Re: CANS

Posted by Amaranth Rose on Jun 27, 2002 at 03:52
(65.172.150.121)

Re: CANS (Mike Kremer)

You raise some valid points. I don't pretend to be a constitutional scholar, but it appears to me that what separates the US constitution from the the governments of other countries is the apparent intent to establish, not necessarily freedom OF religious expression, but freedom FROM the imposed religion of others. This intent is well established in the writings and documents of the framers of the constitution, in their own words and handwriting. These were literate, thoughtful men who corresponded profusely with one another as they tussled with the construction of our documents of state. They struggled with the questions of religion, slavery, and the status of women for a protracted period. In the end, women lost out almost completely, we got the "three-fifths" compromise on slavery, and the amendment on the separation of church and state. Nobody said we were perfect.

This whole case began because a man objected to his daughter being taught in public school to swear an oath that violated their beliefs, and then was forced to say this oath every day.

Why do we recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day, anyway? Are we likely to forget where we live? Do Britons get up every morning and face Buckingham Palace and toss off a few choruses of "God Save the Queen"? (And please don't take that as being disrespectful, it's not intended so)

The ritualistic utterance of "under god" is a meaningless articulation for many US citizens. You don't have to believe in god to serve your country, nor even be a hero. One of the Marines who helped to raise the flag over Iwo Jima was a Native American of the Pima tribe; his religious tradition was polytheistic animism. If you'd asked Ira Hayes to swear to something under god, he'd possibly have looked at you and asked "Which one?" No man could have served his country more bravely and completely than he did that day on Iwo Jima. Religion had nothing to do with it.

There are Buddhists, Taoists, Shintoists, Hindu, and many other faiths practiced in the US, including Neo-Druidism, Paganism, and Wiccan. None of these are particularly comfortable with the status quo. Most of them send their children to public schools where they are taught the current version of the pledge of allegiance, and expected/required to recite it daily.

Would you like your child to be taught to swear to something under the auspices of the Great Purple Pharphalonus?

Didn't think so.


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