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D'vorahDavida
Yetzirah

I Pledge Allegiance
Sat Mar 27 2004


Funny.

Every day, I live surrounded by things that make me uncomfortable. Some more than others of course. I would even say that I am offended by a lot of things that I get exposed to in public.

Things like:

People walking around with hardly any clothes on. People smoking in public.
People swearing at the top of their lungs in the parking lot. People spouting ideas I don't agree with. I am in situations where people say prayers that end with "in Jesus' name." (I'm Jewish) I see billboards that embarrass me. And TV.... well, just getting from one station to another can be an adventure. And watch out for the superbowl, you might have to look at Janet's boob when you really didn't want to.

But somehow, I manage to survive this barrage of uncomfortable feelings and go about my life, not expecting everyone to abide by my religious convictions or political leanings. It's America. People differ. We have people of many different religions. It's what makes us great.

What is a puzzle to me is, just how difficult and traumatic can it be for someone to hear the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance? How sensitive these souls must be! How delicate of nature!

And it seems perfectly logical to them to expect the HUGE majority of us who do believe in God, not to utter His name in public, lest they might feel a twinge of discomfort.

I understand if a person doesn't believe that part, they could leave it out, or abstain from the whole pledge. And I WOULD DEFEND THEIR RIGHT TO DO SO! It's a free country. We are not COMPELLED to say the pledge. But for a small minority to deny the huge majority the right and privilege of acknowledging God in public seems grossly unfair. I want the freedom to speak too. And I want you to have the freedom NOT to speak if that is your desire.


You wait and see. If the court does declare "under God" unconstitutional, there will be people ALL over this country that will say it anyway, and louder than they ever did before. They will get together on purpose, just to do so. Because it's America, where people are FREE.



11 Comments
  • From:
    Yarngirl (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Mar 26 2004
    I'll be one of them. :o) If they can bemoan the use of those words, then I can bemoan the lack of them. It's just that simple.
  • From:
    MagicWhiskey (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Mar 26 2004
    Have you read this Mme.?

    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/11/national/main605394.shtml

    I'll go to my grave saying everyone made too big a deal about Janet's boob and didn't see it as the desperate attempt for publicity that it was but SUV skin flicks really IS too much.
  • From:
    RealmOfRachel (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Mar 26 2004
    I have to confess the American pledge of allegiance confuses me mightily. I take it from your entry that political correctness has reared its head regarding the phrase under God.

    Ahh America I have to confess the patriotism of Americans both inspires and frightens me. I come from a country where you would be hard pushed to find anyway under fifty who can recite all the verses of God Save the Queen, the patriotic version I mean not the Sex Pistols one.

    Anyway we have a verse in our 'national' anthem that promises rebellious Scots to crush. So I propose you send over those who are debating about how the God part of the oath inflames their delicate sensibilities to me and they can use that energy to change the British anthem.

    I think it's a plan. Sorry for such a long comment! Thanks for sending me the images you're a love.

    Hugs
    Rach xxx
  • From:
    RealmOfRachel (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Mar 26 2004
    Demolition Man is the film you speak of. A frightening look at the future. We're settled then buckle on your imitation claymore and we'll give the Sassenachs what for!

    Hugs
    Rach xxx
  • From:
    Salamander (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Mar 26 2004
    I am not offended by hearing God spoken of. I encourage everyone to believe what their conscience directs them to believe.

    I was just hoping for a Pledge that 100% of Americans could say in it's entirety. I fully understand that 86% of Americans believe in some sort of diety. I even understand why it isn't important to them what the other 14% believe in. I'm just sorry that chances are pretty good that I'll be cut out of being able to say the entire Pledge with everybody else.

    I wasn't exactly asking everybody to stop saying God's name in public. If people all over this country will feel the need to express religious beliefs in a political statement I'm saddened, but it is unfair to characterize me as "a sensitive soul" "of delicate nature". I think you'll see that if you read my entry of the other day. If it was my entry of the other day that set this off, I'm sorry.
  • From:
    Bookworm (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Mar 26 2004
    Excellent entry. ;-)
  • From:
    Shellybean (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Mar 26 2004
    I agree that there will be a lot of people, and I'm one of them that will say Under God with every being in my body. I would also defend the rights of non-believers to not have to not say it; I don't tolerate oppression in any form.

    I too put up with things; like having to cover my 5-year old child's ears when foul mouthed teens and even adults spew filth in his presence. I put up with even here (DD) having to read the lords name taken in vain along with Jesus' (I'm Christian.)

    I've had to explain what the word sexy means because my son hears it on the radio, on TV (commercials) and sees billboards that I'm embarrassed to view in my son's presence. But I'm supposed to allow them to take this away from me too?

    Religion is a touchy subject and it will forever be. But I cannot for the life of me understand how people who have miracles performed before their eyes deny the existence of God. How can one have a transplant, cancer go into remission, a child wake up from a coma, or even smaller ones like in my own life. I buried one daughter and lost two others prematurely only to be given 10 years later a gift of the most loving, bright, amazing child. Our Heavenly father is real, as real as the blood that passes through our veins.

    Sorry to have taken this space up, this just got my blood going.

    --Michele
    http://www.shellybeans.org
  • From:
    Pragmatist (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Mar 27 2004
    I'll go along with that. I do dearly hope that we are under G-d's protection. If ever we need it, it surely is now.

    There are things a lot worse to contemplate, and you did a good job of ennumerating the worst of them.

    What puzzles me is the oath we take when testifying in court. "Do you swear..., so help you G-d." Something doesn't compute here.

    Shabbat shalom
  • From:
    Yarngirl (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Mar 27 2004
    RYN: I hadn't ever bought Dusty Miller before, I never liked them. I got the red geraniums and verbena to help attract the hummingbirds (and if they ever get more stuff in, I'll be squeezing more into those windowboxes - gimmee some color darn it!), and I couldn't see the marigolds with them. Rick loves marigolds, they aren't my favorite. I thought the Dusty Miller would be a good contrast to the greens and red flowers so I'll give it a go.

    I like container gardening but my preferences lean towards periennials so I tend to be snobby in my choices. And I hate the thought of tossing a periennial because I don't have anywhere to plant it or overwinter, so I just don't buy them. Much. ;o)

    Julie
  • From:
    Lilith (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Mar 28 2004
    A small minority? Maybe they just don't make as much noise.
  • From:
    Parett (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Mar 30 2004
    It certainly is a sign of the times, don't you think?
    I, personally, love God. You, too!
    Parett