This year, people seem to argue more than ever before. No matter the severity of the topic, you can bet that someone will take a stance on the issue. Recently, there has been an ongoing debate regarding religion in the United States. Should we take religion out of schools? Should we take God out of the Pledge of the Allegiance? Should we take God out of the courthouses?

No. Absolutely not.

In the 1950s, the United States was undergoing drastic changes. Color television was introduced in 1951. The polio vaccine was created in 1952. Music in the 1950s ranged from Frank Sinatra and Little Richard to Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.

On May 17, 1954, something huge happened that changed America’s world forever: segregation was ruled illegal in the United States. Was it a complete success? Absolutely not. Did segregation still exist? Of course. It still exists today. No one expected the ruling of Brown v. Board of Education to take place immediately. No one expected people to immediately change their views. This wasn’t a step in U.S. history; this was a leap to the moon.

In 1954, something else historic occurred: The Pledge of Allegiance was altered.

“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.”

The phrase “one nation under God” means more than most people realize. It symbolizes equality. It symbolizes that we truly are one united nation. To me, if you remove that from the Pledge of the Allegiance, you are taking steps backward, not forward. You are negating what Rosa Parks did in 1955.

In 1956, “In God we trust” became the U.S. motto. In 1957, it began to appear on paper currency. This phrase became our motto, and “one nation under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance, because the United States wanted to separate itself from the Soviet Union, who promoted state atheism. To me, nothing is more terrifying than an entire nation proclaiming that it has God behind it.

Lately, there has been a recent outcry toward the Air Force Academy to get rid of the term “so help me, God” from its sacred oath. People may claim that including “so help me, God” is in disrespect toward their belief, but I beg to differ. I respect other religions and beliefs, as you should respect mine. Removing God from the oath is disrespecting my belief. 

The United States does respect religions other than Christianity. According to the AR 601-280, “The Army Retention Program,” Appendix D, paragraph 2k says this about the phrase: “Oath of enlistment/reenlistment. Verify with soldier to determine if he or she prefers to ‘swear’ or ‘affirm.’ The phrase, ‘so help me, God’ may be deleted for soldiers electing to ‘affirm.’ For soldiers electing to ‘affirm,’ prepare a 3- by 5-inch card, editing the oath, for use by the administering officer.”

So why should the United States Air Force Academy have to remove God altogether?

This isn’t the only attempt to get rid of God from the United States. Schools across the United States have banned prayer before football games and have banned students from writing about God as their idol.

It has been in my experience that people who set out to ban religion in public places are the first to pray in horrible circumstances. I have also noticed that so many who try to get rid of God are the first to celebrate Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter.

As a born and raised Christian, I would prefer to not take part in other religions’ beliefs and holidays. I personally don’t celebrate Hanukkah or Vesak. Why? It’s not my religion. Does that mean that I should campaign to get them to cease their religion? Absolutely not.

Am I asking you to join my religion? Am I asking you to believe what I believe and think the way I think? No. That would be pretty unfair. All I am asking is to have the same respect for my religion.

As said by Ronald Reagan, “If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”