Rant: One Nation Under God

Ahh, my first real rant. Take it or leave it.


Dear Friends –

Not long ago I received the following message from one of my many friends:

“I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!

I was asked to send this on if I agree or delete if I don't.

It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God.

Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a problem in having "In God! We Trust" on our money and having "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the 14% to Shut Up and BE QUIET!!!

If you agree, pass this on, if not delete. .

I AGREE!!!

PLEASE KEEP THIS GOING, EVEN IF YOU HAVE PASSED IT ON BEFORE!!

Please send this on after a short prayer!!!

Prayer wheel for our soldiers, sailors, and airmen...please don't break it.”


Unfortunately, for them, this pushed one of my many buttons. My reply was:


I know you just sent this along to several people you thought might be interested but that, unfortunately, makes you a handy target for a rant.

You see, I chose a third option besides "pass-it-on" or "delete". I chose to express my opinion.

What happened to people thinking for themselves?
This whole God in public "thing" is a tempest in a teapot and blown WAY out of proportion.

No one has the right or power to "make" me say anything I don't choose to say.

I stopped saying the "under God" part when I was about 8-years old and beginning to think for myself - including (oh-golly should I say this?) questioning if God was superstition or fact. As I wasn't sure, I was not going to pledge to a being I wasn't sure existed. My opinion on that may or may not have changed, it is my own business... ...but my rights have not.

I didn't ask my parents, I didn't tell my minister, I didn't get permission from my teacher. I made my own decision and followed through on it.

I don't need permission to stop saying part or all of the pledge and I don't need a law to try to force me to say it.

My dad used to say your rights stop at my eyes, ears and nose - just as my rights stop at your eyes, ears and nose.

I shouldn't be forced to watch what I don't want to watch, which is why I have control over my cable box and the ability to walk away or change the channel.

I shouldn't have to hear what I don't want to hear, including obscenities that insult my sense of propriety as this is not free speech, and it is basically rude and thoughtless of others. Most often, if I am offended, I walk away.

I should not suffer physical abuse because another person cannot control their anger.

Likewise I should be restricted from trying to force my weird point of view upon anyone else. Of course I am allowed my opinion but you don't have to listen to it as one of us could be wrong and it is as likely to be me as it is you. We should all make our own decisions for ourselves as long as it is within the law and the law is just for ALL.

I have known those that refuse to pledge to anything - this is also their right - we do not, yet, live in a theocracy or a police state that tries to regulate what we think or say.

So I say:
Pray before each meeting, before each game, before each class.
Put your cross, you’re Buddha, your star or your ashram anywhere you want.
You can even put it next-door to me.
I don't have the right to tell you not to.
Just don't try to force me to participate.
It is your right to worship anyway you desire and my right to refuse if I disagree.

Come on!! Buck up people. Start making your own decisions, stop trying to force your opinion down everyone else's throat and stop waiting for the government to regulate every little thing you do.

Here's a weird thought you can ignore or take to heart - start thinking for yourselves.

Of course this is just my opinion...and I may be wrong.

Thank-you,
- Larry

BS - You may, of course choose to delete this, pass it on or reply with your own opinion. You decide.