Under God, with liberty and justice for all The Pledge of Allegiance has been recited in the hallways of American public schools for centuries. This ode to America begins each school day with students engaging in and appreciating the freedoms and liberties that America offers to citizens of the United States. The issues surrounding this iconic American symbol are these simple yet bold words, “Under God.” These words have caused lawsuits that have forced the Supreme Court to answer the following questions: 1. Do these words impede our First Amendment rights as Americans? 2. Can we force our young people to say them in our public schools? The First Amendment is vague, so either side of the argument can be validated, leading to a forced decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. Since 1892, when Francis Bellany originally composed the Oath, it has undergone many changes. The Oath originally did not contain the words “Under God.” It originally read: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic it represents, one nation indivisible, liberty and justice for all” (Pledge, 2013). This version changed many times until 1954 (Keith, 2008). According to the United States Flag Code it was changed to "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, and liberty and justice for all" and this has remained the version in force, although contested several times, to this day. The debate over the acting of “Under God” continues as both sides of the issue continue to pursue lawsuits across the country (Pledge, 2013). The objections to reciting “under God” are that our country is built with freedom in a democratic republic and for ...... middle of paper ......sEditorial: Is God Here to Stay? It's a miracle! Ninth Circuit judges side with "one nation under God." (2010, March 13, 2010). Augusta Chronicle, The (GA). Foundation for Freedom from Religion. (2013). Oath of allegiance. Retrieved from http://ffrf.org/faq/state-church/item/14030-pledge-of-allegianceKeith, R. (2008, February 12, 2008). New uproar over the promises underway in Lodi: parents oppose the 'under God' [Newspaper Source]. The record. More quotes from the presidents. (“nd”). Retrieved from http://usaheritage.org/presquotes.htmlPledge of Allegiance. (2013, November 14, 2013). On Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/09/04/5-facts-about-pledge-of-allegianceRusso, C.J. (2004, June 1, 2004). The Supreme Court and the Pledge of Allegiance: Does God Still Have a Place in American Schools? . Brigham Young University Journal of Law and Education, 301-330.