I am well aware that those wordings wern't in it originally, but it was modified to present a changing time and feeling withing our nation. No longer were we deadlocked in a world war, and congress sensing public feeling felt it neccesary to add those words to the pledge.
That is your feeling on the subject, and you are entitled to it. However, could it be possible that the countries "sentiments" have changed again in the past 50 or so years since "under god" was added?
My point is that the ACLU seems to do the opposite, to change the publics feeling through political action. Yes - arguably the courts are a system of political change, and this in itself is not a bad thing. But i feel that the ACLU takes their actions to such extremes to where one must ask "who is being offended now? Is that cross on the LA county seal offensive? why not remove the star too, and every symbol on that seal since every symbol may carry offense to some group of individuals" City of Angeles, i'm offended by angels, goddess pomona? NOW YOUVE DONE IT. It seems to me that it's important to recognize the history of california (and los angeles specifically in this case) and the herritage it has, but i guess not. Because if it's religious in any way it cant' have any historical value, lets remove it.
As I said before, I would agree they do take things to the extreme sometimes, but that doesn't negate or take away from the generally good work they do.
The ACLU consideres being adament against prayer in any area belonging to the state, ie schools and any military grounds (Specifically prayers that are part of this country's proud maritime tradition) as an essential part of it's bedrock beliefs. Is this not telling me where/when I can't pray?
I don't believe so. They do seek to have
organized prayer limited in governmental institutions, as it should be IMO, but I don't recall them having problem with people choosing to pray on their own.
The ACLU is trying to change the current publics sentiment and mood through their law suits and political influence. I'm not saying that the ACLU is so large they affect everyones opinion. I'm not saying this is unique to the ACLU either, but i'm saying i'm particularly disgusted that an organization dedicated to the defense of the oppressed would fall into the same schemes as those they might argue as 'oppressing others'
While I don't agree with your basic premise that they are "changing public sentiment", I think it is important for there to be a balance between protecting civli liberties, and oppressing religous expression. I think large powerful groups like the CC act as a counterbalance for such things. As I said before, it's about balance. I wouldn't want an unchecked ACLU or CC.
And no, i am not claiming that someone who choses not to say the word's Under God DOESN't love their country, but i am claiming that the ACLU using their influence to try to make EVERYONE omit under God is well, with lack of a better word, Ironic.
If I mistook your point above, I apologize. However, I don't think that removing "under god" from the pledge is the same as making everyone not say it. If it was removed, and you still wished to say it that way, that is fine. The problem is simply a seperation of church and state issue IMO.
The reason many of my statments of disgust against the ACLU are geared towards these specific events are that they are most recent, and continue to model what i feel is wrong about this group [right now]. I don't question the need for such groups, but I find the ACLU more quarrelsome, then beneficial.
That's fair, and you are entitled to it. However, I feel your feelings towards the ACLU's religous related actions are preventing you from noticing the good they do on other issues. Just from our discussion alone, you have solely mentioned their religon based cases as your reasoning for disliking them.
And don't think that my view on the ACLU makes me a member of the ultra-judgmental Christian Right, or a member of the Christian Coalition.
I wasn't trying to imply you were, and I don't think I did. However, if something I said made you feel I was accusing you of such, I apologize.
Their very actions shock me as they take a religion that is founded on the principles of grace and love, and turns it's membership into the most closedminded group of voters in america today. Oddly enough, i hear mainly complaints of what they do, and i think many are justified. Though leadership is neccesary i suppose in any setting, i feel that they overstep their position by an unjustifiable largess. You seem to have misunderstood my view of the ACLU as an endorsement for the far Right. Please understand, i hate all extremists equally.
On this, I agree 100%.
:beer:
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