Meaning of "Under God"

[Mae Kuykendall]

To clarify just a bit an earlier statement I made about my difficulty
recalling the addition of the phrase Under God and my statement that it
seemed to have done me no harm, I objected strenuously in junior high
and high school to the tradition of having chapel once a week, with a
rotating cast of local preachers and required prayer.  I am fairly
certain my attempt to debate the matter with one pious teacher brought
some negative consequences to me.  For whatever reason, Under God didn't
make much of an impression, which may comment on its content, of lack of
any, or about the age we are when we are asked to recite it--it either
really makes no impression and just seems to be more school mumbo jumbo,
or it makes so much of an impression one does not sense it consciously. 
(In this regard, it seems to me there are virtually no occasions when
adults recite it, or even adolescents--I think it has been at least 40
years since I recited it.)  In elementary school, I recited the Lord's
Prayer, which again made no large impression.  The sentiments did not
seem problematic for a relatively obedient child, or else it made me mad
but I've forgotten.  Mandatory chapel in high school was infuriating.  

Mae Kuykendall


>>> "Stephen Wasby" <wasb at albany.edu> 3/29/2004 4:45:04 PM >>>
The "opt out" was never explained in any grade through which I went in
elementary, junior, or high school. I grew up not only with the
mandatory
pledge but also mandatory Bible-reading and the Lord's Prayer (but
that's
another story).
    I am also old enough to remember doing the Pledge with what can
only be
called the "Heil Hitler" salute -- before a number of people
(including, as
I remember having read recently, the American Legion), recognized the
similarity of the
arm swung stiff in front of one's body to Hitlerian salutes, and it
was
retracted, and we simply put our hands over our
hearts).  Did we have a chance to opt out of that fascism? You betcha
we
weren't told.
     Steve Wasby

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Judith Baer" <JBAER at politics.tamu.edu>
To: <CONLAWPROF at lists.ucla.edu>
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 4:05 PM
Subject: FW: RE: Meaning of "Under God"


>
> Mae Kuykendall wrote:
>
> I actually wonder which year was
> >the first I recited Under God--I don't recall being told the phrase
was
> >being added but a repressed memory is trying to emerge of reciting
it
> >without Under God.
>
>
> I remember the transition vividly. The day after Flag Day, our 3rd
grade
(if
> you must know) teacher told us, "Yesterday, President Eisenhower
signed a
> law" adding the words to the Pledge. Left unremarked was the question
of
the
> president's power to do this or, indeed, the fact that saying the
pledge
at
> all was optional. I didn't find that out until I took con law in
college.
> Every year I ask my students if they knew, and the number who did
has
risen
> over the years. I'd be curious to know other listers' experiences.
>
> Judy Baer
>
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