on behalf of a public school district? Johnson admits that the pledge is religious indoctrination, or else it would have no relevance on the issue of "religious upbringing." If people would like to say the amended pledge on there own time, that is fine. But in school, we should not confuse children by placing the words "under God" in a statement that is otherwise in accordance with the Constitution.

p>The pledge affirms allegiance to the "republic for which the [flag] stands." This is the flag and republic for which many soldiers died, to defend the liberties of all Americans to express their conscience and not have the conscience of others indoctrinated into the youth. The republic stands for religious freedom; this freedom includes the right not to have children forced to swear allegiance to Judeo-Christian religion. If it is not an attempt at establishment of the Judeo-Christian faith, then let's let school districts substitute "under Allah," "under Buddha," or perhaps "under Wakan Tanka," who was one of the gods of America long before "God" ever entered the picture. br> -- Tony Kullen br> New York, New York /p> p> Ah, but Mr. Johnson, Mr. Newdow is correct. I have a solution however. Let's be truly free and have students who choose not to say "under God" remain silent as it is spoken, and then others can, in turn, remain silent as "under Allah," "Buddha," and other deities receive equal respect.

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