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"Under God" comes under fireBy KRISTEN STERNBERG | NIE Educational Consultant Have you ever thought about the words contained in the Pledge of Allegiance? In Florida, it's a law that the Pledge of Allegiance be recited daily by students in all public schools. In nine other states, however, a federal court recently ruled this practice unconstitutional. Because it contains the words "under God," judges decided that reciting the Pledge goes against the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution calls for the government to maintain a "separation of church and state." In broad terms, that phrase means that religion should not be allowed to intrude into public, governmental affairs. The same phrase, though, can mean many things to many people and so it is constantly under debate.
An important part of the U.S. Constitution is the Bill of Rights, made up of the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. These documents, along with later Amendments, are the basic rules by which our nation is governed. The First Amendment guarantees five freedoms, including Freedom of Religion. It prevents the American government from establishing an official religion for the whole United States. Because of this important Amendment, American citizens and residents have the freedom to go to the church, synagogue, temple, mosque, etc. of their choice or to participate in no religion at all. The recent ruling declaring the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional means that it's now illegal for kids to recite the Pledge in schools in the nine states affected. This has created a lot of controversy around the country, especially in light of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. There has been a heightened sense of patriotism since the terrorist attacks that were intended to threaten our government and our way of life. The Pledge of Allegiance has, for many, become a symbol of that patriotism. More and more people have been displaying flags, singing patriotic songs and so on. The author of an article that was published in The Daytona Beach News-Journal not long ago brought to light the fact that some are using the war on terrorism as an excuse to increase religious practices in public affairs and to enforce their religious beliefs on others in our society. As the U.S. continues to welcome people from diverse backgrounds and belief systems, the nation can probably expect clashes over government and religion to continue. The First Amendment provides for people to practice religion in the way they want, so while some feel that the Pledge of Allegiance should be considered Constitutional as it stands, others would like to see the words "under God" removed. A majority of people in this country are monotheists ("mono" means "one," and "theist" comes from the Greek word for "god," meaning that monotheists believe in one god above all others). For them, the phrase in the Pledge, "under God," is not offensive because they feel that it does not single out a particular religion as better than another. As the words don't refer to the God of any particular religion, monotheists say, the phrase should be allowed to stand. For those who don't share those beliefs, however, it's a different story. Some resent the fact that religion has intruded into such legal, traditional and meaningful documents as the Pledge of Allegiance. They argue that "under God" implies that all people believe that there is a God, or that there is only one God. Since not everyone has the same beliefs, many would like to see all references to religion removed from legal documents, public spaces and materials, etc. Not long ago, courts handed down an order to remove a wall plaque showing the 10 Commandments from a civic center in a nearby state. People in the U.S. were divided in their feelings about this action. Some were bitter and felt that the government was trying to keep them from their beliefs; others applauded the action as an attempt to keep the "church" separate from the "state." Many people may take for granted that the Pledge includes a reference to religion, but it hasn't always been that way. In fact, although the Pledge was written in 1892, it wasn't until 1954 that the phrase, "under God," was added. Before then the Pledge read: "… and to the Republic, for which it stands: One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Some point out that U.S. currency contains the words "In God We Trust." Others point out that in legal proceedings, such as trials or hearings, participants may be required to "tell the truth so help [me] God." According to a local war veteran, if the words were to be removed from the Pledge, then other public or nationwide references to religion might also come under fire. The veteran was quoted in The News-Journal as asking: "Are they going to throw the Bible out next?" Not long ago, a News-Journal editorialist raised some interesting questions about the implications of the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Take a look at the editorial for an interesting perspective on this issue. What do you think about the controversy over the Pledge of Allegiance? As you formulate your opinion, why not check out the newspaper activities and web links provided below? You will probably learn a lot more about the main points raised by this week's topic, and you'll have some fun at the same time! Try these interesting activities using The Daytona Beach News-Journal1. The controversy over the Pledge of Allegiance is one example of how the U.S. Constitution is often challenged. Search The News-Journal from time to time to find other examples of Constitutional controversies. Read and discuss the issues with a friend or family member. (Sunshine State Standards: SS.A.1.2.1, SS.A.1.2.2, SS.A.4.2.4, SS.C.1.2.5, SS.C.2.2.4, SS.C.2.2.5)
2. Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is a ritual that has become a symbol of patriotism toward the U.S. What other patriotic symbols can you think of? Using The News-Journal for inspiration, collect as many "American symbols" as you can. Add some of your own if you don't find everything you're looking for, and ask others, if you wish, to brainstorm with you. Design a collage with your collection of symbols and display it at home or at school to inspire others. 3. One part of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution calls for the separation of church and state. In broad terms, this can be interpreted to mean that religion (the "church") may not intrude into public documents, ceremonies, spaces, etc. (the "state"). It guarantees freedom of religion to worship (or not to worship) in one's own way. How is this section of the First Amendment put into practice in your community? Study the religious institutions and services that are listed in a current News-Journal. Try to identify what some of them may have in common with your own religious beliefs. (Sunshine State Standards: FL.B.1.2.2, FL.D.2.2.1, FL.D.2.2.3) 4. Using The News-Journal, look at the listing of religious institutions in your community. Interview friends about their religious practices. How many different religions are represented among your friends? Try to learn at least one fact about each friend's belief, and share your new information with others. (Sunshine State Standards: FL.D.2.2.1, FL.D.2.2.3) 5. The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees not only Freedom of Religion but also four other important freedoms. They are Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Assembly and the Right to Petition. Discuss the meaning of these with adult family members or friends, then search The News-Journal for articles that address these First Amendment freedoms. Choose one or more of the freedoms and write a paragraph explaining what it means to you. (Sunshine State Standards: SS.C.1.2.1, SS.C.1.2.4, SS.C.1.2.5, SS.C.2.2.3, SS.C.2.2.5) A copy of Florida's Sunshine State Standards can be found at intech2000.miamisci.org. Check out these links to learn moreThere's an interesting history behind the Pledge of Allegiance. You can learn about it at this site, where you may also print the text of the Pledge to use as a poster. www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfc_pledge.html
A popular comedian of the 20th century, Red Skelton, stopped clowning around and got serious when he recorded his interpretation of the meaning of each word in the Pledge of Allegiance. Read his interesting take on the patriotic pledge. www.usflag.org/skeltons.pledge.html Read the Pledge of Allegiance in English, German, Spanish, French and Hindi; then check out other symbols of patriotism and pride at www.usflag.org. CNN News routinely publishes news about Freedom of Religion and other First Amendment issues. Take a look at this article as an example and be sure to follow links that are provided to explain any concepts you may not be familiar with. www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/06/26/pledge.allegiance/ You'll find some interesting links to sites about the Pledge of Allegiance and other Church vs. State issues at this Newspaper in Education site provided by the Cincinnati Enquirer. www.cincinnati.com/nie/ The Newspaper Association of America's web site contains links to many newspapers in the U.S. and around the world, which may contain additional news stories about this topic. To access the newspapers at the site, select a state. Click on the "Internationals" button to view choices from other countries. The Daytona Beach News-Journal NIE Program, published July 15, 2002 |
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