| One country, one God?
Upon hearing news of the Ninth Circuit's decision, George W. Bush blithely remarked that the ruling was "out of step" with America. This statement was technically correct; approximately 9 out of 10 Americans are monotheists, while--not surprisingly--approximately 9 out of 10 Americans see no problem with a Pledge to a monotheistic God. What Bush fails to appreciate, however, is that a First Amendment that protects only the rights of the majority, or extends only so far as popular opinion will go, is largely worthless. As Americans we are pleased to tout our First Amendment freedoms and religious tolerance. But too often we grow squeamish when it comes to protecting or tolerating speech, expression, or opinions that most people find offensive or disagreeable. The true test of these freedoms is whether they are extended to protect expressions and opinions that are altogether unpopular. That polytheists and atheists are a small and sometimes unpopular minority makes protecting their religious freedom all the more important. The argument that the Pledge is constitutional because it merely describes what the majority of Americans believe is specious. Should the majority of Americans one day be polytheists or atheists, it would be no less a breach of church-state separation to alter the Pledge to read "one nation under the gods" or "under no God." In short, any religionized form of a national Pledge is wrong precisely because it is a Pledge. The altered Pledge's wording goes beyond simply describing the majority of Americans' religious opinions. The altered wording is and was intended to be a statement of what one must believe in order to count as a "good American." Government instituted religious tests of national allegiance have no place in a society that truly values and respects pluralism and freedom of religion. No one should be forced to choose between her religion and her country. If we are to remain true to freedom of conscience and the history and values of our country, the Pledge should be restored to its original, religiously neutral form. React > One country, one God? |