I think I’ve pretty much written myself out of any inheritance from any member of my family.
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Ken Woods
Date: Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Subject: Re: FW: If you were born in 1930-1979…
To: Barbara Herman
Cc: aija.baltz@ahoo.com, browneyedbrunette2@erizon.net, Brian.Sabin@nitysystems.biz, Carol.olds@erizon.net, csabin23430@mail.com, dansabin@mithfield.com, vze3qw7w@erizon.net, gary.herman@mbarqmail.com, rockny@al.com, helena813@mbarqmail.com, woodyandjane1@mbarqmail.com, jd0658@otmail.com, Danarmdel@etscape.net, joycemagic@mbarqmail.com, jlynn@heshelts.com, kaitlyn@heshelts.com, ayb32162@ahoo.com, kitch428@sn.com, ringing@hevillages.net, mbaug13250@ol.com, kenkenandpam@mbarqmail.com, Pookish2@ol.com, raymondwoods@mbarqmail.com, shyrlburt@omcast.net, stephanie_sabin@ahoo.com, cutetes39@ahoo.com, tksjes@hevillages.netOn Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 4:15 PM, Barbara Herman <barb.herman@mbarqmail.com> wrote:
> The quote of the month is by Jay Leno: > ‘With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, > severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, > and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a > good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?’
My response was:
If you’re one of those crazy right-wing, bible thumping, brainwashed-by-Rush-Limbaugh people who thinks the planet is 6000 years old, be forewarned that you’re probably not going to agree with what I have to say. Regardless, it’s my opinion.
With that warning, the phrase “under god” should be removed from the pledge. Essentially it says that Americans who don’t believe in the christian “god” should be excluded, not offered the same rights, and/or deported. As they can’t _truthfully_ recite the pledge of allegiance, they’re therefore not true citizens of this country.
In 1954 (at the height of the McCarthy era) the phrase “under god” was added to the pledge as a result of significant pressure from the pastor of President Eisenhower, as well as the Knights of Columbus (which is essentially a catholic old-boys-club). The intent was to reflect what was described as the “….definitive factor in the American spirit and way of life…”[1] and to justify and/or prove that by reciting the pledge, not only did people love the country, but also loved “god” and thereby provided some manner of separation from the “evil” communists. In his sermon, Rev. Docherty, in a blatant disregard for the separation of church and state, said: “…….apart from the mention of the phrase, ‘the United States of America,’ it could be the pledge of any republic. In fact, I could hear little Muscovites repeat a similar pledge to their hammer-and-sickle flag in Moscow…”[1]
However, adding the phrase “under god” to the pledge was wholly unconstitutional, as it implies a de facto endorsement of monotheism –which is in direct conflict with the First Amendment. The US Supreme Court has since ruled (several times) that “…government should not prefer one religion to another, or religion to irreligion…”[2] In 2002, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in California ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance wording specified by the 1954 modification constituted a government endorsement of religion and was not neutral with respect to religion, as dictated by the First Amendment.
One cannot pick and choose what parts of the First Amendment are valid. Specifically, one cannot say that we enjoy the right to free speech, but then ignore the establishment clause as related to the free exercise of religion. Either we have a federally mandated religion and no freedom of speech, or we don’t have any endorsed religions and have free speech. It’s white or black. When dealing with constitutional law, there cannot be a gray area.
It simply does not matter that the majority of Americans are christian. Despite common belief, the United States is not a democracy–it’s a federal constitutional republic–in which the Constitution provides the basis for law, not democratic choice. As such, it doesn’t matter that the majority of Americans are christian. This is a discussion of fundamental constitutional rights and it doesn’t matter what the majority wants. The Constitution can’t be bent to fit the needs of the majority while ignoring the needs of the minority.
So I ask this: Is the US so incredibly narrow-minded, so stuck in the “US versus Them” mentality, so blinded by so-called-american exceptionalism, so egocentric, and so incredibly xenophobic as to continue the need to believe that the Judeo-Christian view is the “….definitive factor in the American spirit and way of life…” ?
I invite your comments and/or questions.
And yes, for those of you wondering, most of us here in Alaska recognize how much of a dipshit the weathergirl-turned-governor Sarah Palin is.
Ken
[1] As printed in the congressional record.
[2]512 U.S. 687(1994) cited subsequently.
For those of you who see that “under god” was a huge leap toward blind patriotism, I hope you’ve picked up a copy Jame’s Clavell’s The Children’s Story. And for those of you who take exception to this post and want to call Ken un-American, go buy a copy. Now. RUN.
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Sarah’s a dipshit?
I know, you’re shocked.