Michael Newdow, the athiest lawyer who tried for years to ban recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, is now trying to remove the word "God" from our nation's currency. He claims it's an endorsement of religion and "excludes people who don't believe in God" according to this article.
Newdow's attempt to remove the Pledge went up to the Supreme Court, where he lost because he didn't have standing to represent his daughter, because he didn't have custody.
His argument for removing God from currency is that it's unconstitutional, and dismisses any claims that the reference is to the country's religious roots, "It's not the history that counts, it's patriotism. What it is, is these people want to get their religious views in our government."
Though I can see an argument against reciting the Pledge in schools, I'm afraid I'm missing the key point in removing God from currency. I can't see a harm in holding a piece of paper, or zinc, or nickel that has a word on it. I can't see that as an endorsement of any one religion, and I can't see it as trying to foist one's religious beliefs on another. This really sounds more like an extremist with an agenda who's not going to be happy until he finds some way to stick it to the system.
5 comments:
yeah, i think i'm with you on this one. on the other hand (there's always an other hand), it's the same principal as the pledge. the government at some point in its lifetime found way to insert religion into itself, and this guy is trying to remove it. if he didn't have standing before bcs he didn't have custody of his daughter, i think he'd have standing now because everyone uses money. then again, i haven't really gone through a standard con law analysis of standing here, so what the hell do i know.
i think we should put "in stuff we trust. or not." on our money.
In a sad way, he is starting to remind me of O'Hare--a bitter person who will never be satisifed, no matter how many references to God we omit from public life. What's next--sandblasting the Supreme Court building?
Aaah yes. But here's the thing that slays me. As adverse as he claims to be with regards to the G-word being on our currency, I'm betting he still has no problem using the stuff, does he?
I totally agree with you that he's going a tad over the top this time around.
LOL, Weary Hag. I thought only my mom said that things "slay" her.
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