‘Under God’ Comes Under Fire in Court

The militant left may promote its agenda of atheism, but it is about to defeat itself. Should the 9th Circuit decision on removing the words “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance be upheld, very quickly there will be a constitutional amendment: Congress shall make no law abridging the right of the people to acknowledge the importance of God in public affairs. This will protect “In God We Trust,” restore “under God”--and, in the bargain, make prayer in public schools constitutional.

T. A. Heppenheimer

Fountain Valley

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The 9th Circuit Court has written a very lucid argument that two words should be removed from the pledge. So far all I have heard from anyone who disagrees with this are threats and name-calling. Let those who disagree offer an equally lucid argument.

Robert Rosenblum

Agoura

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Re “3 Federal Judges in California Swim Against a Fervent National Tide” (June 29), which quotes U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Reinhardt at length while ignoring opponents of his ruling: Reinhardt is a political activist carrying out a left-wing agenda with a vengeance. He can chatter all he wants about the Bill of Rights, but what he’s doing is destroying it.

His ludicrous statement that the Bill of Rights exists to protect the rights of the minority should disqualify him from the federal judiciary.

The Bill of Rights exists to bestow the exact same rights on each American. There are no minority or majority rights. The rights are for every individual, not for members of any group. That’s the only way freedom can exist. You cannot accommodate one person by stripping the rights of another, whether it relates to speech, religion, conscience, assembly or any other constitutional right.

Reinhardt talks about “doing good.” A judge does good by objectively interpreting the law, not by indulging his personal biases.

Charles K. Sergis

Calabasas

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Funny how we got through the Revolutionary War and the Civil War without the Pledge of Allegiance and then went on to win World War I and WWII without the words “under God” inserted in our pledge. Even funnier, for those worried about hurting God’s feelings, the words “I pledge allegiance to the flag” violate the Commandment about worshipping images.

Wayne R. Behlendorf

North Hollywood

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I recall one significant change in the pledge, which occurred in the early ‘40s. This change had to do with arm and hand position. Routinely, each school day began with the Pledge of Allegiance. And, as is customary, we started with our right hand over our heart. When we reached the part “to the flag,” we would then extend our arms toward the flag with our palms up.

We held that position until the end of the pledge. As the war in Europe increased, it was realized that our extended arms were very similar to the Nazis’ “Heil Hitler.” It was then decided that we would not extend our arms but would keep our hands over our hearts throughout the entire pledge, as is done today.

Albert Obregon

Sunland