Whitehouse.gov responds to petition about removing the "Under god" from the pledge of allegience - Polidicks

[url]https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/!/response/religion-public-square[/url] [quote]Religion in the Public Square By Joshua DuBois The separation of church and state outlined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution is an important founding principle of our nation. Our nation's Bill of Rights guarantees not only that the government cannot establish an official religion, but also guarantees citizens' rights to practice the religion of their choosing or no religion at all. Throughout our history, people of all faiths – as well as secular Americans – have played an important role in public life. And a robust dialogue about the role of religion in public life is an important part of our public discourse. While the President strongly supports every American's right to religious freedom and the separation of church and state, that does not mean there's no role for religion in the public square. When he was a Senator from Illinois, President Obama gave a keynote address at the Call to Renewal conference where he spoke about the important role religion plays in politics and in public life. A sense of proportion should also guide those who police the boundaries between church and state. Not every mention of God in public is a breach to the wall of separation - context matters. That's why President Obama supports the use of the words "under God' in our Pledge of Allegiance and "In God we Trust' on our currency. These phrases represent the important role religion plays in American public life, while we continue to recognize and protect the rights of secular Americans. As the President said in his inaugural address, "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers." We're proud of that heritage, and the strength it brings to our great country.[/quote]

Wow. So disappointing.

Thank God.

Why can't people just learn to fucking deal with something? If I complained even remotely as much as these people I would be told to shut the fuck up.

I don't get [B]why[/B] it's so important to remove that. It's hardly tying religion and government together at all.

[QUOTE=finbe;33018603][url]https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/!/response/religion-public-square[/url] Well at least they responded.[/QUOTE] Not a real big deal, and at least their reasoning wasn't completely non-existant. I still don't like it, however.

while i agree the words seem to support some underlying sense of official religion, honestly it's not that big of a deal and it's obvious that it doesn't really support that. they should have a position to rephrase it.

Someone should make a petition stating that WeThePeople should actually do something, rather than just explain current policy. God it's just like the council of trent

[QUOTE=Jetblack357;33018628]Why can't people just learn to fucking deal with something? If I complained even remotely as much as these people I would be told to shut the fuck up.[/QUOTE] Gosh is that complaining I hear? Shut the fuck up

I don't support "under god" in the pledge. Money, however, doesn't matter as much. If pictures of dicks were currency, whatever. I'm all right if it can buy me something.

I don't say under god when I say the pledge??? It's that simple.

I don't even say the pledge

[QUOTE=Wootman;33018969]I don't even say the pledge[/QUOTE] What a rebel

To be honest, this was a stupid position. Whether you are religious or a die-hard atheist, just because a pledge says "Under God" doesn't mean you need to petition for it to be removed. In 1776 we gained Independence from Britian, and back then there was almost no such thing as atheists. Everyone believed in someone up there, and if that's how our founding fathers felt, then I'm fine with it.

[QUOTE=The First 11'er;33019044]To be honest, this was a stupid position. Whether you are religious or a die-hard atheist, just because a pledge says "Under God" doesn't mean you need to petition for it to be removed. In 1776 we gained Independence from Britian, and back then there was almost no such thing as atheists. Everyone believed in someone up there, and if that's how our founding fathers felt, then I'm fine with it.[/QUOTE] Posting to subscribe to this incoming shitstorm

[QUOTE=Lambeth;33018715]Gosh is that complaining I hear? Shut the fuck up[/QUOTE] Nope.

[QUOTE=The First 11'er;33019044]To be honest, this was a stupid position. Whether you are religious or a die-hard atheist, just because a pledge says "Under God" doesn't mean you need to petition for it to be removed. In 1776 we gained Independence from Britian, and back then there was almost no such thing as atheists. Everyone believed in someone up there, and if that's how our founding fathers felt, then I'm fine with it.[/QUOTE] Well technically the pledge of allegiance was edited in 1954 [url=http://www.religioustolerance.org/nat_pled1.htm]As part of the McCarthy red scare.[/url]

It didn't bother me until I found out it was added rather than left in.

[QUOTE=The First 11'er;33019044]To be honest, this was a stupid position. Whether you are religious or a die-hard atheist, just because a pledge says "Under God" doesn't mean you need to petition for it to be removed. In 1776 we gained Independence from Britian, and back then there was almost no such thing as atheists. Everyone believed in someone up there, and if that's how our founding fathers felt, then I'm fine with it.[/QUOTE] "Under God" in the pledge has nothing to do with the revolution or any law prior to 1954.

[QUOTE=Megafanx13;33019127]"Under God" in the pledge has nothing to do with the revolution or any law prior to 1954.[/QUOTE] But it had reason to be added in 1954.

I knew this "let the people speak" website would never work. They're just denying the ideas without a debate.

[QUOTE=The First 11'er;33019137]But it had reason to be added in 1954.[/QUOTE] It was during the 2nd Red Scare, because the Soviet Union was officially Atheist. You mean to tell me that was a good reason?

[QUOTE=Shiftyze;33019145]I knew this "let the people speak" website would never work. They're just denying the ideas without a debate.[/QUOTE] It's expected. It doesn't say in the First Amendment that they have to actually give us a well educated response in why they won't follow up with the petition, but I sure wish it did. [editline]29th October 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Megafanx13;33019155]It was during the 2nd Red Scare, because the Soviet Union was officially Atheist. You mean to tell me that was a good reason?[/QUOTE] No, I'm just saying that it was added by Congress for a reason. Whether it was good or bad, it was still a reason.

How did this get 20,000 already and end "discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression" still only has ~6,500?

[QUOTE=Splarg!;33019179]How did this get 20,000 already and end "discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression" still only has ~6,500?[/QUOTE] Probably because TheAmazingAtheist linked to it or some shit and talked about it non-stop.

[quote]While the President strongly supports every American's right to religious freedom and the separation of church and state, that does not mean there's no role for religion in the public square.[/quote] so is facepunch gonna hate obama now? :v: [QUOTE=The First 11'er;33019192]Probably because TheAmazingAtheist linked to it or some shit and talked about it non-stop.[/QUOTE] someone linked to it in the "logic of religion" thread in the mass debates forum.

[QUOTE=The First 11'er;33019159]No, I'm just saying that it was added by Congress for a reason. Whether it was good or bad, it was still a reason.[/QUOTE] And it was a bad reason as well as a representation of division in this country, so it should be done away with. [editline]28th October 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=SPESSMEHREN;33019199]so is facepunch gonna hate obama now? :v:[/QUOTE] It's a dumb position to take, and I'd rather he go in the other direction. Compared to the GOP's position he's 10x better, but it doesn't make it a 'good' position.

This shit is so trivial. This is like having to petition the removal of Columbus Day because we would be celebrating a tyrannical slave owner.

[QUOTE=The First 11'er;33019192]Probably because TheAmazingAtheist linked to it or some shit and talked about it non-stop.[/QUOTE] Ugh. I'm an atheist and I don't give a fuck about "under god" being in the pledge. Maybe in return, people could start not giving a fuck about gay people getting married? ...I just realized that I'm sort of contradicting my first post. I guess it bothers me that it was put in for political reasons but it really doesn't affect me anyway.

I don't give a rat's ass how important Obama or any other asshole feels religion is in the public square, "Under God" and "In God We Trust" undermine the US Constitution and should not be in use.