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Yes, indeed, the atheists are at it again. Or rather, one atheist in particular, Michael Newdow, who decided to waste yet more tax dollars fighting against his Christian daughter's exposure to the words "under God" in school. Newdow originally claimed his daughter should have the right to not even hear the words, that she was being harmed by being present in the classroom as the teacher led the children in the Pledge of Allegiance, even though she had a right to abstain from participating in the pledge.
This isn't really about the rights of Americans to believe or not to believe in God. It's about one man's vengeance in trying to stick it to his Christian ex-wife, who also happens to have custody of the child in question, and the legal right to make the final decisions about her religious training.
The argument is being made once again that the Constitution prohibits the mention of God in any public venue. It doesn't. Our founding fathers were Christians who were severing ties to a country that demanded all people worship under the national faith. Hence the wording in Amendment I of the Bill of Rights stating, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." It says that the government cannot force you to practice, or prohibit you from practicing, any religion of your choice.
It doesn't say you are protected for all of eternity from having your fragile little ears bruised by the harsh pronunciation of the word G-O-D.
The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.
So what about reciting The Pledge in the public schools? Every student is given the option to recite it or to abstain. Every student. The choice. Get it? And more importantly, they are allowed to abstain from pledging allegiance to this nation, an action punishable by death in other countries. I'd say that's exactly the level of freedom suggested by The Constitution.
I have noticed that Mr. Newdow has not raised the issue of the words "In God We Trust" being on the back of every bill he earns and spends, and every penny, nickel, dime and quarter minted. Does he withhold his daughter's allowance because she might read the nasty little words printed there?
If we remove the words "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance, the next challenge will be the wording of the Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.... We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions.
It definitely mentions God. Should school children not be taught about the origin of our country because of one atheist?
A milder step might be an altogether ban on the recitation of the pledge in schools. Let's change a national tradition on the whim of one atheist - NOT.
Couldn't a case be made that Newdow is attempting to prohibit the other 30 children in his daughter's class from their inalienable right to recite the pledge, or to practice their own religions? To utter aloud the word "God" without government interference, and to infuse that word with whatever meaning is traditionally held by their families? This is a right guaranteed by the Constitution, whether Newdow likes it or not.
Ultimately, we must go back to the wording of the document itself - The Bill of Rights. "Congress shall make no law..." When last I checked, Congress had not dictated that every kindergartener recite the pledge or face jail time.
I am weary from trying to assuage the whims of every "victim" of our "big brother" government. C'mon, people. Haven't we been nickled and dimed to death on these issues?
I have a suggestion for Mr. Newdow. Perhaps if he is so intent on raising a healthy, whole child, he should focus on banning certain other words from her vocabulary and understanding. Words like "hate," "vindictiveness," "custody issues," and the ever-popular "divorce."
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