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Show 4 Tte Mjgna mm Valloy Hmn, July 3, 2002 Editorial Court's Pledge decision must not stand MAGNA TIMES Second cies postage paid at USPS 225-55- 3 Magna, Utah 84044 2700 South 8330 Magna, Utah 84044 Wt cttang of address to: Magna Time 8980 W. 2700 So. Copyright, Magna ThneeWect VMey News . Ait lights reserved. Reproduction, nuM, or Irarwmittai a4 8 matter herein Is prohMtad without prior written pan Magna, UT 84044 8 (801) 5 or FAX (801) 250-885- mission fey the publisher or abhor. Tha Msgn Tbnaa and Waat Valley New aro published each Thursday Subscription SIS par yaar $21 par yaar out of data Postmaster Sand 230-588- magwMtxmlaslon.com The Magna Tkma la a bonified newspaper Member ot the Utah Pres Association Jefferson pleased with Pledge ruling This week we celebrate the 226th birthday of die United States of America. It is therefore ironic that just last week the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals In San Francisco ruled in a 1 decision that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because of the phrase "under Cod, which was added by Congress in 1954. This court decision has America shocked and deeply insulted patriotic Utah. The Congress has passed a unanimous resolution decrying the ruling, and KSL Radio's informal web site poll showed that 91 of Utahns disagreed with the decision. However, a deeper consideration of die issue reveals that Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, is likely smiling down on the court's controversial decision. Jefferson believed in God, and penned in a letter to William Short in 1819 that the teachings of Jesus constituted the "oudines of a system of die most sublime morality which has ever fallen from the lips of man." Nonetheless, despite his personal beliefs, it is Jefferson who gave us the phrase, "a wall of separation between church and state" in a carefully crafted letter to the Danbury Baptists in 1802, when they had ashed him to explain the First Amendment The problem with the pledge is that it is asking Americans to swear allegiance to not only the flag but "to the republic for which it stands," and it then proceeds to list the values of our republic that they are pledging to: monotheism, national unity, liberty, and justice for all. Which one of these values would the millions of polytheistic and atheist American citizens feel 2-- Judeo-Christi- an -- squeamish about? The answer, of course, is pledging to be "one nation under God." Surely the vast majority of America would object to a pledge that required us to claim that we are one nation under Vishnu, Zeus, Satan, voodooism, wiccanism, ancestor worship, "no god," or even gods plural. "But those types are in die minority," you may say. 'That's not the point," Mr. Jefferson would respond, before reciting some eloquent phrases from the Federalist Papers about bow our republic is set up to also protect the voice of the minority. The United States is a nation as was the that is not former Soviet Union. However, we are also not a state that is "one nation under God," like fundamentalist Iran. We are a republic that allows private citizens, organizations, and churches to proclaim freely their persona beliefs. But we must not be a nation that requires or even encourages all American school children (including atheists and poltheists) to swear allegiance to the religious ideal of one God Because of removing "under God" from the pledge are we now a heathen and Godless society, flirting with the dangerous calamities foretold in ancient scripture for nations that reject God? No. Our acceptance or rejection of Deity is done through our actions and beliefs as individuals. A nation does not need to have "under God" as part of a pledge of allegiance to build churches, serve neighbors, proclaim 'God Bless America" on storefronts and bumper stickers. We can be a religious and Godfearing people without forcing our beliefs on others through our government And that is something Mr. Jefferson would surely smile upon. Happy Birthday America! n, The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. We should have seen this coming. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that desecrating the Flag of the United States is protected speech." If the 9th Circuit's niling is allowed to stand, millions of American schoolchildren will be denied the right to recite the Pledge. The denial will exist simply because the phrase "one nation under God" offends one atheist and two judges. According to the warped reasoning used by the judges, the words amount to a government establishment of religion. Thus, the Pledge is "unconstitutional." I can't help but wonder if these same judges pay their bills via unconstitutional means. After all, is not U.S. currency emblazoned with the words "in God We Trust?" If the word "God" makes the Pledge unconstitutional, is the oath taken by the witnesses in the courtrooms unconstitutional? What about the oaths of office taken by our public officials, including judges? The 9th circuits decision clearly contradicts the very words uttered during the opening of each Supreme Court session: "God save the United States and