Students say "God" is in
Students opt to keep "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance
Erin Billups
Issue date: 5/3/04 Section: Campus Controversy
The Pledge of Allegiance is a ritual most American students practice since the beginning of their educational careers. Before each class students are asked to stand and recite those famous words; words that after some time take on no particular meaning.
The phrase "under God," is being debated as unconstitutional, and ignoring the rule of separation of church and state. But students at the University at Albany generally seem to think it's a tradition worth keeping.
Out of a random survey taken by 50 students on the UAlbany campus, eight said God should be taken out of the pledge.
All this talk of revamping the pledge is partially due to the Supreme Court case Elk Grove Unified School District (in California) v. Newdow, No. 02-16424. In it Dr. Michael A. Newdow, a proclaimed athiest whose daughter attends Elk Grove Elementary school, is charging the school district with placing a "huge imposition" on his child by forcing her to say the pledge of allegiance with "under God" in it. He said, that making his daughter state those words is as if they are telling her to stand up every morning and say her father is wrong.
Kelly Duff, a junior Political Science major at UAlbany, feels very strongly that the pledge should stay as is. "It is vital to remember that the flag and Pledge are symbols," said Duff. "A person gets from the symbol the meaning they put into it."
Those who oppose the phrase "under God" in the pledge say it should be revised back to the form used before the 1950s. In 1892 the original pledge was written as; "I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." But due to a wave of European immigrants in 1920s, "my flag" was changed to "the flag of the United States of America." The "under God" addition was made in 1954, as what Duff said was a purely political motive of differentiating the U.S. from "ungodly" communist nations.
Although the pledge did not originate with the mention of diety the Declaration of Independence ("endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights"), the Gettysburg Address ("this nation, under God, shall have a newbirth of freedom"), and the full text of the National Anthem ("and this be our motto: 'In God is our trust'),* all mention diety. If the mention of God is taken out of the pledge will it be taken out of these documents or off of all money? Many students including sophmore Policy Major, Adam Kofinas, asked this very question.
"I'm split," said Kofinas, he said there should be seperation of church and state. "They're [the government] analyzing the system too much, that's why I think it ["under God"] should be kept in," he said.
Nick Reisman, a UAlbany freshman and an athiest, feels that God should not be in the pledge. "There is no specific mention of God in the constitution," said Reisman, "And since we're all part of the same club the government should keep the church and state separate."
"Yes, there is no mention of God, but if you read anything about this country and it's original intent it was all based on God," said Duff.
In 1943, a case brought forward in the Supreme Court by Jehovah Witnesses, ruled that no one could be forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance. It is against the religion of Jehovah Witnesses to salute any flag.
Freshman Psycology major, Amanda DiGiovanna, said it's uncomfortable to sit and not take part in the pledge of allegiance when everyone else is standing. "It's the Pledge of Alliegance to a country, not to a religion," she said, "People in the U.S. don't necessarily believe in God or one god."
Many students seem to think "under God" should be left in because taking it out will lead to more petty changes. "People are way too sensitive, they need to concentrate on more important things," said UAlbany junior Kimberly Farro. She said, like many others surveyed, that God should be kept in the pledge.
"For someone who doesn't want to keep God in the pledge I would say 'Don't say it' said Duff.
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The phrase "under God," is being debated as unconstitutional, and ignoring the rule of separation of church and state. But students at the University at Albany generally seem to think it's a tradition worth keeping.
Out of a random survey taken by 50 students on the UAlbany campus, eight said God should be taken out of the pledge.
All this talk of revamping the pledge is partially due to the Supreme Court case Elk Grove Unified School District (in California) v. Newdow, No. 02-16424. In it Dr. Michael A. Newdow, a proclaimed athiest whose daughter attends Elk Grove Elementary school, is charging the school district with placing a "huge imposition" on his child by forcing her to say the pledge of allegiance with "under God" in it. He said, that making his daughter state those words is as if they are telling her to stand up every morning and say her father is wrong.
Kelly Duff, a junior Political Science major at UAlbany, feels very strongly that the pledge should stay as is. "It is vital to remember that the flag and Pledge are symbols," said Duff. "A person gets from the symbol the meaning they put into it."
Those who oppose the phrase "under God" in the pledge say it should be revised back to the form used before the 1950s. In 1892 the original pledge was written as; "I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." But due to a wave of European immigrants in 1920s, "my flag" was changed to "the flag of the United States of America." The "under God" addition was made in 1954, as what Duff said was a purely political motive of differentiating the U.S. from "ungodly" communist nations.
Although the pledge did not originate with the mention of diety the Declaration of Independence ("endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights"), the Gettysburg Address ("this nation, under God, shall have a newbirth of freedom"), and the full text of the National Anthem ("and this be our motto: 'In God is our trust'),* all mention diety. If the mention of God is taken out of the pledge will it be taken out of these documents or off of all money? Many students including sophmore Policy Major, Adam Kofinas, asked this very question.
 Media Credit: Jaclyn Acker The American flag, a historical symbol |
"I'm split," said Kofinas, he said there should be seperation of church and state. "They're [the government] analyzing the system too much, that's why I think it ["under God"] should be kept in," he said.
Nick Reisman, a UAlbany freshman and an athiest, feels that God should not be in the pledge. "There is no specific mention of God in the constitution," said Reisman, "And since we're all part of the same club the government should keep the church and state separate."
"Yes, there is no mention of God, but if you read anything about this country and it's original intent it was all based on God," said Duff.
In 1943, a case brought forward in the Supreme Court by Jehovah Witnesses, ruled that no one could be forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance. It is against the religion of Jehovah Witnesses to salute any flag.
Freshman Psycology major, Amanda DiGiovanna, said it's uncomfortable to sit and not take part in the pledge of allegiance when everyone else is standing. "It's the Pledge of Alliegance to a country, not to a religion," she said, "People in the U.S. don't necessarily believe in God or one god."
Many students seem to think "under God" should be left in because taking it out will lead to more petty changes. "People are way too sensitive, they need to concentrate on more important things," said UAlbany junior Kimberly Farro. She said, like many others surveyed, that God should be kept in the pledge.
"For someone who doesn't want to keep God in the pledge I would say 'Don't say it' said Duff.
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bobsmith
posted 3/04/08 @ 2:50 PM EST
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Russian Wives
posted 3/19/10 @ 12:31 AM EST
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