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Vast majority in U.S. support 'under God'
Nearly nine in 10 Americans believe the phrase "under God" should remain in the Pledge of Allegiance, and most believe it is acceptable for the government to promote religious expression, as long as no specific religion is mentioned, according to a Newsweek poll.
The poll, released Saturday, also found that while a majority of Americans think it is likely that terrorist attacks will be carried out during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, most aren't planning to alter their plans.
Also in the poll, President Bush's approval rating stood at 70 percent, with just 19 percent saying they disapprove of his performance. In the last poll in May, those figures were 73 percent and 20 percent, respectively.
Pledge of Allegiance
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.
On Wednesday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled the Pledge of Allegiance was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion because it contains the phrase "under God," which was added in 1954.
Asked if the Pledge should contain the phrase "under God," 87 percent of those polled by Newsweek said yes and only 9 percent said no. Asked if the government should avoid promoting religion in any way, 36 percent said yes, but 54 percent said no, and 60 percent of poll respondents said they think it is good for the country when government leaders publicly express their faith in God.
Only 12 percent of those polled thought the government should eliminate all references to God and religions belief in schools, government buildings and other public settings, while 84 percent said such references are acceptable, as long as they don't mention a specific religion.
The poll found that 45 percent of Americans hold the view that the United States is a secular nation in which religious belief, or lack of it, isn't a defining characteristic. Twenty-nine percent believe the United States is a Christian nation, and another 16 percent believe the United States is a Biblical nation, defined by the Judeo-Christian tradition.
In regard to possible Fourth of July terrorist attacks, 12 percent of those polled thought an attack was very likely and 45 percent said it was somewhat likely. Thirty-nine percent thought it was not too likely or not at all likely.
Despite that concern, only 37 percent indicated that their plans would be affected in any way, and less than a quarter of those polled said they would avoid traveling, flying, visiting large cities such as New York or Washington or attending events in crowded public places such as theme parks or sports arenas.
Also in the poll, President Bush's approval rating stood at 70 percent, with just 19 percent saying they disapprove of his performance. In the last poll in May, those figures were 73 percent and 20 percent, respectively.
Pledge of Allegiance
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.
On Wednesday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled the Pledge of Allegiance was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion because it contains the phrase "under God," which was added in 1954.
Asked if the Pledge should contain the phrase "under God," 87 percent of those polled by Newsweek said yes and only 9 percent said no. Asked if the government should avoid promoting religion in any way, 36 percent said yes, but 54 percent said no, and 60 percent of poll respondents said they think it is good for the country when government leaders publicly express their faith in God.
Only 12 percent of those polled thought the government should eliminate all references to God and religions belief in schools, government buildings and other public settings, while 84 percent said such references are acceptable, as long as they don't mention a specific religion.
The poll found that 45 percent of Americans hold the view that the United States is a secular nation in which religious belief, or lack of it, isn't a defining characteristic. Twenty-nine percent believe the United States is a Christian nation, and another 16 percent believe the United States is a Biblical nation, defined by the Judeo-Christian tradition.
In regard to possible Fourth of July terrorist attacks, 12 percent of those polled thought an attack was very likely and 45 percent said it was somewhat likely. Thirty-nine percent thought it was not too likely or not at all likely.
Despite that concern, only 37 percent indicated that their plans would be affected in any way, and less than a quarter of those polled said they would avoid traveling, flying, visiting large cities such as New York or Washington or attending events in crowded public places such as theme parks or sports arenas.
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Where did this come from? With the whole country swinging into blind patriotism, we're supposed to believe that this suddenly happens out of nowhere? And then that same judge puts a hold on his own verdict?
It's not even very important, considering all the other shit we have going on (Afghanistan, Iraq, Columbia, Philipines, 9/11 cover-up, USA-Patriot Act, the Office of Homeland Tyranny, consolidation and federalization of domestic law enforcement). Why this? Why now?
IT'S A DIVERSION, YOU IDIOTS!
Keep all the important stuff out of the news headlines. Keep the left and the right at each other's throats, instead of recognizing our common ground, common enemy, and the need to unite. Fan the flames of righteous indignation and patriotism, so that Amerika is ready to accept the coming assaults on Iraq, Columbia, and Somalia.
You people are being played like a cheap fiddle, same as ever.
*Sj
It is also not an accident that every civil liberties organization, including the ACLU, supports the 9th Circuit ruling, because it is Constitutionally-mandated.
The backwardness in the USA cannot be separated from the warmongering abroad, as they are part of the same fascist agenda.
As to the 78-year-old judge, he stated correctly that he went to school when the "under god" garbage was not in the stupid pledge, which should not exist at all, and is unheard of in the rest of the world. The ruling is technically on hold anyhow as it never immediately takes effect, and all appeals immediately stay the decision. He was obviously pressured to add an additional flourish of it being on hold.
The fact that most Americans do not understand the concept of separation of Church and State is not surprising, given the very low level of education that exists in this country, and that low level is deliberate as it exists to allow promotion of war, which can only be done with ignorant, backward people.
The average American never reads anything at all, thus losing the minimal language and thinking skills acquired in school. The average American knows very little about science and even less about history and literature. The average American thinks commercial TV, th e advertising jingles, the gambling rackets called sports and the sales promotional racket called Christmas all constitute culture. The average American barely knows English and has no concept of a foreign language. The low level of intellect and education is typical of the level of intellect and education of the average American. That is why while only 30% support his economic policies, 51% would support his re-election as of today. They identify with GWB.
Statistically, the US is the most backward country in the industrialized world with the lowest life expectancy and highest infant mortality. This is a direct result of having no labor movement.
Thus, it is not surprising that most (not all) Americans sound like stupid idiots when it comes to commenting on a very reasonable Church/State separation ruling.
That Congress goes along with it shows how backward and opportunist the Democrat/Republicans are which is why you should never, ever vote for any of them at any level of government.
If you are still not convinced as to relevance, I come from a Holocaust family and have heard personal stories of the decline of education and culture in Nazi Germany as the anti-Communist, anti-labor, anti-gay, anti-women, racist, supersititious, warmongering state of Germany became one large war machine. Fascism can happen here.
...no wonder she don't cut you no slack.
There is absoultly no proof that this was any kind of diversion,the freedom of religon foundation have been at this for years.
Bernard gave us an intersting comments, though sarcastic, but I can be that way too. The 9th Circuit is known as the most liberal of the Circuit Courts, but for a reason they get overturned so often, that seems a little too simple.
Sometimes the Supreme Court reverses a lower courts summarily, which means that the lower court got the issue so clearly wrong that there is no need for the dissusion of issues that briefing and argument would afford. Other times, the Supreme Court reverses unanimously, which means that the decision more likely was just incorrect, rather then being merely the reflection of political difference. Politics most certainly plays a part in some of the decisions handed down by courts. But the 9th Circuit has been overturned on cases both summarily and unanimously.
I think the problem is that the court is too big. It is by far the largest federal appeals court. The court currently has 23 active members, but at full strength it has 28 judges, almost twice as big as the next biggest circuit.
A lot of the reversals has to do with the 9th Circuit's procedure for full-court review. All other curcuits sit as one to hear full-court cases, but the 9th Circuit sits in panels of eleven (11). So, if you have a case that is decided 6-5, there is no reason to think that it represents the views of the majority of the court.