From Carl Dozier in response to yesterday's message from Jeff
Southymayd:

Excellent points.  The problem most historians have is that they try to
judge the past by present.  No one can judge the events of the past
through modern eyes because of the PC correct nature of todays society.

 

From Jeff Southmayd:

As to the Jehovah Witnesses, in 1940 in Minesville School District v
Gobitis the Supreme Court sustained a Pennsylvania requirement that
students give the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the school day
over the Jehovah Witnesses' claim that it violated their free exercise
of religion guarantee under the Constitution (a Felix Frankfurter
opinion).  However, three years later in West Virginia v. Barnette, the
Court overruled Gobitis as bad law....which it clearly was.  That is the
current Supreme Court precedent....can't be required under a free
exercise claim.

 

From Jeff Southmayd:

In 1954, Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the
words, 'under God,' to the Pledge.

 

From Ann Avery Hunter:

I graduated from high school in 1953, and "under God" was not in the
pledge at that time.

 

From Melinda Skinner:

You are correct.  I am old enough to remember when we had to learn to
include the "under God" thing when I was in grade school (in the 50s).

I never did.  Even at that age, I thought it was unnecessary and somehow
felt wrong.

<blocked::http://www.lva.virginia.gov/>  

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