The Pledge of Allegiance, written by Francis Bellamy in 1892 for a national public school celebration of Columbus Day, was tampered with in 1954 by Congress. House Joint Resolution 243, approved by President Dwight Eisenhower, (Public Law 396, 83rd Congress, 2nd Session) belatedly amended the language by adding the words “under God.” It has spawned countless controversy, litigation and reprisal against students who do not recite it or do not stand up while it is recited. The insertion of “under God” has turned the pledge into a religious oath, which falsely equates piety with patriotism. Unfortunately, whole generations of school children have been indoctrinated by this pledge to believe that belief in “God” is required for good citizenship, when in fact the U.S. Constitution was purposefully written as a godless document, leaving religious belief to the individual, not to be imposed by government. “Under God” should be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance, as required in a free country that honors freedom of conscience.

The Pledge of Allegiance, written by Francis Bellamy in 1892 for a national public school celebration of Columbus Day, was tampered with in 1954 by Congress. House Joint Resolution 243, approved by President Dwight Eisenhower, (Public Law 396, 83rd Congress, 2nd Session) belatedly amended the language by adding the words “under God.” It has spawned countless controversy, litigation and reprisal against students who do not recite it or do not stand up while it is recited. The insertion of “under God” has turned the pledge into a religious oath, which falsely equates piety with patriotism. Unfortunately, whole generations of school children have been indoctrinated by this pledge to believe that belief in “God” is required for good citizenship, when in fact the U.S. Constitution was purposefully written as a godless document, leaving religious belief to the individual, not to be imposed by government. “Under God” should be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance, as required in a free country that honors freedom of conscience.

The Pledge of Allegiance, written by Francis Bellamy in 1892 for a national public school celebration of Columbus Day, was tampered with in 1954 by Congress. House Joint Resolution 243, approved by President Dwight Eisenhower, (Public Law 396, 83rd Congress, 2nd Session) belatedly amended the language by adding the words “under God.” It has spawned countless controversy, litigation and reprisal against students who do not recite it or do not stand up while it is recited. The insertion of “under God” has turned the pledge into a religious oath, which falsely equates piety with patriotism. Unfortunately, whole generations of school children have been indoctrinated by this pledge to believe that belief in “God” is required for good citizenship, when in fact the U.S. Constitution was purposefully written as a godless document, leaving religious belief to the individual, not to be imposed by government. “Under God” should be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance, as required in a free country that honors freedom of conscience.