By Ariel Boehnelin
Copy Editor
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
On the morning that this particular version of the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, senior Grant Myers, the reader of the Pledge, left out two specific words, "under God."
"I half-way didn’t mean to," he said.
Myers said he had always thought about leaving out those words before but never knew when he would. When he started reciting the Pledge that morning, it just happened. Myers, along with fellow announcement reader senior Charlie Frederick, got many complaints. Some students and faculty were confused and angered.
"I was kind of upset," said senior Christian Polley, who is a Christian and a member of Genesis Christian Church. "I didn’t know if it was a move by the school to leave it out."
It wasn’t a move made by the school. Principal Jeffry Henderson was surprised by the action, too, and as an administrator had to speak to Myers and Frederick.
"State law requires (the Pledge) to be read in its entirety," Henderson said. "State legislation says we have to do it."
This includes "under God." However, this part does not need to be said by the students. In fact, no student or teacher is required to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, and if they do, they aren’t forced to include every part of the Pledge. Some students don’t believe in one particular god or any god at all. Others share the same God but have different beliefs.
Junior Tamar Shachaf, a Jewish student at North, believes that everyone has his/her own interpretation of "under God."
"It can be my God, just as easily as it can be a Christian’s God," Shachaf said.
This corresponds with religious expression at school. Saying, "under God," is the individual’s right by law.
Phrases such as this are always on the radar in society.
"(People have) gone overboard with political correctness," Shachaf said.
At North, many students believe that they are not allowed to express their religion, or their religion’s holidays, because the administration tells them not to.
"I can’t celebrate Christmas, I can’t celebrate Easter, but we can say, ‘under God,’" Myers said.
Henderson, however, wants to correct this belief. There is no rule that prohibits students from saying, "Merry Christmas," "Happy Hanukkah," or any other type of holiday greeting.
Henderson said that there are only two reasons freedom to express religion would be prohibited at North.
"(It’s) whether or not the expression the individual is making is disruptive to the educational process or is demeaning to a particular group of people," Henderson said.
However, expression of religion cannot be demonstrated by teachers.
"There is a separation of church and state. (It’s) a requirement," Henderson said.
Another issue that arises with the religious expression question is that some students get offended when wished a happy holiday that is not their own.
Shachaf thinks it’s never a problem when someone wishes her a happy holiday that she does not celebrate, whether they’re saying "Happy Kwanzaa" or "Merry Christmas."
"I don’t get mad at them when they wish me ‘Merry Christmas.’ It shows that they’re being nice," she said. "At the same time, if I say, ‘Happy Hanukkah’ to someone, I don’t (want) them to be offended."
No matter a student’s religion, if any, he/she has the right to say what he/she wants and is comfortable with.
"If you celebrate Hanukkah, say Hanukkah; Kwanzaa, say Kwanzaa," Polley said. "(School’s) supposed to be built around diversity and freedom of religion. Just do your own thing."
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