this honorable court." In addition, the Senate and the House employ chaplains and recite prayers daily. It is obvious that the members of these bodies have read the entire First Amendment, including the portion that states Congress shall pass no law "prohibiting fee free exercise" of religion. The Courts ruled long ago that reciting the Fledge cannot be mandatory. Thus, only the rights of those belonging to the overwhelming majoring of Americans are being denied. As rational commander of the American Legion, I promise t hat our organization will stand with the American people all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary to correct his grave "injustice. It is sad that while American troops are fighting a way against terrorism, our courts are fighting a way against the U.S. Rag. First the Supreme Court felt that the desecration is protected speech. Now the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. Opponents of the flag protection amendment have warned of a "slippery slope." They were right, but the slope is not slanting in the, direction they predicted. The Senate's failure to protect Old Glory and the actions of the 9th Circuit demonstrate that when you trivialize the flag of the United States, you trivialize everything associated with it. Senate Majority Leader Tom has called die Daschle, 9th Circuit's niling "just nuts." I share his view. I call upon him to extend his outrage to the earlier Supreme Court ruling, permitting flag desecration. Let us not fight this battle halfway. Respect for the . - D-S.- flag and respect for the Pledge of If Allegiance go Daschle is serious about protecting die Pledge and the Fag, I ask him to schedule a vote and round up support for the amendment immediately. If you think that these court actions do not affect you, you are seriously mistaken. In his dissent, 9th Circuit Judge Ferdinand F. Fernandez warns that even patriotic songs are endangered. " God Bless America' and 'America the Beautiful will get gone for sure," Fernandez said. "And while use of the first and second stanzas of the Banner1 will still be permissible, we will be precluded from straying into the third." Perhaps this outrage would have never occurred if the judges had only read the Declaration of Independence. With its references to "God" the "Creator" and "divine Providence," it is clear that our founding fathers did not intend for American to be an atheistic nation. laws Moreover, existed for 200 years before the Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional. It is time to return to the American people the right to protect both: the Pledge of Allegiance and the Fag of the United States. hand-in-han- d. flag-protecti- on 'Star-Spangl- ed flag-protecti- on Richard J. Santos is national commander of the 2.8 American Legion. The nations largest wartime veterans organizamillion-memb- er tion. First Revolution led by small businessmen By DARRELL MCKIGWEY Guest Writer As Americans celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, we should remember one of most important facts about our founding generation: they were dominantly small businessmen. x x of the fifty-si..Thirty-sisigners (64 ) of the Declaration of Independence had business experience such as being merchants, traders, doctors and farmers, including such famous signers as John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin. Of framers of the U.S. the fifty-fiv- e Constitution who were present during some part of the Convention, thirty (55) had business experience. What makes the American Revolution distinct is that it was led primarily by small, independent businessmen for whom personal freedom also meant economic freedom. Unlike other modem revolutions that occurred in France, Russia or China, the American Revolution was not the product of political or academic elites, it was the product of mostly common-sens- practical American entrepreneurs. . There is no question that the e, free-mark- et, consumer-oriente- d experi- ence of the founding generation was a major contributing factor in building a successful democratic govem- - menL And given that most of the founders derived their livelihoods outside government, they were more interested in protecting personal freedom than building a powerful and intrusive federal govern- ment As the great observer of America, Alexis De Tocqueville, pointed out: in Europe, politics was typically the main occupation of politicians, so they were inclined to grow government and make it more powerful. But in America, most rs leaders were who earned their living and expressed their creativity through private endeavors, and were move citizen-lawmake- likely to favor limited government Today, we are at risk of losing that earlier entrepreneurial spirit among our leaders as more and more have become career politicians. This should be a great concern to all Americans because the entrepreneurial spirit and the values of limited government and free enterprise remain essential to die American dream and the success of bur democracy. Darrell McKigney is President of the Small Business Survival Committee , one of our nation's leading nonprofit, nonpartisan small business advocacy organizations. Fourth of July TVivia America is celebrating which birthday today ? 