21st Annual Bill of Rights
Art and Essay Contest, 2004-2005

TOPIC:  Does reciting "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance at school violate the Constitution?

2nd Prize, Middle School

by an 8th-grade Pacific Grove Middle School student

In 1954 the Pledge of Allegiance for the United States of America was radically altered when the words "under God" were added. While these two words may have seemed a small price to pay to show our devotion to unity and our belief in religion to the Communists during the "Cold War," the words were nonetheless put in for religious reasons, which is a clear violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution. Thusly, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance while it contains the words "under God" in public schools is an obvious violation of the Constitution, because it favors religions with one, all-powerful, God.

Though the words "under God" were put in the Pledge of Allegiance to differentiate the United States from the Communists, they have taken on a much more cynical role, by forcing those who wish to pledge allegiance to their country also to God. While many Christians and God believing peoples do not mind pledging themselves to God as well as their country, others, such as atheists, Buddhists, and Muslins, do mind. This creates a problem for those wishing to show true patriotic spirit, but not religious faith in things they do not believe.

The First Amendment to the Constitution assures religious freedom as well as a religiously impartial government. "Under God" violates this promise by singling out religions with God, and leaving other "gods," such as Allah, out. This creates a system in which children more easily believe in God, because they hear their country in relation to God. This also interferes with the parental influence of religions with no God or a differently named God and influences of atheists on their children.

The tradition of God on things besides the Pledge of Allegiance goes back to the country's founding. "In God We Trust" has appeared on coins since the Civil War and on paper money since the 1960's. However, having the phrase on money is different from having to say, "In God I Trust" every time you spend money.

While no one has to say the Pledge of Allegiance, many younger children do not know this, as nobody ever told them. Once children are relieved from this ignorance, saying the Pledge is generally a habit, and the words "under God" have already imprinted themselves onto the child's brain as right and uncontroversial to any of their own religious beliefs. Having public classes say the Pledge of Allegiance can still make students feel forced to say "under God" or any part of the Pledge that they may feel uncomfortable with because of the pressure put on them by other students. For example, if only one student does not say the Pledge every morning, that would make them a much easier target for peer teasing. This diversion between saying and not saying the Pledge or certain words in it because the words "under God" are in it defeats the purpose that the words were put in for: unity.

There is no Constitutional rightness of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, as it violates the First Amendment to the Constitution by pressuring unknowing and uncomfortable children to affirm their faith in God, or remain unpatriotic to their country.