Your Two Cents: Readers react to 'under God' ruling

I think the court has gone way overboard this time. If you don't want to say the Pledge of Allegiance, you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance, but I think we're pulling away so far from God and religion our children have no idea what to think, how to act or how to feel, and I think this is the one thing that united them, and then for them to turn around and say no, that's wrong. Something needs to be done.

Lisa, Carson City

For many years, it seems like every day someone in authority is making changes to appease a few who don't give a damn and contradict the beliefs and rights of the majority whose sons and daughters have fought and died to protect. Abraham Lincoln said this country can only be destroyed from within. This destructionist Judge Goodwin who made this decision should be stripped of all authority because he's too stupid to understand what this country is all about. I am very, very angry to say the least.

Raymond, Carson City

I think they ought to take that guy and put him in another country where he can stay and be an atheist. Leave our country alone. Leave "under God" where it belongs and get rid of those two judges that were for him. This is ridiculous.

Pam, Carson City

I think it's an outrage they're trying to take God out of the schools and the country more than they already have. Don't they remember Sept. 11? And things are just getting worse and worse.

Joan, Carson City

The 9th Circuit Court is wrong on the law. The first amendment says Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Having those two words in the pledge is not by any stretch of the English language an establishment of religion, and what we have in our system is freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. This is just injecting their super liberal extreme anti-American position into their decision and it's nothing to do with the law.

David, Minden

They've made a lot of stupid decisions, but this is by far the dumbest they have ever or could ever make.

Jeff, Dayton

I think the Supreme Court has made the wrong decision. I as a Christian am taking offense at all these people trying to change what has been established for years and why change what has been established for more than half this century?

David, Carson City

My personal opinion is that now is not the time to get God upset with us. I think his patience is at its peak right now anyway.

Diana, Carson City

The decision by the judges regarding "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance I think is very unethical and anti-American. I can't believe these judges made such a decision. We have a heritage in this country that started because of religious beliefs and has continued to succeed because of religious beliefs. We should stop undermining religion.

Tony, Carson City

Boy, am I upset. The members of the federal Appeals Court had their heads up their butts when they made this ruling. It's stupid. This ruling has got to be reversed. What kind of background do the people have who made such a dumb decision? Boy, I hope something happens to reverse this thing.

Elizabeth, Gardnerville

The federal court decision on the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance is absolutely ridiculous. I feel our nation was established under the words "Work of God," and if we remove God from our thinking and our society, we are going to become a heathen nation. If the members of the Appeals Court feel this strongly, I would hope they would refuse their pay which says "In God we trust" and perhaps move to a country where they do not believe in our God.

Don, Carson City

If we expel God from school and other aspects of our lives, how do you expect him to protect us? I would like to publicly say, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Xanthy, Carson City

I think we're heading for a lot of trouble by taking God out of everything we stand for. I just hope and pray that he doesn't decide to kick this country out and we'll lose his protection.

Marquita, Carson City

I applaud the decision. The Pledge is just as powerful with those two words omitted if the purpose is nationalism. This country represents a haven for people to express individual beliefs so having the precept of "under God" is hypocritical. To continue that, I disagree with school-age students being required to say the pledge. I believe it should be a free choice to express the sentiment or to remain respectfully quiet as others choose to recite the pledge. Preserving our freedom requires commitment and thoughtful choice, not rote and indoctrination.

Diane, Gardnerville

I think it's absolutely horrible that one man can cause something like this to happen.

Sondra, Carson Valley

I believe the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling was the right thing, and I think the Republican congressmen who got out on the capitol grounds and put their hands over their hearts were defying the court ruling. I think they're unconstitutional because they're supposed to live up to the law too.

Lloyd, Carson City

It doesn't surprise me a small but aviastic vocal group thinks they rule the day but only a fool says there is no God. If this decision is allowed to stand, then surely we are a nation of fools. If so, then we are certainly doomed. God help us.

William, Gardnerville

I think they said either not have students say the Pledge of Allegiance or not force students to say it, because I haven't said it since the fifth grade and they forced all the students to say it, and I didn't say it and I got sent to the principal's office every other week.

Laura, Carson City

The separation of church and state does not specifically exclude religious connections. It was to prevent the president of this country from representing any church by name.

Fran, Carson City

I think Judge Alfred T. Goodwin should get out of the United States if that's the way he feels about God.

Pat, Carson City

As a recent graduate, I think it's pretty appalling we're teaching the next generation that we can forget all about the principles our nation was founded on by removing "under God" from our Pledge of Allegiance. Why not just remove it from the dollar bill if zealots are going to go that crazy.

Bryce, Dayton