222, 224, 226, 228 Thomas Jefferson and which other former President died July 4, 18267 Washington, John Adams, Monroe, Jackson Where did the Continental Congress sign the Declaration of Independence? Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, Mount Vernon At signing time under which English King were the colonies ? George I, George E, Charles I, E Charles What battle was known for its "shot heard around the world" ? Sutter's Mill, Lexington, Concord, Reedy River Who was President of the Continental Congress ? John Hancock, Roger Sherman, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin Which colony had the most signers at 9 ? VA, PA, DE, MA ANSWERS: Vd uqof pjoouo3 m aiioao surepy uqof 933 BiqdiapBjiqd Whats this Pledge of Allegiance thing about Not all of our enemies are named Osama. Some of them are named Mike. Like this guy in Sacramento. The freak who shut down the Pledge of Allegiance. He is every bit as much a threat to the future of the United States as are the terrorists. He and others like him, acting in a variety of ways, are cutting die American throat just as assuredly as any Muslim fundamentalist They are all working toward the same end. They want to destroy America. That is because they hate it what it stands for, and its purpose in the world. They may not say it, they may not even know it. But it is true. And we ignore that at our peril. Because it's about a lot more than the Pledge. It's about good and evil. Good being the work of God and evil being die work of the devil. I believe that the United States is a tool for good. That it was founded at the prompting of God, that he inspired the framers of the Republic and whispered in their ears as the Constitution was written in Philadelphia. I believe that God has guided and blessed this country ever since. I believe lie did that because he needed a free country as a base from which to spread truth around the world and to otherwise bless his children. I believe that part of that truth is our system of government, with its emphasis on liberty. I believe that allowing people to be free, and helping them throw of oppression, is one of God's great goals for this world. And I know that no nation ever has done more to spread freedom to the people of the world than has the United States of America. The Fourth of July in 1776 was not just the dawn of American freedom, it was the first step toward world freedom. The lamp of liberty raised on our shores has lit the world and continues to do so. And the work is not done. God is not done with the United States. This country is still a useful tool for him and still a part of his plan. And those who support this ' country are supporting God's work. While those who oppose this country are opposing Gods work. That's the bottom line. That's why this matters. That's why American patriotism is not the jingoism lampooned by our opponents. Thats why we must fight this, and all attacks like it, with every ounce of our energy. Unfortunately, most children in . America receive no training or encouragement in patriotism, either at home or in school. Love of country is something which seems to have faded over the last generation. We do not teach young people to love their country, instead in their lessons and the popular media we teach them to hate and distrust their country. Classrooms arc filled with the failings of America, but nothing of its successes. And the Pledge of Allegiance is, for too many students, a last toehold of patriotic instruction. ' And cow that is threatened. Granted, the finding by a panel of the Ninth United States Circuit Court of Appeals is not apt to stand. But the matter will go to the Supreme Court, one way or another, and the debate will be joined. And people who seek to weaken our social commitment to the country will be given bully pulpits from sea to sea. And they will gain converts. ' And the effort to foster a worthy love of country will be weakened. Love of God and country will suffer. And so will the nation. That makes this man our enemy. Him and everyone like , him. They claim to crusade to make America better and yet their every blow damages us. America wail fall from without, it will fall from within. It will collapse in a day when Americans no longer understand and love what it means. To delay that day, we must fight now. We must stand for God, country and patriotism, and we must be firm in the faith that by doing so we are promoting the cause of good. And we must be firm in opposing those people and philosophies which damage respect for America, which take us from our roots and values, which diminish in our eyes our God and country. The Pledge of Allegiance matters. It is a symbol. And so is this attack against it. It is a symbol of what is wrong with America, the corruption of philosophy and faithfulness that creeps through our citizenry and judiciary. Now is the time to stand up for God and for the country he established. - by Bob Lonsberry 2002 Bob Lonsberry is the morning talk show host of 570 AM KNRS Radio from 5:30 10 a.m. lie writes a daily column that can be found at -- www.lonsberry.com . |