A militantly atheist organization has started an advertising campaign asking the public to refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance. The American Humanist Association, which appears to be well funded, objects to the phrase “Under God” in the pledge. Oddly enough, it doesn’t advocate those who disagree with the phrase to simply not say those two words, it advises a refusal to say the entire pledge.
Among the other actions of the group are a drive to not celebrate Columbus Day, opposition to the distribution of bibles in the military, and the removal of any religious symbolism or words from public documents, buildings or activities.
Since none of the acts the Association objects to are mandatory, and since students and others already have the right to either refuse to say the pledge or to omit the phrase “Under God,” the anti-pledge campaign seems superfluous. As the organization itself notes, the Supreme Court case of West Virginia vs. Barnette already confirmed that right. The same can be said for most of the other activities that have been advocate by militant atheists.
Much of the Judeo-Christian symbolism in western civilization is as much cultural as it is spiritual, and perhaps more so. From a rich tradition of music and art, to the most mundane expressions–God Bess you! it is inseparably intertwined with western civilization.
Since the First Amendment forbids the establishment of a particular religion, but does not forbid any religious expression at all, the legal points presented by atheist extremists tend to be on shaky constitutional grounds.
Upon analysis, atheist objections appear to have a different agenda than mere opposition to religion. Indeed, a closer examination of their intentions indications a drive to establish a formal state philosophy of atheism, a violation of the First Amendment.