Think of it this way: I pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under _____, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. Now, fill in that blank with any doggone word you like - the principle is still the same - and they are what America was founded upon and what she still exists on today. If you are American you believe in America and when you see America's flag you put your hand over your heart and pledge your allegiance to America because America's flag gives you the blanket of protection that ensures your right and freedom to fill in that blank up there with any thing you like. Personally, I will fill in that blank with the word "God" because America gives me the freedom and the right to do just that. And, I take enormous offense at anyone who degredates my choice of words because it infringes on the rights and freedoms America gives me. Someone mentioned that the word "God" offends them because it is not their choice of vernacular to describe their own beliefs. How do you think those of us who DO choose to use the word "God" to describe our beliefs feel when we hear that word being spit upon so frivolously? When's the last time you heard someone take the name of your beliefs in vain; or demand that the name of your beliefs be omitted from all public speech; or insist that the name of your beliefs be stripped from your country's money. When's the last time someone decided that the word you choose to describe your beliefs is something so shameful that it shouldn't be allowed to be spoken by small children. But, just let one of us who choose the word "God" to describe our beliefs, take the name you choose to describe your beliefs and use it in a derogatory manner and guess what - you get all offended and you want America and all us Americans who use that awful word "God" to defend you and the word you choose to describe your beliefs - you say America gives you that right. You want the word you choose to describe your beliefs treated with respect and dignity - you say America gives you that right. And every time somebody disrespects or threatens the word you choose to describe your beliefs - America stands behind you and defends your right and your freedom to choose any word you want to use to describe your beliefs and to have that word treated with respect and dignity. Because that's what America stands for. Well, guess what - it's payback time. Now the word chosen by most of us to describe our beliefs is in peril because someone wants to take away our children's right and freedom to say our word in public school. To those of you who do NOT choose the word "God" to describe your beliefs - where is your help for the rest of us that have stood behind you and your word's rights and freedoms? Will you treat our word with the same dignity and respect you expect for your own word? Will you defend our word the same way you've asked us to defend yours? Or will you just continue to malign and degradate our word because America - this one nation under God - gives you the right and the freedom to do just that, too. Nancy