To the Editors:

While I appreciate the spirit in which your October 16 editorial on the Pledge of Allegiance was written, I have to take you to task for your statement “While inherently religious, the ‘God’ clause in the pledge is also a part of a historical document…” This assumes that the Pledge as it stands has some impressive historical pedigree; in fact, it has only a comparatively short history, filled with revision. The Pledge was written by in 1892 by Baptist minister Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), brother of the socialist Edward who famously wrote “Looking Backward.” As it was first conceived, the pledge ran: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Bellamy had considered adding “equality” to the list with liberty and justice, but knew that the superintendents of the school system for which it was written were against equality for women and minorities. In 1923, the Daughters of the American Revolution lobbied successfully for a change from “my Flag” to “the flag of the United State of America,” lest some lowdown Communist sneakily recite the Pledge while meaning the banner of the USSR. Bellamy’s protest to this pedantic change was ignored. In 1954, the Knights of Columbus campaigned to have “under God” added to the Pledge; once again, the Communists were behind the change. It was thought that emphasizing the godliness of the USA would highlight the godlessness of the USSR. Bellamy’s granddaughter remarked at the time that the Minister would have been opposed to this change as well. I point anyone interested in this history to http://history.vineyard.net/pdgech0.htm.

The point I’m trying to make is that the disputed “under God” portion of the Pledge only dates back 50 years, to a time when, like today, the air was foul with fervent religiosity. I agree that the “under God” clause is fairly innocuous, and that there is no coercion in a teacher leading a classroom in the Pledge. Who, however, could forget the sickening display of vote-pandering when, last summer, after the 9th Circuit Court handed down its verdict, the Senate actually adjourned for the day so the Senators could array themselves on the steps of the Capitol and recite the oath together? What disturbs me is not the “under God” clause itself, but how little our society is able to tolerate dissent regarding it.

Theodore Graham UNI ’04 (551) 486-1929 (cell)