Should the Words “Under God” Be in the Pledge of Allegiance?
God. Who is God? Is God male or female? Is his/her name God or is it something else? How many Gods are there? All of these questions, but nobody to answer them. Who knows for sure if there even is a God? All of this mystery and still so much love, trust, and hope for this one being. The U. S. is very visible (unlike God), very real and a place that is home to millions of people, with many different religions.
We had a pledge, the original pledge of Allegiance, “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” That pledge got its point across mentally and emotionally. The words “Under God” should not be in the Pledge of Allegiance because people have the right to have their own religious opinion,the love for our country and religious beliefs are completely different and people should not feel they are being forced to believe in God. In 1954, in response to the Communist threat, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words “under God,” creating the pledge we say today. Why change a perfectly fine pledge into something that may offend the citizens who live here or maybe even drive them away? Immigrants who are trying to escape poverty, war, famine and unfair laws that have taken over their countries should not have to think twice about moving to America because of our pledge. Their children should have the right to believe in whatever religion they prefer to believe in instead of being forced to stand up and say the pledge of allegiance in school.
It is not for the government to encourage students to express a religious belief. Immigrant parents should not have to worry that their children are being made to give their heads and hearts to a God they don’t believe in.Our founding fathers fled to the United States in search of religious freedom.Our whole country is founded on religious freedom.It is a contradiction to make people say a pledge that only acknowledges one God.Our 1st amendment to the Constitution states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.
By putting the words “under God” in the pledge we are establishing a religion.It is not enough that students are allowed to not say the words of the pledge.They are still made to stand and be respectful even though they do not believe in God.Students can pledge their allegiance to the United States without having to pledge their allegiance to God. The words “Under God” should not be in the Pledge of Allegiance because people have the right to have their own religious opinion,the love for our country and religious beliefs are completely different and people should not feel they are being forced to believe in God.
