Keeping Up With The World
Keeping up with the world around us is one of the key responsibilities of my job as a state representative.�To do so, I read at least two papers a day � inlcuding this one � and watch an adequate amount of news on the television.� Under the "crazy things that affect all Americans category", I saw the story concerning the California appellate court's refusal to reconsider the 9th Circuit Court ruling that the Pledge of Allegiance can be unconstitutional because it contains the words, "under God".� I truly have a hard time containing myself on this decision.�
The first amend
ment of the Consti- tution states: �Con-gress shall make no law respecting an establishment of re-ligion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof*"� The pledge does
not establish any
religion nor does it
prohibit the free
exercise of one.� It is
a proclamation of recognition, stating that we live in a country where men have fought and died for democracy and the right to pursue happiness.
Sir Winston Churchill once said, "Democracy is the worst type of government on earth �except for all the rest!"� A democracy such as ours protects everyone in America � even its critics and detractors.� Perhaps it is time for these critics and detractors to experience some real life problems by residing elsewhere for a period of time, where they may soon tire of the lack of rights they experience.� Democracies are also subject to the will of the majority of their citizens, thus, if we would vote on the appropriateness of our Pledge, my constituents would ratify it by an overwhelming margin.� I suspect the rest of the state would as well.
The purpose of my argument is this:� We have advanced to the point in our society where the necessities of life (food, shelter, clothing, travel, etc.) have been satisfied by private industry and government.� Crusaders, therefore, must find other causes to pursue.� To say that our children should not recite the Pledge is ludicrous.� To say that the Pledge establishes a religion is wrong.� To say that it infringes on individual rights is absurd.
I support the use of the Pledge for educational and patriotic purposes.� Reciting it is the least we can do to embody what we stand for as a country and government and to respect those who have gone before us in this great land.�
The pilgrims came to this country to escape the religious persecution they felt in England and soon established a government that allowed them to worship and trust in God as they saw fit.�
They were "One nation, under God."� Two hundred twenty-seven years later, we still are "One nation, under God.���
Please continue to recite the Pledge!
More later,�
Bill
(State Represenative Bill Friend�s dsitrict includes Bourbon and Bremen).
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