Reciting pledge in school connects church, state
Anna Gould's article(\School board's motion anti-American,"" Oct. 15) smacks of both ignorance and narrow-mindedness. Gould seems to think banning the pledge is akin to taking away our freedom. The last time I checked, America had this little thing called the Bill of Rights, which guarantees all Americans the freedom of both speech and religion. She states that the pledge does not endorse any religion, yet the mention of God obviously makes it at least a little religious. What about atheists? Atheist students should not have to say that their country exists under a god they do not believe in. She then goes on to conclude, ""So listen up Madison. In spite of what you want, this country was founded firmly with Judeo-Christian values. The citizens of this country have voted, and they want the pledge, with 'under God' and everything."" This is one of the most horrid statements I have ever read. This country was founded on a firm belief in the freedom of religion and the notion that state and church are separate'two different things that should not influence each other. As a matter of fact, when the pledge was created, it did not even contain the part about God. That didn't come in until the 1950s. So what America and Madison really want is freedom; the freedom to not be forced to believe in deities or religions they do not recognize. Education should not be caught up in religion, pledges or anthems, but in the business of education.
Patriotism revealed in different manners
Robert Nordlander's dredging up of the 1967 bombing of the USS Liberty by the Israeli air force and Congress' failure to investigate its causes and consequences'34 sailors killed and 171 wounded, according to Mr. ordlander's letter (""Actions of Jensen, Sykes prove unpatrotic,"" Oct. 10)'is a timely reminder of the fatalities, whether intentional or accidental, that warlike conditions provoke on all sides.
Pronouncements by Rep. Scott Jensen, R-Waukesha, and Charlie Sykes, radio talk-show host, both self-appointed moralists, are beginning to sound like so much hot air and empty ranting. But Mr. Nordlander's current beef against these two flag-wavers seems to be an oranges-apples comparison. Just because Jensen helped to shoot down a resolution by the Wisconsin Assembly last year that called for another investigation of that fateful incident in the Mediterranean doesn't make him complicit in the crime, much less a ""phony"" patriot.
Meanwhile, back home in Madison a hue and cry has gone out to all loyal red-blooded Madisonians to show their patriotism by condemning the local school board members who wanted to ban the word ""God"" from the Pledge of Allegiance and zap the words that accompany the national anthem. Even better, a double dose of name-calling and a public showing of anger would do the trick. I myself believe in the power of prayer, especially if properly executed. The Pledge of Allegiance, however, is neither pledge nor allegiance; it's a secular invocation learned by rote and recited fervently (or faked) by school kids of any and all persuasions. A proud member of the Greatest Generation, I can remember getting to hold the flag during the daily recitation.
As for Sykes and Jensen, they've been playing the patriot game too long to be taken seriously.
