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Recently there has been much controversy on the issue of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” as the nations motto. The following essay has been composed from knowledgeable sources such as media and news.

Some questions that have aroused towards the issue for “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance includes: Is the United States really “one nation, under God”, and “Is the phrase “one nation, under God” a religious statement, or a symbolic one?

During the Korean War and the Cold War there was an issue in national politics. On April 22nd, 1951, The Knights of Columbus started a campaign to add the words “under God” into the Pledge of Allegiance. The Knights of Columbus tried many times to get the law passed yet congress did not permit it. On February 7th 1954 President Eisenhower heard a sermon on the subject, by Rev. George Docherty, and was convinced to pass it as law on June 14th 1954, which also happened to be Flag Day. The original Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy in 1892 for the September 8th issue of The Youth’s Champion, a highly favored family magazine during that time, and read:

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

According to many Journalists Bellamy considered including the word “equality” into the Pledge of Allegiance, but decided against it because he felt that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and other races.

President Dwight David Eisenhower said "From this day forward, the millions of our schoolchildren will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty — a patriotic oath and a public prayer." Therefore according to President Eisenhower the phrase “one nation, under God” is a religious statement. If other religions have a problem with it than they can just think of their own God when that phrase is said. Yet clearly in the case of Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, Michael el al., No. 02-1624 it is not a conflict of religion, because atheism is not a religion. As an atheist Michael Newdow should understand that he is not arguing for rights of religion, but against the rights of religion. Therefore going against everything he has brought up in the Pledge of Allegiance issue. Newdow claims to be taking this case to court on consent of his daughter, who is under the custody of her Christian mother Sandra Banning. The mother claims that she and her daughter are both Christians and are for “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. On Wednesday, March 24th 2004 on ABC’s “Good Morning America” show Sandra Banning said that she objects his inclusion of their daughter. And she is worried that her daughter will be remembered as “the little girl who changed the Pledge of Allegiance.”

Michael Newdow claims that the phrase “under God” is “indoctrinating children” and that “the government is supposed to stay out of religion.” He says that the phrase “one nation, under God” is unconstitutional because “the government is supposed to stay out of religion” yet nowhere in the Constitution does it state that there should be segregation of Church and State. “God is not Church, nor is God Religion, God is God. Therefore Separation of Church and State does not mean that we cannot acknowledge God.” – Anne Graham Lotz, April 6, 2004. Thus the government is staying out of religion. Since Sandra Banning the mother of nine-year-old Ms. Banning is the legal custodian of the girl, Newdow should not have the right to even challenge the court on “consent of his daughter”. He can only challenge the case if he were to have the mothers consent. On December 4th of 2002, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled that Michael Newdow has standing to pursue his claim in federal court, even though he is not the custodial parent. On February 28, 2003 the Ninth U.S. Court of Appeals panel of 24 judges declined to review what the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals had earlier ruled due to the fact that the panel did amend the ruling so that it does not restrict the pledge in all public settings, yet that only applies to public schools were children might feel pressured to recite the phrase “one nation, under God. Michael Newdow argued on March 24th before the U.S. Supreme Court:

“I am an atheist. I don’t believe in God. And everyday my daughter is forced to stand up and say ‘My father is wrong.’”

“It’s like I’m getting slapped in the face every time.” - Newdow

Newdow’s case proves daily to be that of a publicity stunt, since he feels that he should prove his feelings to the world thus invoking criticism and showing the truth of the issue.

Although the Pledge of Allegiance did not originally include context about God, congress has held prayers in their congregations for a very long time. Jacob Duche held the first Prayer in Congress on September 24, 1774. The phrase “one nation, under God” is also symbolic because it not only represents the allegiance to a piece of fabric, but also allegiance to what that piece of fabric stands for. The flag is a symbol of our Country and what it stands on.

“Look down in mercy, we beseech thee, on these our American States, who have fled to thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent on Thee, to Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give.” – Jacob Duche

This prayer depicts the beliefs of our founding fathers and in the above quote from Jacob Duche, the author of that prayer, it vividly portrays how Pilgrims fled from “the rod of the oppressor” (from religious constraints withheld by England) and have now “thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection” (have accomplished their goal of religious freedoms). “To Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give.” (The country now looks to God, relies on God, for support for which cannot be gained on their own and can only be given by the Creator.)
Our Constitution was also based on Christian standards thus making this Country “one nation, under God.”

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