Judge Rules Reciting Pledge in Public School is Unconstitutional

The 9th huh. Not a big shocker there. Bible thumpers have little to worry about, the current SC will reverse this if they decide to hear it.

 

Damn. Only in San Francisco I guess. Good to see that our judicial system is working on important issues like the pledge in public schools.

 

I'm an atheist, and it warms me to know that despite all our problems with inadequate school funding, massive teacher turnover, questionable revisions to science curricula, declining reading, writing and math skills, not to mention drugs, violence, and unprotected sex, someone is still managing to invest time, money and resources into making sure that their kid doesn't have to recite the pledge. I applaud their multi-tasking skills.

 

this should do wonders for galvaniziing the country behind the two forthcoming conservative justices.

 

Sweet me neither! As subtomic said, I wish people would devote their energy to more constructive pursuits.

 

Federal judge declares Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional in public schools

Judge rules against reciting Pledge of Allegiance

Federal judge declares it unconstitutional in public schools

SAN FRANCISCO - Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools was ruled unconstitutional Wednesday by a federal judge who granted legal standing to two families represented by an atheist who lost his previous battle before the U.S. Supreme Court.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the pledge's reference to one nation "under God" violates school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God."

Karlton said he was bound by precedent of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which in 2002 ruled in favor of Sacramento atheist Michael Newdow that the pledge is unconstitutional when recited in public schools.

Link to story


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Wow, this is wild. First no bible at the courthouse, now this. Crazy.

 

Friggin San Francisco hippies, hope they have flowers in their hair.

 

Truly a shame.

 

Since when could a district court override the Supreme Court...It's called "Supreme" for a reason, right?

 

I am curious about why the judge ruled the Pledge unconstitutional.

Is it because its an imposition of religion onto individual atheisists or is it because their can be no religious or spiritual acknowledgement in the US government?

These are related but lead to very different remedies. If it is that this represents an imposition of religion onto individuals and as individuals we are free to believe or not believe the remedy should be to allow anyone who chooses not to participate in reciting the pledge or even just skipping overt he line "under God." The same way as a Muslim or devout Jewish student would be excused from dissecting a pig heart in science class. If it is that there can be no religious or spiritual acknowledgement than it goes far beyond the Pledge to striking down any official reference to religion or higher power.

 

the supreme court never ruled on the constitutionality of the pledge and the phrase "under god", they just overturned the 9ths ruling that Nerdow had a right to bring a case under his daugter's name even though he did not share legal custody of her

 

The Flying Spaghetti Monster is amused.

 

I don't pledge my allegiance to any institution. That said, if they just took out the religious stuff then everyone could be a lot happier. But if I had a kid I wouldn't want him saying it. The Bible says you can't serve two masters, right?

 

Exactly. It was a cop-out. Any neutral lawyer will instantly recognize the phrase "under God" as being an endorsement of a higher-being esp. when the pledge is led by a teacher. I'm surprised it has even gone on this long.

 

[sarcasm]
Good thing Atheist never try to imposed their beleifs on others
[/sarcasm]


Rocket River

 

"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

 

Isn't that the same thinking that was used against Kennedy
because folx felt him being Catholic would mean the POPE
was the psuedo President because Catholics were to
be beholden to the Pope [beholden is the wrong word i think]

Rocket River