ISSUE QUESTION: Is the use of the phrase, “under god,” in the Pledge of Allegiance constitutional or not?
CONTROVERSY SECTION Since the addition of the phrase, “under God,” was added to the pledge of Allegiance on June 14, 1954 the question of whether or not the use of the phrase in the pledge is constituanal or not has gained more and more momentum in the last 61 years. Now the pledge of allegiance was officolly adopted by congress in 1942, but the phrase under god was not added until 1954, by President Eisenhower. Opponents of the use of the phrase say that the use of “under god” in the Pledge of Allegiance promotes religion and implies that true American patriots should be God fearing and followers of god. They also believe that it violates …show more content…
Moreover proponents also state that the addition of under god is constitutional, as the constitution does state that “ congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion,” and the pledge is only recognizing our country under god not for one and it does not promote a particular religion. But let me give you some history on this controversy. Now on June 14, 1954, (Flag day), the use of,“ under god,” was signed into law by President Eisenhower. When under god was added, the United States was deeply engulfed in the Cold War and had to religiously distinguish itself from our enemies at the time, the communists, who were for the most part, atheists. Now not many Americans opposed the addition of, “under god,” in the Pledge of Alligiance in 1954, but according to the book To The Flag, a group of people called the Free Thinkers took the case against the addition to a New York court but their trial judge rejected their claim on the basis that it was not promoting no one religion. …show more content…
One of the arguments for the use of the phrase, “under God,” in the United States Pledge of Allegiance is that many Americans believe the United States is a Christian nation and was founded on Christian values. Many founding fathers, Patrick Henry among them believed that religion was needed to bring a nation together and make a foundation for a strong union. Many Presidents like Truman and Eisenhower encouraged a more outspoken lean towards the use of God. For example they encouraged the change of the national motto from, “Of Many One,” to, “under God.”
2. In a response to the lawsuits filed by a California atheist Michael Newdow many senators and as many as 100 hundred Congressmen protested. The case that went to the Ninth Circuit Court in San Francisco better known as Roe v. Rio Linda Union School District had angered many senators who then passed a resolution in 2002 and even resited the Pledge of Alligiance at the capitol and then sang in a group “God Bless America.”
3. Another argument for the use of the phrase “under God,” in the Pledge of Alligiance was made by Episcoplalian minister Julian Bartlett. Julian Bartlett urged Republican leaders at the Republican National Convention in San Francisco that they should not assume that the use of “under God,” means that God is on Americas side per say. What he urged republican leaders to understand was that the phrase itself actually meant that the United States was actually being judged under
CONTROVERSY SECTION Since the addition of the phrase, “under God,” was added to the pledge of Allegiance on June 14, 1954 the question of whether or not the use of the phrase in the pledge is constituanal or not has gained more and more momentum in the last 61 years. Now the pledge of allegiance was officolly adopted by congress in 1942, but the phrase under god was not added until 1954, by President Eisenhower. Opponents of the use of the phrase say that the use of “under god” in the Pledge of Allegiance promotes religion and implies that true American patriots should be God fearing and followers of god. They also believe that it violates …show more content…
Moreover proponents also state that the addition of under god is constitutional, as the constitution does state that “ congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion,” and the pledge is only recognizing our country under god not for one and it does not promote a particular religion. But let me give you some history on this controversy. Now on June 14, 1954, (Flag day), the use of,“ under god,” was signed into law by President Eisenhower. When under god was added, the United States was deeply engulfed in the Cold War and had to religiously distinguish itself from our enemies at the time, the communists, who were for the most part, atheists. Now not many Americans opposed the addition of, “under god,” in the Pledge of Alligiance in 1954, but according to the book To The Flag, a group of people called the Free Thinkers took the case against the addition to a New York court but their trial judge rejected their claim on the basis that it was not promoting no one religion. …show more content…
One of the arguments for the use of the phrase, “under God,” in the United States Pledge of Allegiance is that many Americans believe the United States is a Christian nation and was founded on Christian values. Many founding fathers, Patrick Henry among them believed that religion was needed to bring a nation together and make a foundation for a strong union. Many Presidents like Truman and Eisenhower encouraged a more outspoken lean towards the use of God. For example they encouraged the change of the national motto from, “Of Many One,” to, “under God.”
2. In a response to the lawsuits filed by a California atheist Michael Newdow many senators and as many as 100 hundred Congressmen protested. The case that went to the Ninth Circuit Court in San Francisco better known as Roe v. Rio Linda Union School District had angered many senators who then passed a resolution in 2002 and even resited the Pledge of Alligiance at the capitol and then sang in a group “God Bless America.”
3. Another argument for the use of the phrase “under God,” in the Pledge of Alligiance was made by Episcoplalian minister Julian Bartlett. Julian Bartlett urged Republican leaders at the Republican National Convention in San Francisco that they should not assume that the use of “under God,” means that God is on Americas side per say. What he urged republican leaders to understand was that the phrase itself actually meant that the United States was actually being judged under