"... under God"

[BoyNextDoor]

SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT for the Commonwealth
Case Docket: SJC-11317

JANE DOE & others vs. ACTON-BOXBOROUGH REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT & others


On September 4, a groundbreaking case of great importance to atheists and humanists will be heard before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Doe vs. Acton-Boxborough Regional School District is brought through the AHA's Appignani Humanist Legal Center, and is the first in the nation to assert the rights of atheists-humanist solely via equal protection and nondiscrimination. The case challenges the state law that requires daily school-sponsored and teacher-led classroom recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, because the pledge's "under God" wording discriminates against atheists-humanists by instilling and defining patriotism according to God-belief.

 

[EducatedOwl]

It was only a matter of time. For public schools to make kids say "under God" is absolutely a violation of the Establishment Clause, at least as it is currently understood.

All that is really going to come of this, though, is that the few schools that still make their kids say the pledge will stop.

 

[richard_daily]

It was only a matter of time. For public schools to make kids say "under God" is absolutely a violation of the Establishment Clause, at least as it is currently understood.

All that is really going to come of this, though, is that the few schools that still make their kids say the pledge will stop.

Or they'll just change the pledge back to it's original version, which didn't include the words "under god".

 

[EducatedOwl]

Or they'll just change the pledge back to it's original version, which didn't include the words "under god".

I know that is the original version, but I was under the impression that it was never widely used that way.

 

[neci]

i take it as a history lesson.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

My hope is we start here, and eventually religious institutions lose their tax exempt status. I think that there are a whole truckload of violations of the Establishment Clause in the name of 'god'.

 

[neci]

religions and corporations get the most tax loopholes, while the person in the field has to pay with the sweat off their back.

 

[EducatedOwl]

I have been waiting for GB's conservative troll army to descend on this thread. I'm very surprised it hasn't happened yet.

 

[richard_daily]

My hope is we start here, and eventually religious institutions lose their tax exempt status. I think that there are a whole truckload of violations of the Establishment Clause in the name of 'god'.

This is an idea that's time has come. If you taxed religious institutions, you could completely close the deficit, and there's no legitimate reason for them to get a tax exemption.

 

[neci]

This is an idea that's time has come. If you taxed religious institutions, you could completely close the deficit, and there's no legitimate reason for them to get a tax exemption.

i thought religions were supposed to take money, not give money.

 

[richard_daily]

i thought religions were supposed to take money, not give money.

Religions use their tax exempt status to exert undue influence over the political system. People should have the right to express their religious views, but it should have no bearing on governmental policy.

They should be taxed like any business earning an income.

 

[jeninflorida]

as liberals advance, America sinks deeper into the septic tank

 

[BoyNextDoor]

What is liberal about tax equity? And fixing a system of taxation that has an inherent bias?

 

[neci]

Religions use their tax exempt status to exert undue influence over the political system. People should have the right to express their religious views, but it should have no bearing on governmental policy.

They should be taxed like any business earning an income.

politicians be all over the pulpits around here.

 

[neci]

they donate their money and *poof* it is now holy and never wrong.

 

[jeninflorida]

What is liberal about tax equity? And fixing a system of taxation that has an inherent bias?

ironic, as liberal do not create anything ....

 

[RoryN]

Imagine Obama being beckoned by a member of the ACLU. "Hi, Mr. President. Say, you know The Pledge? We feel it's discriminatory towards atheists. Given the current state of affairs in this country, don't you think it might make more sense if The Pledge went as follows: `One nation, not recognizing a specific God'?"

The president agrees, and a bill gets fast-tracked and approved thanks to some creativity and Obama's blessing.

How's that sound, right fringe? Would you complain if this happened?

Well, that's essentially what happened in 1954 to get "under God" in there.

 

[Sean]

I always thought that whole pledge of allegiance thing was very Stalinist, never mind the religious aspect of it.

 

[pointless]

I always thought that whole pledge of allegiance thing was very Stalinist, never mind the religious aspect of it.

it was actually just socialist originally. the god part was added later. in the 50's, i think. stupid 1950's.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

You are barking up the wrong tree here Jen. I don't believe in ghosts and expect that my country will not make me pledge that I do as a matter of patriotism. Moreover, I do not expect preferred tax status to be conferred to those that do say they believe in ghosts. Seems nonsensical and irrational to me.

And yeah it is sort of 'Stalinist' I suppose, Sean, but I am ok with that aspect of it. Nothing wrong with committing to the democracy, in fact just the opposite. It does not work unless you do.

 

[ksmybuttons]

The religious get us coming and going. You donate to your religion group and take it off on your taxes and you build a worship edifice and it is not taxed. You build a religious school, charge an exorbitant amount in tuition and pay no taxes.

Something is wrong with that system. The "render unto Caesar" thing is missing.

 

[jeninflorida]

The religious get us coming and going. You donate to your religion group and take it off on your taxes and you build a worship edifice and it is not taxed. You build a religious school, charge an exorbitant amount in tuition and pay no taxes.

Something is wrong with that system. The "render unto Caesar" thing is missing.

While I agree with most of what you said....we are better off with more religion then someone like the obama. there is value in the church, some say. there is no value in obama

 

[BoyNextDoor]

It has nothing to do with Obama. This is not even a federal case. It is happening in the State SJC. Get a grip.

 

[jeninflorida]

easy there camel toe boy...I'm just making a point.

I'm not pro religion, but our society is better with religion. just look at the group of kids that have murdered people "just to watch someone die"

 

[Phelia]

Wow, awesome! I prayed for this to happen. Guess it paid off.