A federal court has recently ruled that the phrase 'under God' in the traditional pledge of allegiance is unconstitutional.
In a case brought by an atheist with children at public schools (equivalent to English state schools) in California, the ninth circuit court has declared that the phrase 'under God' should not be a part of the pledge of allegiance.
The response from various American leaders has been predictable. George Bush has called the ruling ridiculous. Various members of the Senate gathered outside to swear the pledge of allegiance in support of the phrase 'under God'. It is highly unlikely that this ruling from the ninth circuit court will stand; it will either be repealed on appeal or, if it goes to the Supreme Court, every pundit predicts it will be punted out of court. Americans, by and large, like their pledge of allegiance and the references to God that it contains, even as their money also blazons 'in God we trust'. What's made this more interesting still is the recent revelation from the mother of the child in question that the child is actually a Christian; it's the father who's offended not the child.
