Haven't We Already Seen This Movie

Here we go again:

COMMIE JUDGE BANS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FROM CLASSROOMS!!!!
[My Hyperventilating Headline]

We just went through this a few years ago with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In fact, the way I understand it, today's ruling is simply based on the precedent set by that Appeals Court that says you can't have "a coercive requirement to affirm God." It's not the Pledge itself so much as it is the state sanctioning a religious message. Or something.

Never mind though, the wingnuts will be howling and I'm not looking forward to it. Finally, something they can chew on where they can resort to their usual victimhood at the hands of the oppressive and all powerful liberals. Finally, a change of subject that doesn't revolve around one of George Bush's failed policies.

I think the whole issue is way overblown no matter what position you take on the pledge.

On the one hand, the Pledge does remind me of some sort of totalitarian regime's requirement that demands a daily verbal outpouring of loyalty to the Fatherland (or Homeland, whatever). We had to recite the Pledge every day in grade school and I can assure you it was simply a rote ritual that had no meaning to any of the kids. The words all just ran together at some point and it was written off as merely time spent better than having to do school work.

Having said that, the Pledge just isn't that big a deal. This "issue" has to be like number 5,236 on my list of public policy items that need to be addressed. Now, public debate will be focused, for whatever amount of time, on this nonsense. I hope to live in a world someday where we can debate such things and not take away from more important matters.