Blaine Moyle’s column “Pledge does more harm than good” had me dumbfounded. I was disturbed by the fact that he didn’t understand the Pledge of Allegiance until he was in high school. I knew and understood it in first grade. It’s even more disturbing that he recited it every school day without knowing what it meant. I think that’s how cults get started.

I had a Jehovah’s Witness in my class who did not participate in the pledge. She was not teased and ridiculed for this. We just took this time to learn about a different religion (which we otherwise wouldn’t have been exposed to).

The pledge does not say that you have to worship the Christian God. It says God, meaning the Supreme Being. This can be Christ, Allah, Zeus or whomever you want it to be. Granted this does exclude atheists but sometimes the majority (over 90 percent of the United States) must rule – otherwise nothing would get done.

Your reason for the adding of “under God” to the pledge is the most absurd thing I have ever heard.

Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the reason it was added: “In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war.”

It was added shortly after World War II when there was a huge surge in faith and church attendance. If you think “under God” was added to the pledge in order to find the Commies then tell me why “In God We Trust” was added to coins in 1955.

Ignore those who always find something bad in good things and put your hand on your heart and show your pride and commitment to this great nation.

Adam Stephan

Freshman

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