Published: Friday, August 16, 2002

Meaningless reference

Last Friday, the Justice Department requested that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reconsider its earlier ruling that reciting the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional. According to the Justice Department, the words "under God" in the pledge are among "many ceremonial references to our religious heritage and do not establish a religious faith."

Since the words "under God" have reduced the Pledge of Allegiance to a meaningless ceremonial recital, patriots should support the circuit court's ruling and thereby restore the pledge to the sacred oath it used to be before the meaningless reference to God was added.

Ernst F. Ghermann
Winnetka