Newdow Wants To Change Entire Pledge Of Allegiance

[Kadie]

Newdow Wants To Change Entire Pledge Of Allegiance

POSTED: 12:30 pm PDT October 5, 2005
UPDATED: 12:40 pm PDT October 5, 2005


SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A man who is fighting to get the words "under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance was back in federal court Wednesday, making some surprising comments about the case.

Although the hearing was a procedural matter with no key rulings, Michael Newdow said that if he is successful in having the words removed from the pledge at the U.S. Supreme Court level, it still wouldn't be enough.

Newdow believes that it is time to get rid of the old Pledge of Allegiance altogether. He said that it's impractical to just change the pledge because children will continue to say "under God" out of habit or under protest.

"The whole point of the pledge was to unify the students, and it's not," Newdow said outside the hearing Wednesday. "(The pledge) has become divisive, not so much because it has been the atheists who have become discriminated (against), and they don't have so much of a voice. But if the Christians and the people who believe in God want to start throwing 'God' in there, the pledge will be continuing 'one nation indivisible,' while someone is saying 'under God.' And I think it's going to be a mess, and I think we're going to have to get rid of it."

Newdow also said there should possibly be some kind of a competition to come up with a new pledge.

more...
http://www.kcra.com/news/5061736/detail.html

[mattclearing]

1. Good. Pledging allegiance to a flag is stupid anyway. n/t

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. Yeah, but you know how the asshats love

their little symbolic rituals. Just don't think about 'em, because that's tantamount to questioning the existence of Dog.

I really wish Newdow would just STFU. I wholeheartedly agree in principle with what he's doing and I admire his cubes, but he's not doing liberals any good.

[mattclearing]

20. I am glad. More people should be like Newdow...this country needs it. n/t

[Az]

2. How do you force a people to pledge allegiance to a freesociety?

The very idea of the pledge is an anathema to our society. The Under God phrase is just a little added kick in the face of an inclusive society.

[KittyWampus]

4. Is that what you call a conundrum? Forcing people to pledge allegiance

when it's supposed to be a free society.

the more the think about it, the stupider it seems.

Actually, how about at age 13 we all get the secret "oath" and "handshake".

[soothsayer]

14. You mean you didn't get it?

[NYdemocrat089]

18. In our school we are allowed to not say the pledge,

but we are reguired to stand while the other kids say it.

[bluestateguy]

3. Not interested

He's probably right, but I have other priorities than a meaningless pledge to a piece of cloth.

We are at war, an unjust war.

This economy is not doing well.

45 million Americans have no health insurance.

[Az]

6. Its part of that spine thing everyone keeps talking about

If you don't stand up for the controvercial things then you can't get credit for standing up for the popular things.

[bluestateguy]

8. You are right

but you should also stand up for the issues that matter the most, like the war, and health care, etc.

[Az]

11. Definately

Unfortunately the media is not covering the other things Newdow is doing. They are just interested in his actions regarding the pledge.

It is possible to stand up for many things. In fact it is necissary to show who you are. Not showing who you are in politics is called being a politician. Showing who you are is called being a leader.

You don't have to put everything on the line. But don't walk away from who you are. People don't trust such creatures and name them weasle.

[stopbush]

16. I think we can walk and chew gum at the same time, thank you.

The Rs certainly have no problem dealing with multiple issues that they're either attacking or promoting. Indeed, it's one of their strengths, a strength that keeps the left putting out brushfires while the city burns.

[MrModerate]

5. I'm beginning to think Newdow's become addicted to media attention

The "under God" biz clearly needs to come out of the Pledge. However, the possibility that someone might whisper those words under their breath is a bit specious. Not after a few years, anyway.

As to whether pledging to a flag at all makes sense, that's another matter. Most nations have a variety of patriotic rituals to foster shared values. The Pledge is no more silly than a national anthem.

[Az]

7. Could be the other way around

Maybe the media is addicted to Newdow. I have met the man. I can't say he strikes me as someone that is looking for attention. He really seemed to me to be someone that saw a wrong in our society and set about to do something about it. Would be kinda cool if we had more people doing things like that.

[MrModerate]

15. I'm sure he DOES make a good story . . . "The Activist Atheist"

-- trying to protect his daughter from religious intolerance.

I'm just saying that the "under God" issue was solid. The "no more Pledge" issue -- especially with the kind of goofy quote from him -- seems like he's reaching.

But I don't know the guy.

[sysoprock]

10. Newdow is a fucking idiot.

He's truely a Pat Robertson of the left.

[Inland]

12. Yeah, I want to leave out the "one nation indivisible" part

or at least put, "I fucking WISH" after it.

[hogwyld]

13. wrong fight, wrong time

We've got a lot of other big fish to fry than this crap. Besides, if he does win, what's next? You know some states have references to God in their state constitution. What's he going to do? Force them secede?

[Az]

17. Not really something you have to participate in

Its a court case. Newdow is doing the heavy lifting. You get to sit here and proclaim whether he is right or wrong. Thats not really a fight.

[stopbush]

19. I could say a "pledge" to uphold the Constitution, but I

haven't said that stupid flag-allegiance BS for years.

[Ediacara]

21. They could return it to its pre-publication words

Which are something like:

I pledge allegiance to my flag,
And to the Republic, for which it stands,
One nation indivisible,
With liberty, justice, and equality for all.

Or perhaps.... we should just remind the righties that this was written by a socialist minister, for flag manufacturers as a gimmick to increase sales!

[ErisFiveFingers]

23. I like the original.... maybe some changes....

How about we get rid of the whole "flag sales" thing, and all the civil war baggage about United states or a Republic of states, and go with something more "E Pluribus Unim", like:

I pledge allegiance to our many peoples,
one country indivisible, one nation united,
With liberty, justice, and equality for all.

[Leftist_Warrior]

22. The man has a valid point

You know the rethugs will continue saying it out of protest. What are they going to do if people continue to say "in God we trust", fine them?

Just get rid of the whole thing, who needs it. I haven't said it since high school when I refused. I'm not pledging my loyalty to a war mongering nation that lets its own people starve, not until it's turned around.