First, I would like to talk about the history of the Pledge of Allegiance. Many people today recite the Pledge of Allegiance but do not know the history that took place behind it. The Pledge of Allegiance was originally written more than a century ago. The original pledge was: I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic, for which it stands, one Nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all . The flag serves as a symbol of our country and its proud traditions of freedom and equal opportunity. In the 1920s, the National Flag Conferences replaced the phrase “my Flag” with “the Flag of the United States of America.” In 1954, Communist threats occurred causing Congress to add the words under God to the pledge. Then 12 years later, Congress reviewed the Pledge of Allegiance and added the words “Under God .” While reciting the Pledge of Allegiance it should be recited by standing placing your …show more content…
The case Elk Grove Unified School District versus Newdow came about when a student parent, Michael Newdow, an atheist, has a disagreement with the Pledge of Allegiance. Elk Grove Unified School District is a public elementary school where teachers begin the day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, but it is considering being voluntary. Under California law, all elementary schools must recite the Pledge of Allegiance once a day unless those student object due to their religion. As stated before, in 1954 the Congressional Act added the words “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance. Michael Newdow took it upon himself to review the School District policy referring to the religious portion. This caused Michael Newdow to sue in the federal district court in California, stating making students listen to the Pledge of Allegiance, even if the students do not choose to participate to the word “under God” violates the establishment clause of the United States Constitution’s First Amendment
In 1971 in Mobile County Alabama the School Board created a state statute that set aside time at the beginning of each day for silent ’meditation’ (statute 6-1-20), and in 1981 they added another statute 16-1-20.1 which set aside a minute for ‘silent prayer’ as well. In addition to these, in 1982 the Mobile County School Board enacted statute 16-1-20.2, which specified a prayer that teachers could lead ‘willing’ students in “From henceforth, any teacher or professor in any public educational institution within the State of Alabama, recognizing that the Lord God is one, at the beginning of any homeroom or any class, may pray, may lead willing students in prayer, or may lead the willing students in the following prayer to God… “ (Jaffree By and Through Jaffree v. James). Ishmael Jaffree was the father of three students, Jamael Aakki Jaffree, Makeba Green, and Chioke Saleem Jaffree, who attended a school in Mobile County Alabama. Jaffree complained that his children had been pressured into participating in religious activities by their teachers and their peers, and that he had requested that these activities stopped. When the school did nothing about Jaffree’s complaints he filed an official complaint with the Mobile County School Board through the United States District Courts. The original complaint never mentioned the three state statutes that involved school prayer. However, on June 4, 1982 Jaffree changed his complaint. He now wanted to challenge the constitutionality of statutes 16-1-20, 16-1-20.1 and 16-1-20.2, and motioned for a preliminary injunction. The argument against these state laws was that they were an infringement of the Establishment Clause within the First Amendment of the Constitution, which states that Congr...
In the 2008 the United States Census Bureau, Self-Described Religious Identification of Adult Population, The Christian faith proved to be the more dominating religion out of all religions. So it would seem the words “Under God” would be beneficial for the majority, the Pledge of Allegiance allures and supports the loyalty of the majority of citizens. The nonbelievers of religion have had the right to not recite the pledge since 1943 but have been asked to quietly stand while the believers recite the pledge in its entirety. Even though leaving out “Under God” is not a difficult task we can clearly see a division has now developed, opposite of bringing the people together. Another example that shows the pledge allures and supports a loyalty to the majority of citizens, the acceptance and encouragement to keep ...
The Pledge of Allegiance has become a major issue for students, teachers, parents and lawmakers. The original intention of the pledge was not to stir up trouble, but for a celebration of Christopher Columbus discovery of the new world. The pledge is no longer thought of as a celebration, but an infringement on children's religious beliefs. Do you believe that children's rights are being infringed on? Some people believe that the pledge is a great honor for our country. It has shown, and provided us with great pride just like our American flag. The Pledge of Allegiance being recited in the public school system does not infringe on the students religious beliefs, but is a way for us to honor our country and everything that we have done to get to this point in history.
Research on the Pledge of Allegiance. In the last thirty years, there has been surprisingly little study of this particular ritual in democratic participation. The majority of this work tends to focus on the legal issues concerning refusal to say the Pledge (Knowles, 1992; Urofsky, 1995). This work effectively summarizes the current legal understanding of the relationship between state law and local school governance, that while states have a compelling interest to encourage democratic education in schools, their ability to mandate such participation is effectively limited by the Constitutional obligation to protect freedom of religion (Minersville School District v. Gobitis, 1940; Urofsky, 1995).
Before analyzing the above described controversy, we must first examine the history of the Pledge itself. Written by Francis Bellamy, it was originally titled the “Pledge to the Flag” and was created in the late 1800’s to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America. It originally read: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the republic for which it stands, one Nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all” (McCarthy, 2005). Changes were later made to include the words “of the United States” and “of America” to indicate which flag was being referenced. The final changes to the Pledge came in 1954 when it officially became titled the “Pledge of Allegiance” and the words “under God” were added after “one nation.” This addition to the Pledge was meant to support the United States as a religious nation. While signing the law to put this change into effect, President Eisenhower said, “In this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war” (McCarthy, 2005).
