What do you guys think about this issue that keeps popping up in the news? Now some students in California want to ban it completely.

What're your opinions on the Pledge, and the 'Under God' part of it?

Personally I think the Pledge is a great American tradition, and that "Under God" should be kept in it. People just need to stop whining and get over it.

Not everything is going to be "politically correct", and it damn well shouldn't be.

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Also, a little unrelated, I'm surprised I haven't found any topics about this around here, but if there is another one, than sorry for making this one. It can be closed if there is another.

I concur. I hate this idea of "political correctness" just leave it as it was and is.

Banning it is rather excessive, but I sympathise with the movement for removing "Under God". Given that it was purposely ammended by Christians it seems to be a blatent assurance in legislation that God is real, which naturally not all Americans agree with and of course it goes against the religious outside of Christianity. I don't believe it's a huge issue - there are more important things to worry about - but I understand why it's raised. It does undermine the idea of a government not ruled or aligned to a particular religion. If it were part of the original I'd be less inclined to sympathise because I'd assume then that America was intended to be a Christian country (and I'd also assume history would have played out differently) but as-is, it does undermine the foundations of American philosophy. Personally I'd like to see some British things change, to rule out both God and the monarchy, neither of which represent the majority or even the premise of British philosophy.

So yeah, banning it is most definately excessive (the choice not to say it is already there, and outside of the one occassion were one has to listen to it, it's entirely a choice to even be in the presence of the Pledge) and I don't think it's a major issue but I understand it.

Before people begin debating about political correctness, I'd urge people to (1) read up on what PC actually is and (2) read up on the history of the Pledge of Allegiance, perhaps also the history of America using non-American sources. Some may be shocked to discover that - shock-horror - this isn't a PC issue and that the earliest history of America is not quite so black and white.

I think that most people are taking this issue over the top. The pledge of allegiance doesnt have much to do with God other than name him. It has symbolic meaning and is meant as a morale boost. I dont stand for it or recite it in school, but that has nothing to do with god.