THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411170005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A22 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Regarding Guy Friddell's ```Under God' never should have been put in pledge'' (Metro News, Oct. 28): I disagree. We should leave ``under God'' as it is, and for the sake of wasted words (whatever that means), let me offer this version:
``I pledge allegiance to the United States of America, one nation under God.'' As you can see, we are not ``wasting any words,'' God remains in his rightful place, and a nation that is truly under God will be ``indivisible,'' will have ``liberty,'' and will have ``justice for all'' (2 Chronicles 7:14).
As for ``political correctness,'' even politics is correct occasionally.
MARK N. BEETHOVEN
Chesapeake, Oct. 28, 1994
Guy Friddell's column concerning the Pledge of Allegiance found a sympathetic response in my heart. Every morning that I attended elementary school, I pledged ``allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.''
Nowadays, when the pledge is recited at various events, I find myself unable to utter the two words which were inserted by Congress in 1954.
As Guy Friddell has written, those two words not only interrupt the flow of the language but also introduce a pledge of allegiance to a religious concept which is completely irrelevant to allegiance to our country.
God bless Guy Friddell.
SHELDON J. LEAVITT
Norfolk, Oct. 31, 1994
I disagree with Guy Friddell. Leave ``under God'' in the pledge. Religion has and will probably always be a very serious issue to most. Should we burn all our money because it bears ``In God we Trust''?
I also strongly disagree with Mr. Friddell's suggestion that ``the United States of America'' be deleted from the Pledge of Allegiance.
I spent nine years in the Army. I am very proud of my flag and what it stands for. I spent five years of my tour overseas. I was advised not to display the Stars and Stripes because of terrorists.
This is still the United States of America. Those who don't like it should get out. Only one flag represents the United States of America - the Stars and Stripes.
JON E. HAMLETT
Chesapeake, Oct. 28, 1994
This is a dissent to removing ``under God'' from the Pledge of Allegiance. A large part of the new generation appears to be undoctrinated in the ``God'' principles. ``Under God'' serves as a teacher and a reminder, lest we forget.
``United States of America'' is the proud designation of our people and country and does not duplicate the word ``republic.''
Yes, we need to keep the phrase ``liberty and justice for all'' as instruction and reminder to young and old alike. Nothing goes smoothly all of the time. But let's keep trying.
BILL AMES
Virginia Beach, Oct. 28, 1994 by CNB