In August, 1892, Francis Bellamy wrote the Pledge of Allegiance. Congress formally adopted the pledge in 1942, giving it its formal name.
I do not believe Mr. Bellamy intended for “God” to be referred to as “Allah.” I am certain this isn’t news to American Patriots, but on Wednesday, in a school in Pine Bush, New York, the Pledge was read by a student in Arabic. It was read, “One nation, under Allah . . .”
How can anyone not be insulted, shocked, offended and angry over this? There were complaints from Jewish parents and residents who had family members killed in Afghanistan. How do you think they felt?
This is just the first of many ways our schools are going to attempt to indoctrinate our children into Islam. What a disgrace.
Myra Bowen
Chattanooga
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Ms. Bowen,
I too, question why the Pledge of Allegiance is being recited in Arabic, in an American school, in America, but given that it was in Arabic, "Allah" is the translation for "God," if you think that it should be a part of the pledge. Mr. Bellamy had no intentions either way, because the pledge he wrote did not contain the phrase "under God." This phrase was not added until 1954 at the urging of Dwight Eisenhower.
I don't believe that there is any movement underway to indoctrinate our children into Islam and I think that we should revert back to Mr. Bellamy's original version of the pledge and keep any religion and government separate as it was intended.
John Fricke
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Dear Ms. Bowen,
While I'm quite sure that Francis Bellamy never intended for the word Allah to be recited as a part of his pledge, I'm equally sure that he never intended for the word God to be recited in it either. That's because Francis Bellamy, a committed Christian Socialist, never included the word God in his original text. The phrase "under God" wasn't added to the Pledge of Allegiance until 1954, by an act of Congress, and was done largely in response to the made-up threat of a communist takeover.
While I'm not sure which god you worship, as a Christian, my God is probably big enough to handle it if a few Allahs get slipped into the Pledge every now and then. Besides, having taught a number of Muslim students, I can assure you they are among the most loyal Americans. They are also, for the most part, very good students of American History. Unlike many of my fellow Southerners, they're certainly not likely to "disgrace" themselves by not knowing the history of our all-important Pledge of Allegiance - its origins and amendment.
Celeste Holladay
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Allah is simply the word for God in Arabic. Our Hispanic brothers and sisters say Dios, the French Dieu, Czech Buh, Vietnamese Chua. I am quite sure that many of those brave Arabic speaking Christians martyred by the IS were praying to Allah as they died.
John Odom
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In November of last year Rocky Mountain Colorado high school Cultural Arms Club students translated and recited the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish. It caused a small local uproar among a few but didn't make national news. They also plan to translate and recite the Pledge of Allegiance in American Sign Language, Korean, French and possibly Chinese as well as several other languages. The idea and goal of the students are to bring down barriers that exist not only in their school but in their communities, as well as embrace other cultures.
Aren't our young people the most awesome, like ever?!
The term "Allah" just means "God" in another language.
Remember the term "under God" wasn't added to the Pledge of Allegiance until 1954. Our young people give the rest of us hope in their desire and struggle to make this nation a better more inclusive one for all and truly a nation of immigrants.
To our inspirational young people, you simply rock.
Brenda Washington