COLUMBUS – Unbelievable! It is just too hard to believe that any judge in America could find that the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional! However, a Federal District Court Judge in San Francisco, Calif. recently held that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools violates the U.S. Constitution.
As a result of U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton's decision, the U.S. House of Representatives is considering the Pledge Protection Act of 2005 which will protect the Pledge of Allegiance from liberal activist judges. This act will regulate the jurisdiction of federal courts and will reign in a "renegade judiciary" that wants to write the law instead of interpret the Constitution.
And of course, this whole debate is over the two words in our pledge "under God." This case reminds me of our Ten Commandments litigation in Adams County wherein the ACLU was able to remove the Ten Commandment monuments from our public school property. The ACLU continues to be successful in our court systems as they confuse the "freedom for religion" with "freedom from religion." Their agenda clearly is to remove the word God from the public arena!
We should all be reminded that "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke's words are as valid today as when they were penned many years ago. This nation was founded by godly men who desired nothing more than their freedom. This nation was built upon the foundation of a belief and trust in God and it is appropriate that our children be able to recite a Pledge of Allegiance which contains the words "under God."
I am firmly convinced that our forefathers would believe it evil for anyone to try to strike the name of God from all things public. Even though we were not successful in our Adams County Ten Commandments case, one of the Supreme Court Justices who ruled against the Ten Commandment case, namely Sandra Day O'Connor, is retiring from the U.S. Supreme Court. It is my hope and prayer that President Bush's choice to succeed her, namely Harriett Miers, will be committed to interpreting the law instead of legislating from the bench. Just as God has a place in the affairs of man, this nation must continue to look to God for guidance.
With this in mind, I have drafted a House Resolution to be presented to the 126th General Assembly of the Ohio House of Representatives to urge the Congress of the United States to enact the Pledge Protection Act to ensure that the Pledge of Allegiance retains its historical significance and integrity for America's children. I commend our Congresswoman Jean Schmidt for co-sponsoring this important legislation in Congress to protect the pledge. It is time for all of us to stand up for what is right and to oppose these liberal judges who desire only to re-write the law.
If you would like to contact me about these issues or any other state matter, I can be reached by calling (614) 644-6034, e-mail at district88 @ohr.state.oh.us or write to me, State Representative Danny Bubp at 77 S. High St., 11th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215.
