Federal Court Hears Pledge, Motto Cases (under God/in God we trust)

[robcon]

Source: Associated Press

Federal Court Hears Pledge, Motto Cases

By KIM CURTIS – 1 day ago

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An atheist pleaded with a federal appeals court to remove the words "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" from U.S. currency, saying the references disrespect his religious beliefs.

"I want to be treated equally," said Michael Newdow, who argued the cases consecutively to a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday. He added that supporters of the phrases "want to have their religious views espoused by the government."

Newdow, a Sacramento doctor and lawyer, sued his daughter's school district in 2000 for forcing public school children to recite the pledge, saying it was unconstitutional.

The 9th Circuit ruled in Newdow's favor in 2002, but two years later, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that he lacked standing to sue because he didn't have custody of the daughter on whose behalf he brought the case. He immediately filed a second lawsuit on behalf of three unidentified parents and their children in another district.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i-OFG98VprcXzcMCPVSB...

---

The timing of this sucks. As usual this will be an 'important' issue in the 2008 presidential election, though these words have nothing whatsoever to do with governing the U.S.

The first time the Supreme Court said the plaintiff had no standing, since the custodial parent wanted his daughter to be exposed to the "under God" pledge, while the plaintiff did not.

A perfect wedge issue. Predictions, anyone, as to which candidates will demagogue this?

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Yeah, it's a real bitch

when being right is unpopular.

[robcon]

2. Flipping it over... It's a bitch

when being wrong is popular.

[Bicoastal]

3. Alls I know is that the same people who have a stick up their asses on this issue...

...the same people who think the downfall of "under God" and the rise of "Happy Holidays" means the end of civilization...

...will say, when criticized for calling people "fags" or "towel-heads" or "Maccaca"--"They're just words! How can people feel so threatened and offended by mere WORDS?"

Hypocrites.

[2beToby]

5. Perfect! It's too true...

Although I wish it wasn't...*sigh*

[pokercat999]

4. "Mitt the cult guy" already has, in his speech today he said

"in god we trust" and "god" BELONGS on our money and in the pledge.

[Massachusetts]

6. Question

How can you trust someone or something you haven't met?

Be careful when you sip the Hemlock...

[RoccoR5955]

7. Isn't a shame....

...that our 'freedom of religion' does not include freedom FROM religion?

Huckabee will play this to the nth degree, as will other Republican candidates.

I agree with President Kennedy, when he said that his religion was his PERSONAL business, and should have no part in his running of the government. This stands in line with the Founding Fathers, whose views on religion were mixed as well.

From the Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between the Bey and Subjects of Tripoly of Barbary, passed unanimously in the senate in 1797:
"Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

This proves to me, that the United States is NOT a Christian nation, nor is it a nation of ANY specific religion.

[boricua79]

10. I didn't know about that

quote...that's great. I'm going to keep it in mind next time I hear someone claim that this is a Christian nation.

[14thColony]

11. And the best part

is that because this is a ratified treaty it's US domestic law as well. In effect the Treaty of Tripoli made it US law that our government was not founded on Christian principles. Hard to beat, especially when the sitting President at the time was one of the original founders.

[Duncan]

8. Good for him.

I applaud his efforts. It is unfortunate that asshats will use this as a wedge issue, but that certainly does not mean Newdow should have waited until the political season changed.

[boricua79]

9. NOt this guy again...

Michael...give the shit a rest already.

Yes, I know...the government shouldn't be putting words like God into our governmental pledges. Yes, I get it...seperation of church and state. Yes...we GET IT.

You've had your chance in the Legal system and they decided against you, as did most of the country. It's done. Live with the fact that you live in a religious society, or move out of the country if you can't take it.

[pop goes the weasel]

12. they didn't decide against him

SCUSA decided he didn't have standing to sue in the original case, but indicated that they thought the issues involved were worth hearing.

As for your last paragraph, you have a lot to learn about the Constitution. If you like tyranny of the majority so much, there are a host of nations for you to chose from. The US isn't supposed to be one of them.

[HuffleClaw]

13. if people were educated about WHO it was that had those phrased added in the first place

they'd be far less likely to support their remaining.