Chef Dave
11-28-2007, 05:39 PM
One of my high school colleagues recently told me that we're not allowed to say the Pledge of Allegiance in Arizona. Does anyone know anything about this?
I looked on-line and found the following:
In a 2-1 decision, back in 2002, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the phrase "one nation under God" amounted to a government endorsement of religion in violation of the separation of church and state.
The end result was that schools in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington state were no longer able to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
On February 28, 2003, The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, refused to reconsider its ruling, saying it would be wrong to allow public outrage to influence its decisions. This announcement was criticized by the U.S. Congress.
President Bush's administration eventually appealed this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
On June 14, 2004, the United States Supreme Court overturned the Ninth Circuit Court decision due to a technicality. They said that the plaintiff didn't have the standing to bring the case to the Ninth Court in the first place.
As far as I know, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 9th U.S. Circuit Court ruling ... so why can't we say the pledge in Arizona? Was my colleague misinformed or did I miss another ruling in my google search?
BTW ... I found a student blog about the 9th Court Ruling. A group of Arizona students are said to have written the following:
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That’s no offense; it’s a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God’s name is prohibited by the state.
We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They’ve outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the ‘unwed daddy,’ our Senior King.
It’s “inappropriate” to teach right from wrong,
We’re taught that such “judgments” do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It’s scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school’s a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
I looked on-line and found the following:
In a 2-1 decision, back in 2002, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the phrase "one nation under God" amounted to a government endorsement of religion in violation of the separation of church and state.
The end result was that schools in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington state were no longer able to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
On February 28, 2003, The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, refused to reconsider its ruling, saying it would be wrong to allow public outrage to influence its decisions. This announcement was criticized by the U.S. Congress.
President Bush's administration eventually appealed this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
On June 14, 2004, the United States Supreme Court overturned the Ninth Circuit Court decision due to a technicality. They said that the plaintiff didn't have the standing to bring the case to the Ninth Court in the first place.
As far as I know, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 9th U.S. Circuit Court ruling ... so why can't we say the pledge in Arizona? Was my colleague misinformed or did I miss another ruling in my google search?
BTW ... I found a student blog about the 9th Court Ruling. A group of Arizona students are said to have written the following:
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That’s no offense; it’s a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God’s name is prohibited by the state.
We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They’ve outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the ‘unwed daddy,’ our Senior King.
It’s “inappropriate” to teach right from wrong,
We’re taught that such “judgments” do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It’s scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school’s a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!