Spring Break
'Under God' not a state endorsement
Issue date: 7/11/02 Section: Opinion
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The following is a letter in response to "State should not sponsor religion" by Craig Finlay, which appeared in the July 3 issue of the Western Courier.
As one of the "too stupid and thick headed" people you mention who disagree with the court ruling that declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional because of the phrase "under God," I have to take exception to your article in the July 3 issue of the Western Courier.
In the judiciary, as in everything else, timing is everything. A ruling against the Pledge of Allegiance during wartime is as out of step with mainstream America as you are. When you say the phrase "under God" is a state sponsored endorsement of religion, you miss the point. Whether you like it or not, Craig, God has been, and will continue to be, a huge influence on our country.
Evidence of His influence begins in 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."), in our patriotic music, ex. "God Bless America," "America the Beautiful" (God shed his grace on thee), and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" (Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord)!
We think enough of God to inscribe "In God We Trust" on our currency and when testifying in court we "swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God." When the Supreme Court meets, "God save the Supreme Court" is called out at the beginning of each session and the president ends his State of the Union Addresses with "God Bless the United States of America." Whenever our nation faces a crisis, our leaders ask for strength and guidance from, you guessed it, God!
God also plays a large part in political campaigns. If you can think back this far, during the 2000 presidential campaign, most of the candidates spoke freely about the role faith plays in their lives. George W. Bush credited his faith with helping him defeat his personal demons, Al Gore campaigned in churches (not to mention did some fund-raising at a Buddhist temple previously) and Joe Lieberman got lots of mileage out of being the first Jewish vice-presidential candidate of our country.
I don't recall the government endorsing a particular religion over another either. I think people automatically assume Christianity is endorsed because it happens to be the most popular religion in our country. We have the right to worship the god of our choice, whether our god is called God, Allah, Jehovah, Ganesh or Buddha, it makes no difference. We even have the right to choose not to worship.
Maybe some numbers will provide some perspective to how far out of touch you are with the citizens of our country. A Gallup poll taken last December for CNN and USA Today shows 86 percent of those polled believed in God and another 8 percent said they believe in some form of "universal spirit or higher power." I think that adds up to 94 percent who believe in God or a higher power. In addition, the Gallup International Millennium Survey shows 91 percent of North Americans belong to a religious denomination.
How about these numbers? A Newsweek poll shows overwhelming support (87 percent to 9 percent) for including the phrase "under God" in the Pledge while another 84 percent believe references to God in schools, government buildings and other public settings are acceptable as long as no specific religion is mentioned.
In case you have never noticed, our judicial system allows some latitude in factoring society's values into the interpretation of our laws. The overwhelming majority of our citizens believe in God; therefore, as a democracy, if our government is to be truly representative of the people, it must include references to God as it conducts its business. To invoke His name is totally appropriate. I don't think anyone's well-being is being threatened by that and you do have the option of ignoring those references if you don't agree.
I suspect as other events unfold, the court ruling will soon fade into oblivion (in fact, the court that issued it has recalled it) and be forgotten. When that happens you can get back to what you were doing before this issue came up, which I imagine was arguing with your friends over who is sexier, Ginger or Mary Ann and playing EverQuest.
I think you should thank God you live in a country that allows your shrill little voice of dissent to be heard.
- Stacey Scott
As one of the "too stupid and thick headed" people you mention who disagree with the court ruling that declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional because of the phrase "under God," I have to take exception to your article in the July 3 issue of the Western Courier.
In the judiciary, as in everything else, timing is everything. A ruling against the Pledge of Allegiance during wartime is as out of step with mainstream America as you are. When you say the phrase "under God" is a state sponsored endorsement of religion, you miss the point. Whether you like it or not, Craig, God has been, and will continue to be, a huge influence on our country.
Evidence of His influence begins in 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."), in our patriotic music, ex. "God Bless America," "America the Beautiful" (God shed his grace on thee), and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" (Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord)!
We think enough of God to inscribe "In God We Trust" on our currency and when testifying in court we "swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God." When the Supreme Court meets, "God save the Supreme Court" is called out at the beginning of each session and the president ends his State of the Union Addresses with "God Bless the United States of America." Whenever our nation faces a crisis, our leaders ask for strength and guidance from, you guessed it, God!
God also plays a large part in political campaigns. If you can think back this far, during the 2000 presidential campaign, most of the candidates spoke freely about the role faith plays in their lives. George W. Bush credited his faith with helping him defeat his personal demons, Al Gore campaigned in churches (not to mention did some fund-raising at a Buddhist temple previously) and Joe Lieberman got lots of mileage out of being the first Jewish vice-presidential candidate of our country.
I don't recall the government endorsing a particular religion over another either. I think people automatically assume Christianity is endorsed because it happens to be the most popular religion in our country. We have the right to worship the god of our choice, whether our god is called God, Allah, Jehovah, Ganesh or Buddha, it makes no difference. We even have the right to choose not to worship.
Maybe some numbers will provide some perspective to how far out of touch you are with the citizens of our country. A Gallup poll taken last December for CNN and USA Today shows 86 percent of those polled believed in God and another 8 percent said they believe in some form of "universal spirit or higher power." I think that adds up to 94 percent who believe in God or a higher power. In addition, the Gallup International Millennium Survey shows 91 percent of North Americans belong to a religious denomination.
How about these numbers? A Newsweek poll shows overwhelming support (87 percent to 9 percent) for including the phrase "under God" in the Pledge while another 84 percent believe references to God in schools, government buildings and other public settings are acceptable as long as no specific religion is mentioned.
In case you have never noticed, our judicial system allows some latitude in factoring society's values into the interpretation of our laws. The overwhelming majority of our citizens believe in God; therefore, as a democracy, if our government is to be truly representative of the people, it must include references to God as it conducts its business. To invoke His name is totally appropriate. I don't think anyone's well-being is being threatened by that and you do have the option of ignoring those references if you don't agree.
I suspect as other events unfold, the court ruling will soon fade into oblivion (in fact, the court that issued it has recalled it) and be forgotten. When that happens you can get back to what you were doing before this issue came up, which I imagine was arguing with your friends over who is sexier, Ginger or Mary Ann and playing EverQuest.
I think you should thank God you live in a country that allows your shrill little voice of dissent to be heard.
- Stacey Scott
