So there's a bill in Michigan to require all school kids to recite the Pledge of Allegiance

[LuckyTheDog]

I don't really have a problem with that, except everybody knows this is motivated 100% by making all the little kiddies say "under God" every day. It's not about the Pledge, it's about religion.

So, let's just be honest and re-write the Pledge to reflect that reality. Here is a draft:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under the authority of Jesus Christ, indivisible (except for non-Christians, who should leave), with liberty and justice for all Christians -- and we get to decide who is Christian."

[Lint Head]

1. If true this is despicable.

[Old and In the Way]

2. That will be on the agenda next year.

Got to save something to waste time on in the next session.

[AnOhioan]

3. I do have a problem with it..under gawd or not

Mandatory pledge? thanks but no thanks

[Drale]

4. I can tell you from experience

even if something like that passed, the kids would stand put their hand over there heart and most would just stand there mumbling.

[jody]

5. Is the pledge below more appropriate?

[peacebird]

6. Assuming the "good intent" of the bills sponsors, just put the pledge back to its pre1955 roots...

"I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

[ejpoeta]

7. is this going to create jobs?? i mean give me a break.

requiring all kids to say the pledge of allegiance??!! what happened to free country?

[jody]

9. Don't know about your "free country" but free people don't pay taxes or take welfare. IMO both

practices remind and reinforce to all that each individual is subservient to the state.

[renie408]

12. Well, if you don't pay taxes, you won't be free for long. n/t

[jody]

13. Apparently many agree. nt

[renie408]

8. Cause, you know, THAT'S really important. n/t

[yellowcanine]

10. This was declared unconstitutional way back in 1943 in the middle of WWII.

In 1943 the Supreme Court reversed its decision, ruling in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette that public school students are not required to say the Pledge, concluding that "compulsory unification of opinion" violates the First Amendment.[16] In a later opinion, the Court held that students are also not required to stand for the Pledge.[17]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance


If we could win WWII without requiring school children to say the pledge I guess we can still get by without it, don't you think?

[surrealAmerican]

14. Thank you.

That is the relevant decision.

Now why would a state legislature insist on taking up a piece of legislation that the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional?
Do they expect this law won't be challenged, or do they think the current court might reverse that decision?


... or do they expect the bill won't pass at all, but will make those who vote for it look somehow more "patriotic" than the people who vote against it?

[southernyankeebelle]

11. Did you ever see the movie Going My Way with Bing Crosby. Well before the kids went into the

catholic school for the day they children said the Pledge. If you listen to it "under God" wasn't in the pledge. I think it went to the courts because "under god" that if you didn't want to say the pledge you didn't have to. I think am right about that. Does anyone know for sure.

[MadHound]

15. It won't get far,

If it becomes law, somebody will take it to the Supreme Court where it will be rightfully ruled unconstitutional. Too much precedence for any other outcome.

[rhett o rick]

16. You dont mean it when you say you dont have a problem with the government

forcing school kids to recite the Pledge of Allegiance? I sure as hell do.