The words “Under God” were officially inserted into the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954.
The words “Under God” were officially inserted into the Texas Pledge of Allegiance in 2007.
State Rep. Debbie Riddle, who sponsored the bill, said it had always bothered her that God was omitted in the state’s pledge.
“Personally, I felt like the Texas pledge had a big old hole in it, and it occurred to me, ‘You know what? We need to fix that,’ ” said Riddle, R-Tomball. “Our Texas pledge is perfectly OK like it is with the exception of acknowledging that just as we are one nation under God, we are one state under God as well.”
The law states that if you don’t want to say the new Pledge, you need a written note from home.
Not for the first time, Barry Lynn is the voice of reason:
“Most Texans do not need to say this new version of the pledge in order to be either patriotic or religious,” said Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. “This is the kind of politicking of religion that disturbs many Americans, including those who are deeply religious.”
One bit of trivia:
Texas isn’t the only state that has its own pledge of allegiance. Other states include Michigan, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky.
Mississippi and Louisiana mention God in their pledges. And Kentucky lays claim to being blessed with “grace from on High.”
(via Fark)
[tags]atheist, atheism, Under God, Pledge of Allegiance, Debbie Riddle, Texas, Barry Lynn, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, Michigan, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky[/tags]
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