@Fofa"marginalizes atheist and humanist kids as something less than ideal patriots." - This was the exact reason it was added. Â Eisenhower specifically wanted to point out that our archenemy the Communists were ungodly and that American's (being godly) clearly were superior.Â
@Fallon"These same people have no trouble spending a dollar." - Regardless of your belief position, groceries still need to bought and bills still need to be paid. Â The phrase "In God We Trust" wasn't added to paper money until 1957. Â Three years after "Under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance and for the same reasons. Â Like the Pledge, this has always been a contested issue with non-believers.
@nikkiole"Are people really that sensitive??" - People can be that sensitive on both sides of the issue...if they so chose to take a side, that is. Â The reaction from the believing community has shown just as much hate and anger as the non-believing. Â If believers weren't just as sensitive...why would they even care? Â As is the case with most divisive issues...both sides are rolling in the same mud.Now that I've said all that allow me to say this. Â I believe in many things. Â The Bible is not one of those things. Â Nor is any deity that would even remotely resemble anything in the Abrahamic (Judeo-Christrian-Muslim) religion. Â I'm educated. Â I'm a business professional. Â I'm a patriot that served 21 years in this great nation's military. Â I'm a father, a husband, and I hope to some extent a decent guy. Â I could care less about what's on my money. Â Doesn't bother me one bit to visit a church for an event. Â I wouldn't mind seeing them taxed but I also think that a lot more good than bad comes out of the doors so I'm OK with giving them a pass on it. Â When I get to the "Under God" part of the Pledge I just quietly opt not to say it. Â When I'm at an event and am asked to bow my head for prayer I oblige. Â I remove my hat as I know some find it offensive.And now that I've said that - my last thing. Â We are not a Christian nation. Â We are not a theocracy. Â We are a democracy (or republic depending on your interpretation) of free individuals. Â We are a nation that is primarily Christian (83%) that has been allowed to marginalize those with differing beliefs. Â In a nation of free people, everyone should be allowed to have their say whether you agree with them or not. Â And before anyone replies that non-believers are a small, irrelevant fringe group, here's a parallel; 13% of Americans identify publicly as having no religion, 12.3% of Americans are black. Â Maybe not as small a minority as you think. Â ;-)Just my 2 cents. Â YMMV. 4951