Lets not hold what the founding fathers did 200+ years ago as the end all for american constitutional law. Remember that the issue of slavery was not even addressed in the Constitution...

Just as that constitutional question needed to be addressed as american society evolved, questions about the part religion should play in our government are arising due to evolving mores of our American society...

For me these questions need answers before I decide:

1. What is the purpose of the pledge?
2. Is that purpose currently being accomplished by recital of the pledge?
3. Why is it only mandatory to pledge up to high school? (perhaps this was just my experience)
4. Why aren't adults compelled to say it before work?
5. Are dual citizens allowed to use that time to pledge allegiance to France or wherever they may be from?

Perhaps the government should make it mandatory that every day at sunset we all get out our little american flag prayer rugs, kneel in the direction of Washington D.C. and say the pledge. How many adults would voluntarily undertake such an effort? I guess my point is that we make our kids do the EXACT same thing every day....every day, before class, face the same direction, pray to the flag...we just leave out the rug part. Why just the children?

....and for those of you that feel this a really big deal....How about a rewrite of the pledge?? One nation, under the President.......

...kinda solves the whole problem doesn't it??

That way we can continue to brainwash our children with a clean constitutional conscience.........