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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 2, 2002)
Point/Counterpoint I pledge allegiance, to the flag • • • Trust in God’s morals nly in a country that has strayed from its roots could a judge strike down as unconstitutional the phrase “under God. ” This latest liberal effort to separate this Union from, its beginning and its people from the real Constitution should make every true American outraged—not only at those judges, but at ourselves that we have let such un-American foolishness go on for so long. For a long time in American history, the courts held that this was a Christian nation. Therefore, to be “under God” was and is an American belief. It was this very view of ex istence —being “under God”—that com pelled the Founding Fathers to take the ac tion of structuring a constitutional republic. This nation has given greater freedom and liberty to its people than any other country in history. I do not mean freedom from moral re straint, but liberty within the confines of do ing what pleases The One True God. Our governmental system, known as a constitutional republic, was specifically constructed on Christian principles. James Madison said these words: “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it! We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-gov ernment; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control our selves, to sustain ourselves according to the ten commandments of God. ” In these words, Madison not only de scribes principled politics — i.e., to govern yourself by moral principle—but he also describes the absolute necessity for each of the nation’s citizens to order their lives in such a manner. This constitutional republic could only come about and can only be maintained when people put Christian moral principle over all other concerns. The Founding Fathers, like all of us, were not perfect, but you don’t have to be perfect in Guest Commentary Lon Mabon order to aspire to it. They attempted to order their lives by moral principle and they built this nation on these same principles. It was a life and a nation “under God. ” Thus, they wrote a Constitution likewise “under God.” Patrick Henry confirms this truth: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but Christians, not on re ligions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ! ” Today, many people openly advocate un godly principles, while others who say they hold to the Christian principles of our Found ing Fathers act and vote as if they didn’t. We must believe in the Constitution as our Found ing Fathers wrote and meant it, and that means it is based on Christian moral principle. For those of you that have bought the liberal ACLU he called “the separation of Church and state, ” hear what John Quincy Adams said: “The highest glory of the American revo lution was that it connected in one indissol uble bond the principles of civil govern ment with the principles of Christianity.” Some people may refuse to believe it, and some may even teach others that it was not so, but this attempt to rewrite history does not alter the truth; it only reveals what set of principles is guiding your own life. We must not let revisionists, even if they wear black robes, rewrite history or the Con stitution. It is the only civil document we have that guarantees our God-given rights. And the power of the Constitution is our re solve to keep it powerful. “Under God” is a good place to be. He can be trusted with our lives and our country. Lon Mabon is the chairman of the Oregon Citizens Alliance. His opinions do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald. SORRfCTiOH i June 27) incorrectly identified M. Might Shyamalan’s second film. The movle» was *Unhreai<a&le * The Emerald regrets the error. Leave God out of it Now we have truly entered the era of ultra-patriotism-or-else. Immediately on the heels of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision that the words “under God” make school recitation of the pledge of allegiance un constitutional, national leaders frothed at the mouth with condemnation. Just nuts, was the response from Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. “This is the worst kind of politi cal correctness run amok,” Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., said. And a spokesman for Presi dent George W. Bush, leader ol me ngiit against “terrah,” said it was “ridiculous.” Kleckner Wait a minute. If I do unprovable and subject to myriad interpre tations and permutations, depending on one’s religion, somehow I am a ridiculous, unpatriotic PC nut? I beg to differ. If there were one facet of America to stand out as truly patriotic, it would be my right to pledge loving alle giance to my country without having any state employee or government agency tell me whether or not I ought to believe in God. The fervent appeals to tradition brought forth in the wake of the decision sound eerily like, “We’ve always discriminated against non-believers. Do you want us to stop now and destroy this great country?” Our elected officials’ responses are proof that Judge Alfred T. Goodwin — in the interest of full disclosure, he is an Oregon Daily Emerald alumni — was cor rect in his ruling. We need to be protected from the tyran ny of politicians who don’t want to seem soft on “terrah.” Somehow patriotism, des perate flag-waving and the quest to stop al Qaida are all wrapped up together in the response. It’s frighteningly reminiscent, in fact, of the early 1950s, when patriotism, Editor in chief not pledge that my country is “under God,” an idea wholly desperate flag-waving and the quest to stop “godless communists” were hopelessly tangled. Back then, the government inserted the words “under God” into the pledge in the hopes that blind propaganda would make more people believers and would protect us from the scourge of Godlessness. In stead, it encouraged the McCarthy-ites to continue their witch hunts. I’d be happier if we were protected from the scourge of unethical business decisions and the immoral looting of low-income workers. Belief in God doesn’t instantly make you a good person — look at Enron or WorldCom if you need proof. And now, Paul Greenberg, editorial page editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, has made the national panic even worse. In a column, Greenberg asks if the “little plain tiff in this case (couldn’t) just leave out those two words when she recites the pledge?” In a word, no. And she shouldn’t have to. The unfathomable gall of the religious defenders absolutely amazes me. Why should it be my burden to ignore the gov ernment-sanctioned acknowledgment of some God? Why don’t we all just leave the words out, and then I won’t have to feel like a sec ond-class citizen simply because I won’t join a God club. Everyone who wants God in our pledge can simply insert those words when they recite. None of this is “political correctness.” It is simply offensive that I be required to say I believe in God when I pledge to my flag. It is offensive that my currency trusts in God even if I do not. It is offensive that my rep resentatives have to be blessed by some one’s God before they begin government business. Remove it all. Freedom in America should mean some thing more than blind adherence to tradi tion or angry political posturing. No one’s religion is threatened by the Circuit Court’s decision. In fact, it strengthens everyone’s right to be patriotic. Contact the editor in chief at editor@dailyemerald.com. His opinions do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald. Presents the 56th Annual Eugene Active 20-30 Club July 4th at Alton Baker Park :: Parking at Autzen Stadium $2 ($1 with your Bi-Mart card) * Admission: S3 for Adults S2 for Kids 6-12 Free for Kids 5 and under :: Event begins at 4pm :: Fireworks start at dusk (1 Op) Music/Food/Beer Garden/ Kids & Family Games Thunks lo these line sponsors! \WMM <$> % I NW Natural* .."miiu gheleatslet-&Kna BIG PICTURES.... 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