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# When in doubt, cut it out This past week, Q-line asked
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/when-in-doubt-cut-it-out-this-past-week-q-line-asked/
- Published: 2004-04-03T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T04:10:00.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: local, Santa Monica, #archive-import

“Should the words ‘under God’ be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?”

Here are your responses: ■ “The United States is certainly comprised of every tongue, tribe and nation. Everyone who is a citizen here enjoys the freedoms and liberties purchased with the blood of those who took a stand to ensure them. ‘One nation, under God’ reflects American culture and the historical underpinnings of how this nation was founded by brave men and women. There is no forcing of any religion with this statement. If certain people don’t want to say ‘under God,’ or even say the Pledge of Allegiance they can just sit idly by. Even this is a practice purchased by the blood of Americans.” ■ “I think they should be removed because they were not even added until after World War II, and then it wasn’t written in stone. It might as well be deleted now.” ■ “The words ‘Under God’ should not be removed. As a native Angeleno, born to Mexican immigrants, reciting the Pledge throughout the years has invoked great patriotism. Since 1954, the Pledge has been said in its current form. Leave the time-honored Pledge alone. As citizens, we have the right to choose to say the Pledge or not. We can move to another country so we don’t have to say it. To this day, the Pledge invokes great pride.” ■ “Of course these words should be removed. They never should have been there. Young people don’t remember that the original Pledge did not contain those words. It was about pledging allegiance to a country that has a Bill of Rights, not a country unified under one religion. This is the country I pledge my allegiance to.” ■ “They should be removed from the Pledge for the simple fact that God does-n’t exist.” ■ “The Founding Fathers believed in God, most of the citizens believe in God and until the Muslims rule this country, the country should continue using ‘Under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance.” ■ “This country was founded under God, we all believe in God, one way or another, and there is nothing wrong with stating that each and every day.” ■ “I am now 69 years old, in the better part of my life, and originally the words ‘Under God’ were not in the Pledge. It is not the way I remember it. I believe strongly in the separation of church and state. Even to this day, I have trouble saying the Pledge the way it is. It is not the Pledge I learned.” ■ “I am for upholding the ruling and taking the words out. In my world, as opposed to some people’s, God is big enough not to care if sleepy children say his name every day. I think God is more concerned with us showing tolerance to one another, not feeling the need to have these words in the Pledge that were not present for most of our history.” ■ “Yes. Pascal, the distinguished philosopher, said it best when he said, “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.” ■ “We got along for decades without ‘under God’in the Pledge. It was put there in the 1950’s over some patriotic religious fervor, so it should be taken out. Anyone that believes God is an idiot, which means 95 percent of all people are idiots, which is close enough.” ■ “They should leave the words in, even though I am an atheist. I think with Bush in the White House we need all the help we can get.” ■ “I see no reason to pledge allegiance to any flag. Should we not pledge allegiance to each other? Should we not try to be compassionate and understanding without needing God to make this OK?” ■ “This nation was founded and preserved by men of faith. Our freedom comes from God, not men. All freedom comes from God. “ ■ “I object to the words ‘under God’ in the Pledge, based on the simple fact that it is everyone’s right in this country to pledge to God in any way they see fit. I don’t think the government has any right to determine how we appreciate or show our love to our own country. Plus, religion tends to separate people more than it seems to bring them all together. I used to be a Christian. Then they said I had to oppose homosexuality because God did-n’t approve. They said I couldn’t see my family because they didn’t follow the Bible. They said I lost my way. I feel pretty good about myself and I think God does too.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 3, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/040304.pdf?ref=smdp.com)