Pledge of Allegiance
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On June 14th, 1954 Congress added the words "under God" to the Pledge Of Allegiance during the cold war as a way to distinguish the United States from atheistic communism. Now in the 21st century, some Americans are challenging it and calling it a state sponsored prayer, which instead acknowledges America's religious heritage in a historical sense, and is much like the motto "in God we trust" on American currency.
Fifty years later, June 14th 2004, the Supreme Court issued a controversial decision in the Pledge of Allegiance case Newdow, No 02-1624. The court reversed an earlier ruling by the U.S Ninth Circuit Court that teacher led recitation of the Pledge, including the words "under God", was unconstitutional. The ruling preserved the phrase that has been recited by generations of American schoolchildren
Sandra Day O Conner, Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice William H Rehnquist agreed that the lower courts ruling should be overturned, on the premise, that the words, "under God", in the Pledge do not violate the Constitution. Justice John Paul Stevens wrote for the majority "When hard questions of domestic relations are sure to affect the outcome, the prudent course is for the federal court to stay its hand rather than reach out to resolve a weighty question of federal constitutional law."
Unlike the debate of the ten commandments, which clearly has religious implications, the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, does not persuade an individual to certain beliefs, or religious persuasion. The words "God" to some, could mean many different things, therefore does not violate the constitution. Unfortunately this has become a tool in a wicked custody battle for an atheist father and a born-again Christian mother...