What's wrong with 'one nation under God'?

Posted Wednesday, October 17, 2012, at 2:11 PM

When our forefathers laid out the constitution and the future of our country they stressed the importance of the separation of church and state.

When our ancestors faced dire circumstances to cross over to America their goal was to escape religious persecution.

My point is, over the years it has been important to allow each of us to have our own beliefs and not have the beliefs of another forced upon us.

But, at the same time shouldn't we be able to stand with our beliefs?

I couldn't believe when my best friend told me her daughter had been told in class she wasn't allowed to say "one nation under God" during the Pledge of Allegiance.

I understand completely why it is not mandated in the classroom, but to tell a 5-year-old she couldn't express her own beliefs because "another child might hear and be offended"?

That's absurd.

She was so confused as to why she got called out by her teacher, especially considering the version that referenced God was all she had ever known.

I envy my niece's undying faith in God. She attends church on a regular basis, and was enrolled in a Christian-based daycare.

She is always talking about what she learned at church, how much God loves all of us and that Jesus died for our sins. She even tells us if we slip out a curse word or we do something she thinks God wouldn't approve of.

Even as an infant, she would climb up in my lap and have me read her a book full of Biblical stories. I always loved hearing, "Brina, will you read to me?"

We were at a fast food restaurant in another state recently and as I started to take a bite out of my fry she stopped me.

"Wait! We have to pray first," she said.

She grabbed mine and her 3-year-old brother's hand, and told her mom and dad to grab hands as well as she recited, "God is good. God is great. And we thank him for our food."

This coming from a 5-year-old, made my heart melt. She has even taught her little brother that prayer. Just last week I joined them for supper and watched as they both clasped their hands together and prayed over their food.

I don't think we should have another's religious beliefs pushed upon us, but we definitely should not try to take away from what someone else believes in.

But, how do you tell someone so young she can only practice her religion when it is convenient for other people?

Do we really live in a world where a person would get offended by hearing an extra line in the Pledge of Allegiance, even if they don't have to say it?

Sabrina is a staff writer for the Greene County Daily World. She can be reached by email at swestfall@gcdailyworld.com or by telephone at 847-4487.

Comments
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I would like to first point out that I am glad I read the entire blog first before posting this comment. That being said, after reading your first line, I was ready to go off the wall about your statement. Please educate yourself better about the Founding Fathers, Constitution and the Declaration of Independence before making such statements like: "When our forefathers laid out the constitution and the future of our country they stressed the importance of the separation of church and state."

-- Posted by paulwilcoxen on Wed, Oct 17, 2012, at 3:17 PM

First, no one in public school is ever told to leave out "under God". Strawman!

Absurd is that you think a 5 year old has her own beliefs. What that says is that her family indoctrinated her, a hapless child, with the most bizarre supernatural concepts - at the most vulnerable age when she relies on her parents for basic facts about the world. (Amongst Amazonian tribes, this would produce a little animist who believes in the jaguar spirit. In mid-eastern countries, an Islamist who believes in Allah).

So what about freedom? This is America. Shouldn't every child in a free country have every right to choose her beliefs just as you do?

-- Posted by Hifi on Wed, Oct 17, 2012, at 11:22 PM

You are mistaken, my friend. Her parents do not even attend church, except in taking her the first few times to give her the OPTION to go. I'm not sure how many 5-year-olds you know, but my niece is extremely intelligent, and children pick up on the outside world a lot earlier than you think.

When she was 2-years-old her sister passed away after only an hour of her heart beating. At 3, we passed the cemetery in which her sister is buried and started yelling, "Hi, Sissy!" without being to the cemetery since she was buried. This alone showed me her level of intelligence and how she understands the world around her. She believes her sister is in the hands of the Lord, and she should be given that freedom to believe so.

Every child should be given the freedom to choose their path in life. And thus far, she has chosen the path of the Lord.

I alone struggle in my faith, but seeing her love for God is enlightening.

Thank you for reading. =)

-- Posted by sabrinawestfall on Thu, Oct 18, 2012, at 8:17 AM

I still say she's an AMAZING little girl, and she has one heck of an AMAZING family too! :)

-- Posted by NLR on Thu, Oct 18, 2012, at 8:38 AM