Pledge Of Allegiance

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Why Are They Taking Away the Words "Under God"?

Actually, they're not. As it stands, defined by congress, the Pledge of Allegiance still contains the words "under God". In 2002, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the phrase was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. Their only outcome of the case was that children could not be forced to recite it in school.

The Pledge of Allegiance, as it stands, could still be recited in public schools, but students could not be forced to say it, and were still required to stand.

But this ruling changed nothing, as the subject was brought up as early as 1940. In a case against a school district by a Jehovah's Witness, the courts ruled that students could be compelled to recite the pledge. But the ruling was overturned in 1943, on grounds that some religions (Jehovah's Witnesses) considered the pledge and the salute to be idolatry.

In 2005, congress introduced a bill that would keep the Supreme Court from legally challenging the promotion of the Pledge of Allegiance. It was passed by the House, but stopped by the Senate.

In 2006, the a federal district court in Florida ruled that students are no longer required to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance.

But as of now (2008), the official Pledge of Allegiance still contains the words "under God."