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dslartooOh joy.
Michael Newdow is at it again.
Who he? Oh, he's the atheist in California who sued the state on behalf of his daughter because he thought she shouldn't have to speak the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance in the mornings at her school.
His case was rejected 8-0 -- 8 to nothing! in 2004, on the grounds that he didn't have legal standing to represent his daughter (who, by all accounts, really didn't CARE about the Pledge one way or the other), since she is under sole custody of her mother.
Newdow wouldn't take no for an answer and in January 2005 he filed a complaint in FEDERAL court. In September he got his wish: a federal judge ruled that reciting the Pledge in public schools is, in fact, unconstitutional.
Now the motherfucker is at it again. He's filed a 162-page complaint against the President and Congress alleging that the national motto "In God We Trust" is unconstitutional as well.
You know what, Newdow? Like it or not, those are the words under which this country was founded. [[Edit: It has been pointed out that I'm way off base on this one; I'll address it properly in an update to the post later and reply to those who've already left comments. The rest of the entry, I think, is still accurate.]]
Our Founding Fathers were religious types and believed strongly in a God; they didn't feel the need to make a secret of it, and they were proud of it. As, I imagine, you are proud of your atheism. Is "In God We Trust" really that much of a surprise to you, then? I mean, the words even appear on our money.
In other words, it has been like this your entire damn life.
No one is dragging you into a church. No one is asking you to convert to Catholicism. No one is forcing you to recite "In God We Trust". Guess what? There's another rather important principle under which this country was founded. It's called freedom of religion. That means that you aren't going to be hounded or driven out of the country or stoned to death or forced to convert because you happen to be an atheist, despite the fact that most of the U.S. does follow a Christian religion of one brand or another. It does NOT give you protection against being offended, something which apparently happens to you at the drop of a hat.
Here's another newsflash, Newdow. I'm an atheist, and guess what? I don't give a damn about the words "In God We Trust". See, I actually have tolerance and respect for other religions, and people expressing their religious views doesn't bother me at all.
Get off your high horse and go find something more important to do.
-- END OF LINE --
[[The Oracle would like to know your favorite dessert.]]
Michael Newdow is at it again.
Who he? Oh, he's the atheist in California who sued the state on behalf of his daughter because he thought she shouldn't have to speak the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance in the mornings at her school.
His case was rejected 8-0 -- 8 to nothing! in 2004, on the grounds that he didn't have legal standing to represent his daughter (who, by all accounts, really didn't CARE about the Pledge one way or the other), since she is under sole custody of her mother.
Newdow wouldn't take no for an answer and in January 2005 he filed a complaint in FEDERAL court. In September he got his wish: a federal judge ruled that reciting the Pledge in public schools is, in fact, unconstitutional.
Now the motherfucker is at it again. He's filed a 162-page complaint against the President and Congress alleging that the national motto "In God We Trust" is unconstitutional as well.
You know what, Newdow? Like it or not, those are the words under which this country was founded. [[Edit: It has been pointed out that I'm way off base on this one; I'll address it properly in an update to the post later and reply to those who've already left comments. The rest of the entry, I think, is still accurate.]]
Our Founding Fathers were religious types and believed strongly in a God; they didn't feel the need to make a secret of it, and they were proud of it. As, I imagine, you are proud of your atheism. Is "In God We Trust" really that much of a surprise to you, then? I mean, the words even appear on our money.
In other words, it has been like this your entire damn life.
No one is dragging you into a church. No one is asking you to convert to Catholicism. No one is forcing you to recite "In God We Trust". Guess what? There's another rather important principle under which this country was founded. It's called freedom of religion. That means that you aren't going to be hounded or driven out of the country or stoned to death or forced to convert because you happen to be an atheist, despite the fact that most of the U.S. does follow a Christian religion of one brand or another. It does NOT give you protection against being offended, something which apparently happens to you at the drop of a hat.
Here's another newsflash, Newdow. I'm an atheist, and guess what? I don't give a damn about the words "In God We Trust". See, I actually have tolerance and respect for other religions, and people expressing their religious views doesn't bother me at all.
Get off your high horse and go find something more important to do.
-- END OF LINE --
[[The Oracle would like to know your favorite dessert.]]
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no subject
Date: 2006-05-11 02:13 pm (UTC)I also wouldn't go to the lengths that this man is, but he has a very valid point. There is supposed to be separation of Church and state in this country, and there never has been. Worse yet, it was like the thin end of the wedge waiting for someone like McCarthy and then someone like Bush to come along with a hammer. And with the current population being as lazy as they are when it comes to politics and personal rights (unless, apparently, they're here illegally) it's just going to get worse.
I actually have mused of late whether, by the time I have grandchildren, there will be private "non religious schools" like there are private religious ones now where parents who want their kids to grow up thinking and making the choice for themselves rather than being brainwashed from Day 1 will send their kids at some exhorbitant financial cost.