Virginia's Pledge law sustained

from JoeUser Forums
Yet another apparent win for the good guys. It is still ok to require classes in Virginia schools to recite the pledge (with individuals permitted to opt out).

Headline is linked.




Virginia's Pledge law sustained

By Larry O'Dell
ASSOCIATED PRESS
August 11, 2005


RICHMOND -- A federal appeals court yesterday upheld a Virginia law requiring public schools to lead a daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Edward Myers of Sterling, a father of three, claimed the reference to "one nation under God" in the Pledge was an unconstitutional promotion of religion.
A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed, ruling that the Pledge is a patriotic exercise, not an affirmation of religion similar to a prayer.
"Undoubtedly, the pledge contains a religious phrase, and it is demeaning to persons of any faith to assert that the words 'under God' contain no religious significance," Judge Karen Williams wrote. "The inclusion of those two words, however, does not alter the nature of the pledge as a patriotic activity."
Mr. Myers and his attorney, David Remes, said they have not discussed whether to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"If I don't move forward, what's my other choice? Withdraw from public school?" Mr. Myers asked.
Mr. Remes said the appeals court failed to examine the effect of the Pledge on children in a school setting.
"The problem is that young schoolchildren are quite likely to view the Pledge as affirming the existence of God and national subordination to God," Mr. Remes said.
Mr. Myers, a software engineer, belongs to the Anabaptist Mennonite faith, a Christian sect opposed to the mingling of church and state.
He challenged the Pledge law because of that belief and his fear that Loudoun County Public Schools was indoctrinating his sons with a "God and country" worldview.
"The combination of God and country approaches a civic religion that is in competition with my religion," Mr. Myers said.
Mr. Myers also originally challenged Virginia's requirement that public schools prominently display the national motto, "In God We Trust," but that portion of the lawsuit was dropped on appeal.


... more at linked article


Go with God, or at least feel free to include an acknowledgement in the Pledge of Allegiance.
politics
5,530 views 17 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
That's my state!  The courts finally shut up the pie holes of those poop chutes!
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Liberalism is finally being defeated in the courts.
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

Liberalism is finally being defeated in the courts.

Unfortunately that was only the Appeals court.  It will be appealed to SCOTUS.

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Nice to see a breath of sanity in a school....
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Why am I the only one who catches the irony of God being challenged in the schools, when compulsory attendance is based on RELIGIOUS law in this country in the first place? (Massachussetts' "Old Deluder Satan Law" of the 17th century)
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

~prays for tropical storm Irene to strengthen into a Big Ol' Mammy of a hurricane and soak us to the bone.~

Were you here for Isabel?  I know you were here for Gaston, right?  Please dont wish that on us!

(at least I do have a generator now!)

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

Why am I the only one who catches the irony of God being challenged in the schools, when compulsory attendance is based on RELIGIOUS law in this country in the first place? (Massachussetts' "Old Deluder Satan Law" of the 17th century)

Compulsory?  As in school?  As In I had no idea!  really!  Interesting!

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
The year, by the way, was 1647. Here is the act, as best I could find it (most of the websites which carry the information just summarize it for their particular agenda)

"It being one chiefe project of that old deluder, Satan, to keepe men from the knowledge of the scriptures, as in former time .... It is therefore ordered .... [that] after the Lord hath increased [the settlement] to the number of fifty howshoulders, [they] shall forthwith appoint one within theire towne, to teach all such children as shall resorte to him, to write and read ... and it is further ordered, That where any towne shall increase to the number of one hundred families or howshoulders, they shall sett up a grammar schoole for the university."
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
I wouldnt mind seeing us get wet and wild and without power for a few days, nope, I sure wouldnt.


Sorry LW, but I really hope for a minimum of down time for any power outages. I don't like the wasted (as in spoiled) food from the freezer, the lack of air conditioning, and the other creature comforts that would be missing if such was the case.

I do very much appreciate the hard work that is done by the line employees (like your Simon) that try to restore service after storms like these blow through our areas, but I was pretty frustrated and disappointed with BGE after Isabel having lost power for 5 days straight. I know I'm pretty much the end of the line for them, but having other areas that were much harder hit get their power restored while I sat and stewed in a sea of sweat was not fun. It was also not easy on my budget having to buy meals out over the entire time. Not that I don't want to support the economy, and not that I don't want to dine out occassionally, but being forced to do it, and continually hoping for a restoration of service soon is no fun.

And btw, I'm not one that likes the idea of dropping money on a generator when I know it will be very infrequently used. They tend to be loud, they belch noxious fumes, and with gas prices going ever higher, they aren't that cheap to run. I'd rather get and use batteries for a small TV / radio and try to stay entertained that way I guess.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
And btw, I'm not one that likes the idea of dropping money on a generator when I know it will be very infrequently used. They tend to be loud, they belch noxious fumes, and with gas prices going ever higher, they aren't that cheap to run. I'd rather get and use batteries for a small TV / radio and try to stay entertained that way I guess.


Go buy a US government surplus generator and get a diesel one. Although that won't do away with the fumes.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Go buy a US government surplus generator and get a diesel one. Although that won't do away with the fumes.


What I'd very much prefer to do, but don't think I can afford, is to get a roof full of solar cells and try to get off the power grid as much as possible anyway. Totally quiet, and wouldn't really have any impact on the look of my home, my neighbors, or anything else. Just fairly abundant energy that is recharged during the day. Especially on a hot day like we've had lately. Let that beating sunshine help power the A/C that I require to maintain a reasonable standard of living.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
What I'd very much prefer to do, but don't think I can afford, is to get a roof full of solar cells and try to get off the power grid as much as possible anyway. Totally quiet, and wouldn't really have any impact on the look of my home, my neighbors, or anything else. Just fairly abundant energy that is recharged during the day. Especially on a hot day like we've had lately. Let that beating sunshine help power the A/C that I require to maintain a reasonable standard of living.


Your probably more than right on this. They are good but they ain't cheap.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top

but I was pretty frustrated and disappointed with BGE after Isabel having lost power for 5 days straight.

It was 10 for me.  And it is Dom Va Pow here.  But it was a Dusquene power crew that finally arrived and fixed us!

Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top

And btw, I'm not one that likes the idea of dropping money on a generator when I know it will be very infrequently used. They tend to be loud, they belch noxious fumes, and with gas prices going ever higher, they aren't that cheap to run. I'd rather get and use batteries for a small TV / radio and try to stay entertained that way I guess.


Go buy a US government surplus generator and get a diesel one. Although that won't do away with the fumes.

Actually, since we were declared a disaster area, FEMA bought me one.

Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top

If I'm stuck here in the heat with Simon working 16 hour shifts, can I come over there and enjoy your generator with you?

If you dont want to make the trip to MD, you are welcome here!  But after Isabel and Gaston, I dont think we are going to get one again as the odds are against it.  Being here for the last 30 years, those are 2 of the 4 that have walloped us in that time.  So I think we are due for a respite.

Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
As LW notes, it looks like Irene is headed out to sea, so we dodge another one in this area.... Glad to see it happen, as I really didn't want to have to deal with bad weather.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top

As LW notes, it looks like Irene is headed out to sea, so we dodge another one in this area.... Glad to see it happen, as I really didn't want to have to deal with bad weather.

DAMN!  I was hoping to get a free chain saw this time!