A any form found within America’s foundations, most

A national controversy that exists in America today is affiliation of Christianity found within the foundations of the American government system. A famous well-known example of  this is found in our very own Pledge Of Allegiance. As the centuries change, old ideas are replaced and adjusted with new ones to fit the wants and needs of the new emerging American society. The pledge is debated everyday by millions of people and famous politicians. Although it is true that things change with time, is it acceptable to change or takeout one line in the Pledge  Of Allegiance due to citizens newfound opinions?  If one of the core roots of America is changed, others will also be eventually change. America will no longer be able to claim its title of “America” because of reconstructed foundations our forefathers did not make nor intend being changed. Christianity in any form found within America’s foundations, most commonly the pledge, is constantly being contradicted by famous politicians and people due to due to the first amendment found within the United States constitution. The first amendment states, ” Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise of theof; or abiding the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”  Although it used to unite us all together as one nation,this amendment now is creating major confusion and controversy in public schools and various other places when it comes down to saying the pledge.A very controversial issue and common problem is the line “under God” within the Pledge Of Allegiance.Many citizens of America argue everyday that it should should be taken out due to their Freedom of religion, which refers back to the first amendment.. What was once used to be an honor to say is now to be said invading some children’s and adult’s belief of religion. After Franklin D Roosevelt fully endorsed the pledge in 1942, is when problems started occurring. One year later, a conflict created the West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette court case. This case ruled that children did not have to say the pledge against their free will. The justices at that time believed they should not be forced to say what they did not believe.From a political standpoint and also my standpoint, the line “under God” is referring to the political philosophy foundations within our coutnry.In my opinion, you should say the pledge of allegiance  regardless of your religious opinion because saying the pledge is honoring our country’s origins, despite what your religious beliefs are. The famous controversial line of “under God” was not even added until 1954. America did this to draw a line between atheist community expressing freedom of religion by inserting this phase into the pledge. In 1992, atheists went against this phase in a court case with the supreme court, where it was ruled constitutional. It was tried once again the the famous court case of Newdow vs Elk Grove Unified School District in 2001 presented by Michael Newdow. The district and 9th circuits courts opposed one another, so it was eventually brought up to supreme court’s who never accepted the case.The Pledge Of Allegiance and the first amendment come hand to hand whenever being questioned whether or not something is constitutional or unconstitutional from a religious standpoint. In all of Newdow’s court cases, He argued one specific thing. Newdow claimed  the line “under God” in the pledge did not follow the first amendment’s establishment clause. The clause states, “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” In this clause, there is no specification within the church and the state. It does though state that there can’t be an established national religion. Groups that argued “under God” should be taken out of the Pledge Of Allegiance said that it, “Constituted an establishment of religion prohibited by the United States constitution.” These groups thought “under God” did not pass the endorsement test given by the supreme court. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor says the test states clearly, “government can run afoul of that probation by endorsement or disapproval of religion.” Contradictory to this, the 9th Circuit Court Of Appeals argued, “The pledge is not an endorsement of our form of government, not of religion or any particular sect.”Along with the 1st amendment comes an establishment law, which qualifies the phrase “under God” in the pledge as constitutional. As I mentioned earlier, it is referring to our political philosophy foundations. It also falls under the supreme court outline of ceremonial deism. “Under God” is the historical belief on which the United states was created from. In the Declaration of Independence it says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This powerful text states and supports that the founding fathers built America’s foundation on their free expression and values, and that our primary rights as people belong to us. An example of this is found within a nationally celebrated holiday many americans observe. This holiday is Thanksgiving. It was declared a national holiday in 1789 for ” an opportunity peaceably to establish a constitution of government.” Although it involves ” a day of public thanksgiving and Prayer”, it is still celebration the establishment of our forefathers. This is able to be celebrated because every state’s constitution has at least one reference our creator or also God. In the 9th circuit court of appeals it says the following, ” The phrase “under God” is recognition of our founders political philosophy that a power greater than government gives people their inalienable rights.” This statement relates to today’s situations by explaining how “under God” in the Pledges Of Allegiance is not an expression of belief that we are still a nation under Christianity, but acknowledges that we were once a nation founded on the belief of God in the past.Despite how many americans do not like the phrase “under God” within the Pledge Of Allegiance, it is constitutional due to the Ceremonial Deism test done by the supreme court. This test by Justice O’Connor ask four different questions that decipher whether or not a phase has lost religious sense and is by the supreme court considered constitutional. The four question asked are: “1. Is there a widespread practice of reciting the message? 2. Is reciting the message a practice of worship? 3. Does the message favor a particular religion? 4. Is the religious preference a minor part in the entire message?”. These questions verify and support the the national debate that the  phrase “under God” is constitutional(according to this test). Justice O’Connor said himself, “Only two of the pledge’s thirty-one words” involve the talk of religion in which the rest are words involving political foundations. This is yet another indication that the small phase within the pledge of allegiance passes the test and is simply a religious reference to what America was originally built on.”Under God” in the pledge is still being tried by americans today that cannot accept the fact that it is constitutional and completely lawful. Recently, in the year of 2014, two huge court cases made the lines of many americans Tvs. Both of these court cases challenged state constitutions( not the US constitution) about using the words “under God”. These two cases were Jane Doe vs. Acton-Boxborough Regional School District and a similar cases against Matawan-Aberdeen Regional school district. Jane Doe vs. Acton-Boxborough took place in Massachusetts. A groups of parents, teachers, and members of the American humanists association claimed the pledge requirements violated the states equal protection clause of the states constitution because of the words “under God’ being used in the Pledge Of allegiance. The supreme court did not agree and declared in constitutional. The case of Matawan-Aberdeen Regional school district also ended in the same way by a judge ruling in favor of the school district.  Once again, the American Humanists association and this time a New Jersey family wanted to eliminate “under God” from pledges at public schools. The school district won because the state law requires you to say the daily citation of the pledge and that individual students are forced to recite it. Numerous court cases like these continue to keep proving that “under God” is constitutional and should not be taken out of the Pledge Of Allegiance. This court case in New Jersey goes to show that we do not have to say the pledge for religious reason, but strictly if want to honor our country or not.When is comes comes down to deciding whether or not the words “under God” belong in the Pledge of Allegiance, it should rightfully remain where is has always been and should not be questioned. In no ways at all do the words oppose the freedoms the first amendment has given us. Those two words are very important because they ultimately contribute the rich history of America. Although there are many widespread uneducated opinions and thoughts, the pledge of allegiance successfully passed the ceremonial deism test. “Under God” in the pledge is a pleasant reminder of our original political foundations set by our forefathers;it is not meant to be religious. Justice O’Connor said it best when referencing to one of Newdow’s cases by saying, “under God” has “history, character, and context which prevent them from being constitutional violations at all.” The United States Of America is one nation tied together by blue, red, and white bands forever focusing on liberty and justice for all.

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