Thursday, September 15, 2005

Reality: Some People Make Me Mad!

Have you heard the lastest fight against the reciting of the Pledge of the Allegiance in public schools? Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton declared that the reciting of the Pledge in public schools is unconstitutional. The Associated Press sited that this case was brought by the same atheist whose previous battle against the words "under God" was rejected last year by the Supreme Court on procedural grounds.

Now, however, Judge Karlton ruled that the pledge's reference to one nation "under God" violates school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God." He is also planning to sign a restraining order preventing the recitation of the pledge at the Elk Grove Unified, Rio Linda and Elverta Joint Elementary school districts in Sacramento County, where the plaintiffs' children attend.

Don't take this wrong but, if you want to trample on the Christian heritage and patriotism of our founding fathers, go live in another country! Now, before you throw that rock at me and call me a dogmatic religious zealot, look at the history and purpose of the pledge of allegiance.

The original writing of the pledge was to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. Francis Bellamy and James Upham first printed the original Pledge of Allegiance in the September 8, 1892 issue of "The Youth's Companion", and a month later more than 12 million school children recited the words for the first time in schools across the nation. (It is still uncertain which of the to actually penned the words.) Over time, it underwent three changes in it's wording (1923, 1924, and 1954) to clarify it's purpose.

It's final change was in 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved adding the words "under God". As he authorized this change he said: "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

In light of the War on Terror, the devestation of Katrina, and our ecconomic struggle, we need to be strengthened by "this country's most powerful resource", GOD! What is it going to take for us to return to a loving relationship with God?

“Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become to self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us. It behoves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to beg for clemency and forgiveness.” - President Abraham Lincoln (1862)

Yes, as humans we have the freedom to choose whether or not we want to ackowledge and live for God. But as Americans, and especially as those who claim to be Christians, we need to remember the words of Peter, “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” 1 Peter 2:16

Katharine Lee Bates, daughter of a Congregational Church Pastor, and author of America the Beautiful said, "We must match the greatness of our country with the goodness of personal godly living." How can we sing "America! America! God shed His grace on thee" if we refuse to acknowledge his existance (America the Beautiful, 1893).

Remeber the words of the late President Ronald Regan, “If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

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