I finally won a game of Mahjong on my PDA. I love the game, but it can be quite frustrating at times. Ahhhh I still feel like a champ.

I’m working on a new layout for the site. Nothing too elaborate. Content is still my first priority.

In San Francisco, a federal appeals court panel ruled that it is unconstitutional for classrooms to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. On the other hand, scholars speculate that the ruling may be overturned by the Supreme Court or reversed by the full 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The ruling was in response to an Atheist’s bid against his daughter’s exposure to religion in school.

Why appeal this if it is not required?

“It was not until 1942 that Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance. One year later, in June 1943, the Supreme Court ruled that school children could not be forced to recite it. In fact, today only half of our fifty states have laws that encourage the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom!

In June of 1954 an amendment was made to add the words “under God”. Then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower said “In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war.”

(from usflag.org)

I can’t imagine how an Atheist feels when he hears the Pledge of Allegiance because I am not an Atheist. No one is forced to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Possible scenario: Parent has strong Christian values but lacks faith in United States as a ‘nation.’ Should he be upset that his child is exposed to the Pledge of Allegiance because of his feelings about the United States? There are stronger issues at hand that we should be more concerned with. Children are exposed to drugs, sex and violence everyday. Those are only a few examples. Let’s put our energy into more important social issues.

And here is the Pledge of Allegiance:

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.

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