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Photo/Elizabeth Flores
Justin Emerich, 7, recites the Pledge of Allegiance in his first-grade class at White Lake Elementary School in Langlade County. |
On Wednesday, September 14, U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Karlton has declared the Pledge of Allegiance to be unconstitutional and that the phrase “under God” violates the right of school children to be “free from a coercive requirement to affirm God.” The case was filed by the same atheist, Michael Newdow, who lost his case last year in the Supreme Court.
The federal judge in California will issue a restraining order against all schools in his area of jurisdiction in and around Sacramento, California. However, the order will not extend to other districts, or the entire nation, unless the 9 th Circuit Court of Appeals or Supreme Court takes up the case.
The National Grange has supported a constitutional amendment to maintain the current wording of the Pledge of Allegiance. Its policy says: “The National Grange strongly supports the Pledge of Allegiance in its present form with the words “under God”. The Grange believes that members of the United States Senate should recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the opening session each day. The Grange promotes the permanent display of the American flag and the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance in school classrooms.”
Action Needed:
Please urge your U.S. Senators and Representative to oppose the banning of the Pledge of Allegiance at public school vie email or phone!
Sample letter:
(Please feel free to copy and paste this letter in your e-mail )
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Dear Rep. / Sen. __________:
Millions of American school children start their day with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Pledge has been a part of our unique tradition. I was very disappointed in the September 14 ruling by a federal judge in California, Lawrence Karlton, which declared that the Pledge’s reference to one nation “under God” violates school children’s right to be “free from coercive requirement to affirm God.”
As a member of the nation’s oldest agriculture organization, National Grange, I would like to proclaim that America is truly one nation under God and the wording in the Pledge should remain in its present form as it has been for more than 50 years.
I urge you to take immediate action to oppose any judicial decisions banning the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at public school and/or during public school events.
Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
(Signature)
(Name)__________________________
(Grange name and number) __________________________
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Capitol switchboard: (202) 225-3121
For contact information of your Senators and Representative, click SENATE / HOUSE.
If you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Research Analyst Chil-Sook Hwang by e-mail: chwang@nationalgrange.org by fax: 202-347-1091 or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109.
Are you a Grange member who is interested in discussing public policy issues with other Grange members? CLICK HERE
Thank you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative program. |
