The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on March 24 regarding whether the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance is constitutional, raising hopes among those who believe God should never be mentioned in the public square except while cursing, which, of course, would then be protected speech (“`Under God’ ignites debate; Justices engage in lively exchange with atheist,” Page 1, March 25).
They don’t appreciate the ironic fact that before a single word was said about the Pledge of Allegiance before the Supreme Court, the marshal of the court offered the traditional exhortation: “God Save the United States and this honorable court.”
Of course the secularists will argue that he doesn’t really mean it, that the words are full of tradition but devoid of meaning. But to believe that we would have to believe that the founding fathers who gave us the Supreme Court, the Constitution and our democracy didn’t really mean it when they wrote in the Declaration of Independence that we were endowed, not by governments or courts, but by our creator with certain inalienable rights.
The Establishment Clause was never intended as a restriction on state governments, many of which at the time had state-supported religions, or on local school districts. Nor was it intended to drive religion from the public square. Indeed the day after the House passed the 1st Amendment, the House passed a resolution establishing a national day of prayer and thanksgiving.
The Constitution is supposed to guarantee neutrality toward religion, not hostility toward it.
Indeed, God save this court.
