Real Kato Blog: Pledge of Allegiance Ruled Unconstitutional

... again.

A federal judge in California has declared the Pledge of Allegiance to be unconstitutional, declaring the precedent ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Michael Newdow had previously filed suit on behalf of his daughter on the same grounds, but had his suit dismissed by the Supreme Court because he didn't have legal custody of his daughter. Now he's back to represent three other couples, and apparently this time custody is not an issue. So it's quite likely that the Supreme Court will have to make a ruling on this after all.

You might recall my previous article about the Pledge of Allegiance. Or my followup. I am hoping that Newdow succeeds. Basically what I'm saying is, it's not so much that the Pledge itself is a bad thing; it's the fact that kids are forced to recite it. (Or, face being ostracized by the rest of the class.) And if you think it's not doing anyone any harm because they're just kids and they don't know any better, then consider this recent quote from Newdow: "Imagine every morning if the teachers had the children stand up, place their hands over their hearts, and say, 'We are one nation that denies God exists.'" Think about whether that would do any harm.

Yeah, I know that emotionally and patriotically, most people want to have kids reciting the Pledge. But it's a matter of what the law is in this country, and the fact is, the law is that we are not to mix religion into state-sponsored activities. That's what separates our government from the Taliban or the Saudi royal family. That's what makes this America. Newdow says, "All [the court] has to do is put the Pledge as it was before, and say that we are one nation, indivisible, instead of dividing us on religious basis."

Amen to that.

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