The Pledge
Jun. 27th, 2002 10:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gizaIf you're not in the United States, then you might be unaware of what's going on here. We have the phrase "under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance. There's also a phrase in the First Amendment to our country's Constitution which guarantees freedom of religion.
Can you see the conflict here?
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals did yesterday, and they ruled that the words "under God" conflict with the First Amendment, and are therefore unconstitutional. Reading the text of the ruling is very interesting, because the judge remarked that the phrase "one nation under God" is offensive to people of different faiths as the phrase "under Vishnu", "under Zeus", or "under no god" would be to Christians. I cannot argue with his logic.
I think I have the solution, though. Change the phrase "under God" to be "under Allah". They're both supposed to be the same supreme being, right? I was raised as a Catholic and was taught that God is "merciful" and "forgiving". According to The Institute of Islamic Information and Education, Allah is "merciful" and "compassionate", as well as "the Creator" and "eternal". That's close enough for me.
Oh, wait... I'm sorry Mr. Bush, what you really mean when you talk about freedom of religion is freedom of YOUR religion, right? God forbid, should any other religions actually get acknowledgment by our government. Silly me.
Can you see the conflict here?
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals did yesterday, and they ruled that the words "under God" conflict with the First Amendment, and are therefore unconstitutional. Reading the text of the ruling is very interesting, because the judge remarked that the phrase "one nation under God" is offensive to people of different faiths as the phrase "under Vishnu", "under Zeus", or "under no god" would be to Christians. I cannot argue with his logic.
I think I have the solution, though. Change the phrase "under God" to be "under Allah". They're both supposed to be the same supreme being, right? I was raised as a Catholic and was taught that God is "merciful" and "forgiving". According to The Institute of Islamic Information and Education, Allah is "merciful" and "compassionate", as well as "the Creator" and "eternal". That's close enough for me.
Oh, wait... I'm sorry Mr. Bush, what you really mean when you talk about freedom of religion is freedom of YOUR religion, right? God forbid, should any other religions actually get acknowledgment by our government. Silly me.
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(no subject)
Date: 2002-06-27 08:21 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2002-06-27 03:17 pm (UTC)The real crime is that this is being brought up in order to smokescreen other freedoms that are being taken away. Namely our rights to private public library records. Yes. your record of all the books you ever checked out will now be in government hands for them to develop profiles, find dissidents, target different groups, and sell information about you to advertising companies ( which they have done before).
I've revised my estimate. 10-15 years, a full police state in the US.
(no subject)
Date: 2002-06-27 05:11 pm (UTC)The New Pledge of Allegiance
Date: 2002-06-28 02:23 pm (UTC)Hopefully someone senses my sarcasm.