[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 131 (Tuesday, October 8, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1799-E1800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 REAFFIRMING REFERENCE TO ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 7, 2002

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this 
legislation prohibiting the words

[[Page E1800]]

``under God'' from being removed from the official Pledge of Allegiance 
as it is written in Federal law.
  Earlier this year, I voted against the Congressional resolution 
condemning the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for ruling the use of the 
words ``under God'' in the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional. I 
believe the Court was right.
  The Court ruled on a case in which children were required to recite 
the pledge. Just as we should not bar anyone from reciting the Pledge 
of Allegiance, we should not force anyone to recite words they do not 
believe. The Court was clear in affirming that the term ``under God'' 
was more than a casual colloquialism. The meaning of these words is 
only proven by Congress' religiously inspired crusade to chastise and 
even undo the Ninth Circuit's opinion.
  Congress ought to heed the Ninth Circuit Court and our Constitutional 
responsibility to respect the diversity of religious and personal 
belief in America. We should not legislate use of the term ``under 
God'' in the Pledge of Allegiance when many proud Americans do not 
share this belief.
  We ought to instead reaffirm the notion of a ``nation indivisible,'' 
and a pledge that fully recognizes the shared beliefs and common 
aspirations of all Americans. I urge my colleagues to embrace this 
ideal, honor a basic principle of our Constitution, and vote no on this 
bill.