:BRIGHTSTUFF:..Personal & Political Musings & Rants by a Liberal Leftist Black & Asian Teacher

Today in the news, atheist Michael Newdow challenged the California school system by saying that the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance was a violation of his (and I suspect his daughter's) conscience. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4594537/ )

I am not an atheist myself (I'm a lapsed Catholic who does still believe in a higher power).

I am, however, a teacher.

In my school, the Pledge is said every day. Each week, a different class is chosen to go down to the office and recite the Pledge on the loudspeaker as part of the daily announcements.

I do not force my students to do the Pledge. I explained to them that some people choose not to do it for whatever reason, but it was important for them to sit respectfully as others recite the Pledge. Most of them stand, but there are a few--- my non-American students-- who don't. I do not believe it is my place to question their reasons.

Despite the fact that I am an anti-war protestor (and don't give me that silly "anti-war protestors are unpatriotic" malarkey--- I'll get to that at a later time), I DO say the Pledge with those students who choose to do it.

I do know teachers who do not do it. I have a coworker who is Canadian born who does not do it. I also know teachers who do not do it for political reasons or religious reasons.

I don't believe that anyone-- children or adults--- should be forced to say the Pledge, and if I wasn't a teacher, I don't know if I would do it either.

Truth be told, I only pledge allegiance to my loved ones and my Creator.

Period.

I do believe that the "Under God" part should be taken out, though. This antiquated portion of the Pledge was placed there when predominantly Christian America was seeing godless Reds all over the place. Damn godless Commies trying to destroy our Christian all-American America! (uhhh...that's sarcasm, folks!)

It no longer serves a purpose in light of the fact that America, though still quite Christian in its majority, has a growing minority of non-Christians (some who see showing devotion to a flag as being a form of idol worship), agnostics, and atheists.

Why not take out that part, then?

Why is it that this country, which supposedly tries to sharpen the blurred line between church and state, clings to these words?