By Christina Lee
Town Crier Editorial Intern
While TV and radio talk shows across the nation blared with outrage at a federal court’s decision to strip “God” from the Pledge of Allegiance, reaction from local officials was relatively neutral.
“It is an interesting question though, whether, sanction of monotheism equals establishment of religion,” said Los Altos Mayor Francis La Poll of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ June 26 ruling that “under God” in the pledge is unconstitutional. Congress added the phrase “under God” in 1954.
Although many residents, especially in the wake of Sept. 11, expressed passion about leaving the words, “under God,” officials indicated the ruling may leave little impact.
“I have not heard anything from the mayor (Bob Fenwick) about moving away from the pledge or changing it, so I’m assuming it’s business as usual,” said Los Altos Hills City Manager Maureen Cassingham about the pledge, recited regularly at council meetings.
For Los Altos, the pledge has not yet been an issue of debate either.
La Poll, an attorney, said he has doubts the federal court’s decision will stand based on parts of the same decisions and other decisions of the court noting that use of the term “God” to open a legislative session is “more ceremonial than religious.”
In California, public schools are required to exemplify their “patriotic observance,” a requirement that has often been satisfied with the recitement of the Pledge of Allegiance. Many Los Altos schools have students recite the Pledge of Allegiance as well as sing a patriotic song before classes at least once or twice a week.
School officials, however, are not worrying about changes to the patriotic observance routines for the fall. One reason is that the Supreme Court had already ruled in 1943 that no school is able to force a student to participate in the recitement of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Marge Gratiot, superintendent of the Los Altos School District, said, “We currently have students who do not join in the patriotic observances at their parents’ request, and we honor those requests.”
She added that schools are not worried because of the several different approaches to showing patriotism such as through historical speeches or songs.
Although approximately 9 out of 10 Americans believe that the Pledge of Allegiance should not be altered, city and school officials are taking a wait-and-see approach.
La Poll said the city plans to “proceed as usual - if the courts ultimately decide that the two words are unconstitutional, then I am sure that we shall eliminate them.”
As for the Los Altos School District, Gratiot remains positive that the “state Department of Education will give us a clear direction on this before school starts in August.”
The decision will be appealed to the full 9th Circuit Court of 11 judges. Legal experts have said the ruling likely will be overturned by either the full Circuit Court of the U.S. Supreme Court.
