Teach me some stuff on USA

[Gohron]

I never even thought about the words, even when I was learning it. The mass media teaches kids to sleep with everyone they see and do drugs, yet they don't force that out of schools. I understand the concept of not wanting to say "One Nation Under God" or "I pledge allegiance" but it's pretty common-place these days and if any kids complain about it probably has something to do with their parents.

[Timber]

And what about none?

Did you read the rest of my post?

The only people it doesn’t apply to are the ones who don't believe in a God and if you don't believe in one then it really shouldn't bother you to conform for 50 freaking seconds 5 days a week. Hell, I conform to society by applying deodorant for more time than that every week

[Calliander]

Show me instances where saying "In God we trust" has HURT a child - and I don't mean fake "I'm so distressed!" type hurt - and I'll support the idea of taking it out. Even one serious case - that's all.

I used to get in trouble all of the time for not saying "under God". I also had to sit in the "punishment corner" when I didn't sing "The 12 Days of Christmas" properly.

That's not especially serious, but my mother used to punish me for the "under God" thing when she found out. And it was really shitty since they stopped making us recite the Pledge altogether in 7th grade.

I don't even care from an athiestic standpoint. I just care that they added it for a really childish reason.

[Tracer]

In Texas, you not only have the "Pledge of Allegiance" but also a pledge to the Texas flag. I must not have said it too much despite having heard it said every morning around me because I can't remember how it went.

Just so J2d knows, that's not the national anthem. It's just a short "I pledge allegance to the flag of the United States of America... blah blah blah... with liberty and justice for all." or somesuch.

[Lhadatt]

The following was taken at a recent gathering with fans of the show. She's 62.

[sphere79]

How about this for separation of church and state? - from Nebraska Atheists.org http://www.nebraskaatheists.org/article1.htm

Seven states apparently have laws on the books stating thinks like you must believe in a God to hold office, etc.

Here's a few of the highlights....

Article 4 Section 2 of South Carolina's State Constitution
"No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor who denies the existence of the Supreme Being; ..."

Article 9 Section 2 of Tennessee's State Constitution
"No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state."

Article 3 of Massachusetts' State Constitution
"Any every denomination of Christians, demeaning themselves peaceably, and as good subjects of the commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law: and no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law."
Comment: Apparently Non-Christians are not "equally under the protection of the law".

Article 1 Section 4 of Pennsylvania's State Constitution
"No person who acknowledges the being of a God and a future state of rewards and punishments shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be disqualified to hold any office or place of trust or profit under this Commonwealth."

"or profit under this commonwealth?"

What the F is that supposed to mean, you cannot make money in Pennsylvania if you don't believe in a God AND a "future state of rewards"?

Article 1 Section 4 of Texas' State Constitution
"No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being."

"nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments"

...as long as he doesn't believe in having no religious sentiments, and then he is screwed....

OK.... my Supreme Being of choice is Nipsey Russell - does that work with you folks?! Come on now - no discrimination against Nipseyism, OK?

Man, this country is really f**ked up, isn't it? Honestly, I'm not "against" people being religious but it doesn't seem right forcing it on everyone. Do they still make you swear on a Bible before testifying in some courts? That seems awfully BS too, if you believe in the Bible - then fine. But if not, swearing on it is pretty meaningless - I know I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable doing so - and if I refused well how would that look to everyone else? So no we're back to "geeze taking a few seconds to swear on a Bible isn't going to kill you" and "saying you believe in God and an afterlife so you can be a Senator isn't a big deal", right?

[Lhadatt]

1) As far as Texas goes, pretty much everyone in the state agrees that the State Constitution is FUBAR'd. We ignore it, more or less.
2) A lack of religion is itself a religion.

[soundwave]

What's my name? What color is the sky? What of donuts? What?! For the love of God, tell me!

J2d, the sky is blue, donuts are plentiful, Friday is T.G.I.F. night on ABC. What's gotten into you?

[Tones]

[QUOTE=Tracer]In Texas, you not only have the "Pledge of Allegiance" but also a pledge to the Texas flag. I must not have said it too much despite having heard it said every morning around me because I can't remember how it went.
/QUOTE]

Wow, I remember doing that up until second grade (I moved to FL before 3rd).

[Tracer]

Heh, to my knowledge it's the only state that does that.