The original Pledge of Allegiance was meant as an expression of patriotism, not religious faith and made no mention of God. The pledge was written in 1892 by the socialist Francis Bellamy. He wrote it for the popular magazine Youth's Companion on the occasion of the nation's first celebration of Columbus Day. It’s wording omitted reference not only to God but also to the United States. “Under God” should be removed from the pledge for purposes of creating equality in different beliefs and allowing each American their right laid out in the constitution. These are the original words to the Pledge of Allegiance.
Starting in kindergarten, we have allocated thirty seconds of every morning to reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. I remember hearing the announcement that we were going to do the Pledge soon, and sighing because I had to stand up and perform this “boring” task. As a little kid, I didn’t know what the Pledge of Allegiance really meant or why we had to do it. All I knew is that we would be performing the monotonous, fancy sounding, thirty-one worded stanza daily. While it was against the law for teachers to force us to say the Pledge, it was expected. This “patriotism” was assumed of us at a young age. It was givin with the mindset that we were the best country that should be loved.
It was published in September 1892. This original draft was as follows: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." It was not the pledge we recite today. In 1923, the pledge was altered from saying, “I pledge allegiance to my flag,” to “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States,” so as not to confuse immigrant children during recitation. The addition of, “of America” was made later. The use of the words, “under god,” following “one nation,” began in the late 1940s, and happened a few times after
In conclusion, The Pledge of Allegiance does the violate the First Amendment in the Constitution. Forcing students to recite the Pledge in school goes against their Freedom of Speech. Also, the students of certain religions who feel it is not right to say the Pledge based on the words in it, have the Freedom of Religion and should not be forced into saying it.
In the year 1776, the United States of America was founded. “The idea that the United States is a 'Christian nation,' has always been central to American identity.” (Forbes, Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?) Since 1954, after President Eisenhower insisted Congress to add “Under God” into The Pledge of Allegiance, it is an American tradition to salute the American flag with this phrase: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” (American Flag Pledge of Allegiance) The phrase “Under God” bothers many Americans who do not believe in God, but if America was founded on Christian faith, why take the phrase
"I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Sounds familiar right? A typical weekday morning for an elementary or middle school child most likely begins with him or her reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. The pledge was created to convey America’s constitutional power and loyalty. Congress included the phrase "under God" to the pledge in the early 1950s.
The Pledge of Allegiance, we all know it, something Americans say at sporting events, in our schools, and in many other social gatherings all across the United States. However, there is one part of it that I am here to challenge and that is the statement of “under God”. I believe that this statement is unnecessary and somewhat hypocritical when it comes to the United States, especially when our country is composed of such a diverse population of people, some of whom do not believe or have any affiliation with God. In a time where equality issues are so important one
I’ve lol been standing for the pledge of allegiance since I was in elementary and never really understood why. Freedom of speech, you say what you want, when you want, and how you want to. It’s your right to stand up or not. “People die for our country.” “Sign of respect for the country we live in.” “Take pride in being an American.” How can we be proud to be American if it only brings negative stereotypes to everyone’s head, it has never been what it preaches to be. Being American is actually embarrassing. Just because I was born here doesn 't mean I have undying loyalty to America, being American means nothing to me, to be truthful.
Part of the morning routine is to stand, place their right hand over their heart and recite the Pledge of Allegiance in unison: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which its stands, one nation, under God, invisible, with liberty and justice for all.” This morning routine has now started commotion for children of many different religions as they cannot say the specific words, “under God,” in which, it is a problem if they are: Buddhist, Atheist, and many more. “Nor has any state court found that the Pledge practice violates any state constitutional guarantees relating to religious liberty. The rationale for all these decisions is that the Pledge is patriotic exercise, not a religious one..” (Lindsay, 2014). No court has found The Pledge of Allegiance to go against any religious belief’s, it is simply being a nationalist for your country. “Even if we did have a situation in which the theological views of all Jews and Christians were consonant with reciting The Pledge, which we don’t, that would hardly deal with the legitimate grievances of Hindus, Buddhists, Unitarians, Agnostics, Atheists and others” (““Under God: “ The Pledge, Present and Future”). This quote is exemplifying more of why The Pledge does not go against any specific
I remember it clear as day; it was the fall of 1986, laying out my best dress the night before and feeling the excitement of having the chance to ride the big yellow cheese. Once morning came, my mother burst into my bedroom saying "Time to wake up! Today is the day to be a big girl!" Clearly, not paying any mind to the words "big girl" my central focus was on riding the bus. Finally mother and I walked to the end our street; standing on the corner as if we were lost. I noticed more people coming to the corner with kids and I started to get nervous. Just because they were strangers to me. The bus finally arrived, by that time my heart dropped to my toes. My mother pushing me on, but without her by my side. I was petrified, not knowing anyone, feeling alone and when was the next time I would see mother again. The big yellow dream that revolved into a nightmare finally stopped at an enormous building that was bursting with kids at the domicile, making my nerves even worse. There were teachers' who helped us to our classroom; so they called it. As we settled into our desks, the teacher brought our attention to the front corner of the classroom where an American Flag hung. She said that we were going to learn some very important words. In fact, they are so important that we will start everyday with these words. These words we would share and we would stand proud together as one. The words that the teacher taught us were the Pledge of Allegiance. As we said the words together for the first time, my nervousness' went away. We all were fitting in, not because we all messed up the words but because we were sharing a love for our fatherland and we were unified. However, in today's schools the Pledge is occasionally left out of the classroo...