Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Saturday, May 10, 2008
Church-state clarifications
John McDonald’s guest column brought up many good points, but there are a couple of things that should be clarified. The motto, “In God we trust,” first appeared on the two-cent piece in 1864.
The Pledge of Allegiance was first published in a Sept. 8, 1892, magazine “The Youth’s Companion.” The original wording was “I pledge allegiance to my flag, and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible, with liberty and Justice for all“
In 1923 it was amended so the first two lines were “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States.” In 1924 it was again amended to add “of America” after “United States.”
The pledge was made official June 22, 1942, when Congress included the Pledge to the Flag in the United States Flag Code (Title 36). And finally the major bone of contention, “under God” was added on Flag Day June 14, 1954, by President Eisenhower.
The Holmen Cross and La Crosse’s Ten Commandments have created a good deal of controversy, but I think an important question has gone unasked. If a Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Wiccan or other belief system wished to erect a symbol at these sites would it be permitted? If the answer is yes, then the First Amendment is being upheld. If the answer is no, then it is not.
Probably the best and safest thing to do is keep religious symbols off of public property, or else set aside a good deal of public property for this purpose.
Incidentally, I like the new $10 bill the says “We the people” on the front.
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