"Under God"

Well election season is most certainly in high gear.  We have the old curmudgeon against the new change guy for president.  The state gubernatorial race is heating up between the established woman and that conservative guy from the town that does not recognize itself as a part of NC.  And we have Elizabeth Dole against Kay Hagan for the U.S. Senate.  

I got a piece of propaganda in the mail from the North Carolina Republican State Executive Committee.  They think Kay Hagan is a very bad person.   Allegedly she has visited with a group called the "Godless Americans Political Action Committee".  This horrible group, according to the propaganda I received from the NCRSEC, wants to take out "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance.  

Me too.

You see the pledge was written by a Baptist minister, Francis Bellamy, way back in 1892.  His pledge, the original pledge, did not contain the phrase "under God".  This idea was started by the Knights of Columbus which is a Catholic fraternal organization that has as one of their founding principles, patriotism.  Is patriotism a bad idea?  Absolutely not.  

Here is where this starts to come full circle.  The Knights of Columbus started to petition the federal government in 1951 to add in the phrase and make it official.  Now who is a Political Action Committee?  After hearing a sermon by a Presbyterian minister President Eisenhower signed a bill, brought by two other men who heard the same sermon, on June 14, 1954.  

Here is Eisenhower's comment...  These words [“under God”] will remind Americans that despite our great physical strength we must remain humble. They will help us to keep constantly in our minds and hearts the spiritual and moral principles which alone give dignity to man, and upon which our way of life is founded.

Sounds good right?  Sure does, but should we need the federal government trying to influence our thoughts and moral principles?  Have we forgotten about Plymouth Rock?  Have you forgotten the construction paper pilgrim hat that we were forced to make and then wear to the cafeteria to eat the vilest form of Thanksgiving supper that a processed turkey can produce?  I think we have.  

These pilgrims put their lives on the line to escape the destination of the road that the Knights of Columbus started us down.  We do not need government to do anything but PROTECT our rights to freedom of worship and religion.  I can make up my own mind about the Almighty without the influence of the almighty U.S. government.

Think.  Then vote.