Under God in pledge of allegiance.

[C(Sea)Bass]

I thought Skuzzy said that. 

Skuzzy = God?

[Jackal1]

Skuzzy = God?

What? Walking on water is not enough proof for you?
Chuck Norris cowers under rocks in Skuzz`s presence.

[Chairboy]

29 states do not have primary enforcement seat belt laws for adults. When states pass primary enforcement seat belt laws, seat belt use increases by 10 to 15 percentage points. Tennessee was the only state in 2004 to pass a primary enforcement law. The Harris poll shows 80 percent of Americans say that seat belt enforcement should be treated like any other traffic safety law, meaning a police officer should be allowed to ticket motorists just for not wearing their seat belts.

http://www.saferoads.org/press/press2004/Roadmap2005/pr_RoadmapRelease12-16-04.htm

Lazs, over 80% of those polled disagree with your thoughts on seatbelt laws.  This is a fine example of a situation where just because an item polls highly because of emotion doesn't mean it's necessarily the right thing to do. 

The addition of 'Under god' to the Pledge of Allegiance is a harmless example of an emotional decision made 50 years ago that has stood the test of time.  The thing about it that's troubling isn't that it happened or that it exists, the commie menace was a very real and present thing in 1954, and this brought comfort in a troubled time. 

What's troubling is that one of the common responses to anyone who asks "You know...  does this really fit with the religious freedom principles our country was built on?" is to demonize them as unamerican or unpatriotic. 

"Under god" isn't the cause of these problems, but it appears to be a symptom of the increasingly theocratic way religion and government are becoming intertwined.  The extreme example of religion and government mixing might be the Taliban, just as the extreme of atheism might be the Soviet Union.  As citizens, I hope we can strike a balance that doesn't marginalize those we disagree with, and an honest discussion about the appropriateness of legislating religion is part of that balance.

[Denholm]

What? Walking on water is not enough proof for you?
Chuck Norris cowers under rocks in Skuzz`s presence.

DUCK!

[SkyRock]

Because the squeaky wheel gets the oil. That 86% just except that it's there as it should be and don't say anything about it. It's the 14% that complain and cry about it so they get all the attention because of it.

I think you have it wrong.  We as a people need very much to keep our government about people and not about religion!  Whether you believe in God or not, it is improtant to not become a religous state.  How would you feel if it said, "In Allah we trust"?  Would that make it different?  Allah is God so would it matter to you?  How would you be if every dollar had "Jesus Saves" on it?  What if you lived in a community, and the community voted 86% to put "In Satan we trust" on all public buildings, would you be ok with that? 

I believe in God, but I have always felt that my relationship with God is a personal one and not something I wear as a badge for all to see.   I think it was a bad move to put it on there in the first place for the reasons I stated above.  Once the gates are open, it's only a matter of time before you find yourself, in the minority!

[SkyRock]

The addition of 'Under god' to the Pledge of Allegiance is a harmless example of an emotional decision made 50 years ago that has stood the test of time.  The thing about it that's troubling isn't that it happened or that it exists, the commie menace was a very real and present thing in 1954, and this brought comfort in a troubled time. 

What's troubling is that one of the common responses to anyone who asks "You know...  does this really fit with the religious freedom principles our country was built on?" is to demonize them as unamerican or unpatriotic. 

This is spot on.  It's about the freedom to not be deemed unpatriotic or unamerican, if you have a different religious belief! 

[lazs2]

chair... not really getting your point.

I was only pointing out that snopes said that it was true that over 80% of the people did not want it removed.   To me this  means that they like it..

This is far different than a seatbelt or helmet law.  it is more in line with what statues or holidays we have.  You are not required to say the pledge or pay attention or homage to what is on the money.

for the seatbelts..  a group is telling you what you must do for your own good.. if you do not they will fine you or arrest you or kill you if you resist.   

The difference is night and day..or.. apples and oranges.  you can't compare the two.

I have seen nothing in our constitution that says you can't use the word god in anything having to do with the government.

As for the slippery slope you infer... that is possible but I don't see how you can tell 80% of the people that you want to remove something that 20%.. who don't even have to participate..  want.

you have no right to not be offended.   only not harmed unjustly.

lazs

[SkyRock]

you have no right to not be offended.   only not harmed unjustly.

lazs

So if 80% of the people liked putting "In Satan we trust" on our currency, you would be OK with that?  Or "In Allah we aTrust"?

The funny thing about it is, do those 86% of the people feel more righteous because it's on our currency? 

[gwano]

I'll bet this was a surprise to NBC.
NBC POLL



Do you believe in God?& lt; /b>

NBC this morning had a poll on this question. They had the highest Number of responses that they have ever had for one of their polls, and the Percentage was the same as this:

86% for keeping the words, IN God We Trust and Go d in the Pledge of Allegiance
14% against

That is a pretty commanding public response.

I was asked to send this on if I agreed or delete if I didn't .

Now it is your turn ... It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God.

Therefore, I have a very hard time understanding why there is such A mess about having 'In God We Trust' on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Why is the world catering to this 14%?

doesn't mean a whole bunch as it was watchers of NBC news who responded.
who cares what theyr'e opinions are.
very narrow demographics.
Skewed poll.

[Denholm]

If we said, "In Allah we trust." We would immediately have some Arabs up in arms about "offending" them and their god. Not to mention if a certain someone gets the #### house that would most likely occur.

[ink]

"IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government..."


sounds like GOD was always a part of America. we are so far from a country that loves God,

[Shuffler]

If you don't like the word God on your currency then get rid of the currency. Just flat refuse to use it.

As for seatbelts mentioned earlier... here in Texas you have to wear a seatbelt. Yet school busses that haul our future around every morning and every evening during the school year have no seatbelts.

[ink]

Tx isnt the only place that its mandatory to wear seat belts but the school buses dont have them, shows the intelligence of those who are in "charge"

[SirLoin]

Why is the world catering to this 14%?

Because there is absolutely no evidence that 86% of Americans are correct in their belief of an all encompassing,overbearing,overwatching(24/7) celestial bully.

[Tango]

I'm all for kids wearing seatbelts, however I still can't understand the reasoning in forcing adults to wear them. Whose life is at risk? Thier own and it should be thier decision. Just like its thier decision on if they want to skydive.