Federal judge declares Pledge unconstitutional

[Strike For The South]

My god what is this man thinking LINKAGE

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Here we go again, this time in predictable San Fransico.

[Proletariat]

I used to care about things like this, but I couldn't be bothered anymore. I've learnt these debates are dominated by two lunatic fringes (like just about anything else) that barely even exist in common everyday life.

The religious who feel like atheism is being pushed on them, and the atheists who believe Christianity is being forced upon them. It takes a certain type of person who really believes either of these things.

Also, life's too short, so Big Deal.

[Proletariat]

The religious who feel like atheism is being pushed on them, and the atheists who believe Christianity is being forced upon them. It takes a certain type of person who really believes either of these things.

This has to be the last straw. How long until the American people realize that the aristocracy who controls this nation has been influenced by the dark elements of the world: Atheists, Socialists, Communists, and Left-wing Radicals. How long do they realize that they are being cheated by the government, and how long until the last of our freedoms are stolen from us? Pogroms such as Affirmitave Action, gun control, and now this, are destroying our nation from the inside out. And it is time we get up, stand up for our rights. Viva la'revolution!

...

[Lemur]

Do we think it should be what? Constitutional? Unconstitutional? Whispered in the night to lovers and friends?

[Strike For The South]

Do we think it should be what? Constitutional? Unconstitutional? Whispered in the night to lovers and friends?

It should be Allowed in school

[Lemur]

So if I'm getting this right, you believe the pledge should be unconstituional? Why do I suspect that's not right?

[Strike For The South]

Alright my poll sucks but the pledge should stay just like it is

[ichi]

Alright my poll sucks but the pledge should stay just like it is

you're right about the poll, I voted Gah! because I didn't know how to vote to say that the government should not be allowed to require children to say things that have anything to do with religion or god or faith.

IMO children should be aloowed to say the pledge, with or without the God thingy part, but no one should be required to do so. Remember that the Judge didn't declare the Pedge unconstitutional (although thats what the media hype and fanatical ravings will imply), he said that it is unconstitutional to require anyone to affirm a beleif in God.

Which is exactly as it should be. If guv can make kids say they believe in God, they can make you say things too.

ichi

[Adrian II]

So if I'm getting this right, you believe the pledge should be unconstituional? Why do I suspect that's not right?

If I got that right, Strike is going to confuse you even more in the next post.

[Adrian II]

Do we think it should be what?

Declared unconstitutional. Outlawed. Banned. Nixed.

[Adrian II]

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the pledge's reference to one nation "under God" violates school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God."

Open and shut. My kind of judge.

[Xiahou]

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the pledge's reference to one nation "under God" violates school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God."

Open and shut. My kind of judge.

The saying of the pledge of allegiance is neither coerced nor a requirement. The judge was wrong on both counts. Looks like we'll get to see Roberts overturn the 9th Circus for the first of undoubtedly many times when he gets confirmed.

[Adrian II]

The saying of the pledge of allegiance is neither coerced nor a requirement. The judge was wrong on both counts. Looks like we'll get to see Roberts overturn the 9th Circus for the first of undoubtedly many times when he gets confirmed.

The decisions by Karlton and the 9th Circuit conflict with an August opinion by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia. That court upheld a Virginia law requiring public schools lead daily Pledge of Allegiance recitation, which is similar to the requirement in California.

[Xiahou]

In 1943, the US Supreme Court decided in WEST VIRGINIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION v. BARNETTE that students can't be required to recite the pledge.

[Proletariat]

Heh, spoken like a true non-veteran of the Virginian Public School system.

What's your impression of Virginia, Adrian? What are you taking 'requirement' to mean? That children who sit during the pledge are suspended or expelled or sent to gulags?

[Red Harvest]

In 1943, the US Supreme Court decided in WEST VIRGINIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION v. BARNETTE that students can't be required to recite the pledge.

That's odd. Nobody ever said it was optional when I was a kid in Kansas. They said we would recite the pledge, we did so, no questions asked.

The pledge is a fairly minor issue. "Under God" was added in 1954 to distinguish the U.S. from the "Godless communists." Seemed to work fine without the religious reference before, so I fail to see why "under God" should be required.

[Azi Tohak]

Meh. I'm with Prole. Aren't there bigger things to do? Like a kitty BBQ?

Azi

[Papewaio]

Why not make it generic...

"One Nation under insert belief system here."

[AntiochusIII]

You know what's unconstitutional? The fact that they added the little blurb about God in the 1950s. Remove the blurb and restore it to it's original wording, and there's no problem.

Hmm.. could anyone explain the situation behind the adding of the phrase? I am really interested.

Edit: I see, Red Harvest has provided a basic major point here. Thank you.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Coercive requirement?! What's the judge smoking?

Kids are neither 1) required (they can sit, stand, and be silent for the pledge) 2) or coerced (nothing bad will happen if they don't say it). Heck, one of my middle school teachers didn't say it (but then she was a liberal democrat).

The silver lining is that this will force the SCOTUS to decide if its constitutional or not, and not dodge the issue like they did last time. (The storm clouds on the horizon in the silver lining are that they may be stupid and rule it unconstitutional.)

Crazed Rabbit

[Xiahou]

(The storm clouds on the horizon in the silver lining are that they may be stupid and rule it unconstitutional.)

Pretty much zero chance of that happening. I doubt even the most liberal justices have the stones to declare the Pledge unconstitutional. Certainly nowhere near enough of them for a majority.

[Kaiser of Arabia]

...




This has to be the last straw. How long until the American people realize that the aristocracy who controls this nation has been influenced by the dark elements of the world: Atheists, Socialists, Communists, and Left-wing Radicals. How long do they realize that they are being cheated by the government, and how long until the last of our freedoms are stolen from us? Pogroms such as Affirmitave Action, gun control, and now this, are destroying our nation from the inside out. And it is time we get up, stand up for our rights. Viva la'revolution!

[Adrian II]

...




This has to be the last straw. How long until the American people realize that the aristocracy who controls this nation has been influenced by the dark elements of the world: Atheists, Socialists, Communists, and Left-wing Radicals. How long do they realize that they are being cheated by the government, and how long until the last of our freedoms are stolen from us? Pogroms such as Affirmitave Action, gun control, and now this, are destroying our nation from the inside out. And it is time we get up, stand up for our rights. Viva la'revolution!

Isn't it time for bed?

[Kaiser of Arabia]

I love tounge-in-cheekness. ~:D

And overreactions. Lets just revolt