Why Rural Radio Stinks
So, I'm listening to a local radio station the other morning, and they're discussing the latest bid to have "under god" stricken from the Pledge of Allegiance. Now, my opinion on the issue of altering the pledge mirrors that of The Two Percent Co. exactly, so I'm not going to get into that part of the issue. My problem is with the state of critical thinking.. hell, even not so critical thinking, in this state. The DJs outlined the issue, and asked for calls. I heard three different responses that annoyed the hell out of me.
Response 1: "It's been that way a long time, just leave it alone."
When pressed, people making this statement either mean it was always that way, or they mean that it's not worth changing because it's tradition. If we're talking about it always being that way, sorry, that's not the case.The pledge was adopted in 1892, 113 years ago for the math deficient. Two changes have been made since then. In 1924, they made the pledge change from "my flag" to "the flag of the United States of America." Then, in 1954, "under god" was added to the pledge. So, 51 years ago the "under god" part was added. It's not original, and unlike the clarification in 1924 it doesn't improve understanding of the pledge, it just adds what the Constitution forbids... a state sponsored religion. As for the question of it being traditional, let's use an analogy. How would you feel if I said we shouldn't have done away with slavery, because it was traditional, and just not really a problem? Overkill? Try this one. What if every incoming freshman class at the local high school was taken out and painted red from head to toe, then pummeled with soccer balls. Hazing, the hallowed tradition. Just because it's tradition doesn't mean it's right.
Response 2: "Well, it's on money. So, why not in the pledge?"
Well, that's accurate, but also misses the point. Yes, "In God We Trust" is on the money. Guess when it was put there? 1956. It has almost replaced "E Pluribus Unum", our original motto, which means "Out of many one". Original motto: Solidarity from Diversity. New Motto: Conform! Yup, the mid '50s were great times for the religious. So, actually the pledge was first, then money. Let me use another analogy for why this line of argument is so very wrong. Imagine that a new neighbor moves in next door to you. He builds a shed, that you're pretty sure sits on your property by about a foot. So, you go get a surveyor to find out. Before the surveyor gets there he adds a fence that's about 2 feet onto your property, which runs the length of the property. Now when the surveyor confirms that he's encroaching, you wander over and say.. "Neighbor, your put your shed on my property, this is a problem." And he responds, "Well that may be, but there's a fence." Same thing.
Response 3: "This is a Christian country anyway."
This is perhaps the most belligerently ignorant statement yet. First, there's that whole pesky Constitution thing. You know, the first amendment. Let's quote shall we?
Ironic isn't it. All the Christians screaming for this to be a Christian country don't ask the important question. If it were, which type of Christian country would it be? Christians, all sects, get protected by the Constitution. Protected from other religions, and their own. Hell, if they ever bothered to think (which they don't because they're trained not to), then they'd be lining up to strike the words from the pledge and the money. Protect thine ass, I say. Or better yet.... when it comes to religion in America...
E Pluribus Unum.
Response 1: "It's been that way a long time, just leave it alone."
When pressed, people making this statement either mean it was always that way, or they mean that it's not worth changing because it's tradition. If we're talking about it always being that way, sorry, that's not the case.The pledge was adopted in 1892, 113 years ago for the math deficient. Two changes have been made since then. In 1924, they made the pledge change from "my flag" to "the flag of the United States of America." Then, in 1954, "under god" was added to the pledge. So, 51 years ago the "under god" part was added. It's not original, and unlike the clarification in 1924 it doesn't improve understanding of the pledge, it just adds what the Constitution forbids... a state sponsored religion. As for the question of it being traditional, let's use an analogy. How would you feel if I said we shouldn't have done away with slavery, because it was traditional, and just not really a problem? Overkill? Try this one. What if every incoming freshman class at the local high school was taken out and painted red from head to toe, then pummeled with soccer balls. Hazing, the hallowed tradition. Just because it's tradition doesn't mean it's right.
Response 2: "Well, it's on money. So, why not in the pledge?"
Well, that's accurate, but also misses the point. Yes, "In God We Trust" is on the money. Guess when it was put there? 1956. It has almost replaced "E Pluribus Unum", our original motto, which means "Out of many one". Original motto: Solidarity from Diversity. New Motto: Conform! Yup, the mid '50s were great times for the religious. So, actually the pledge was first, then money. Let me use another analogy for why this line of argument is so very wrong. Imagine that a new neighbor moves in next door to you. He builds a shed, that you're pretty sure sits on your property by about a foot. So, you go get a surveyor to find out. Before the surveyor gets there he adds a fence that's about 2 feet onto your property, which runs the length of the property. Now when the surveyor confirms that he's encroaching, you wander over and say.. "Neighbor, your put your shed on my property, this is a problem." And he responds, "Well that may be, but there's a fence." Same thing.
Response 3: "This is a Christian country anyway."
This is perhaps the most belligerently ignorant statement yet. First, there's that whole pesky Constitution thing. You know, the first amendment. Let's quote shall we?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...By Definition, this means no state religion, which means this is not a Christian country. Or a Buddhist one. Or a Jewish One. Or an Atheist one. It's a Mind your own fucking business country. Now the MORE ignorant part of it. Modern Christians don't seem to get why a bunch of guys, many of whom were christians would write this in the Constitution. I mean, gosh, if they're all Christian, then why not just make it a Christian country? It amazes me how ignorant of their own history many Christians are. Here's the million dollar question. Why were all these nice Christian folks here in America, risking life and limb away from "civilization" in the first place? Oh yeah, they weren't ALLOWED to be Christians where they came from. Or, more correctly, they weren't allowed to be the TYPE of Christian they were. What modern Christian conveniently forget is that all the piddly little Christians sects don't like each other. They only like each other when there is someone else to hate. As soon as one Christian sect takes power, it starts eradicating all the others. Because, you see, they clearly are distorting the word of god and must be slain.
Ironic isn't it. All the Christians screaming for this to be a Christian country don't ask the important question. If it were, which type of Christian country would it be? Christians, all sects, get protected by the Constitution. Protected from other religions, and their own. Hell, if they ever bothered to think (which they don't because they're trained not to), then they'd be lining up to strike the words from the pledge and the money. Protect thine ass, I say. Or better yet.... when it comes to religion in America...
E Pluribus Unum.
Glintir |
9/16/2005 03:10:00 PM |
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