Editorial

People all over the United States have been feeling more patriotic following the events on Sept. 11. In Madison, that love of country has been diminished by a controversy over students reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in the city's public schools.

While we worry about where the terrorists will strike next, it seems ridiculous for Madison's citizens to argue about whether our children should pledge allegiance to our flag and our country. What a waste of time and energy! There should be no question that students in all of our schools should be encouraged to recite the Pledge of Allegiance each day.

New state law. Ironically, the furor over reciting the pledge began before the events of Sept. 11. A new Wisconsin law went into effect Sept. 1 requiring that Wisconsin schools offer either the Pledge of Allegiance or the national anthem daily for students in grades one through 12 in both public and private schools.

A minority of students and parents in Madison apparently objected to the Pledge of Allegiance. Some did not like the part about "one nation under God." Others criticized it for promoting nationalism and militarism. So on Oct. 8, on a 3-2 vote, the Madison School Board barred schools from using the Pledge of Allegiance and replaced it with an instrumental version of the national anthem.

Outrage at decision. Many Madison residents reacted with justified outrage at the decision. Besides lamenting the lack of patriotism engendered, some charged that board members were succumbing to tyranny by a minority. I agree. The board allowed a few people to dictate what the majority of people will do.

In light of the protests, the Madison School District decided to revert temporarily to its previous policy of leaving pledge recitation up to each school. From all ac-counts, most schools and students had no problem reciting the pledge. If a few students did not want to participate, they sat or stood quietly during the recitation.

Catholic response. Jim Silver, director of schools for the Diocese of Madison, said he has never heard "one word of objection" to the Pledge of Allegiance from anyone connected with Catholic schools here. "Our schools encourage patriotism," he said.

For Catholics, duty to one's country is actually part of observing the Fourth Commandment -- "Honor your father and your mother" -- according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The commandment "extends to the duties of . . . citizens to their country."

Be proud of our country. In these days of uncertainty and conflict, we should remind our children that ours is a great nation with "liberty and justice for all," which opens its arms to the poor and oppressed. Let's encourage all students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day as a first step in promoting pride in our country. The pledge should be combined with lessons about how our democracy works and discussions about being active citizens.

Let's not spend any more time and energy on controversies over the Pledge of Allegiance. We have much more important work to do in keeping our country free from terrorism and tyranny.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

To the editor:

In the wake of the tragedies in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, the American people displayed a remarkable goodness, heroism, generosity, patriotism, and a turning to God in prayers offered throughout the country. The casualty list of innocent victims now numbers more than 6,000. What a tragedy!

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Yet there is another tremendous tragedy happening daily in our country. It is the daily slaughter of approximately 4,000 unborn babies by abortion. On Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 there were more innocent victims of abortion than there were in the terrorists' attacks. And it continues because it is legal; but according to God's law it is wrong.

What do you think would happen if the evil of abortion were removed from our land? Would not our God, who knows the identity and whereabouts of each at-large terrorist, bring about 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven and heal their land"?

Josephine McFarland, Watertown

Erasing America as we know it

To the editor:

If, after the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. government and U.S. citizens had implemented only the strategies recommended by Tony Magliano (The Catholic Herald, Oct. 4, 2001), today those of us who would be fortunate or unfortunate enough to be living would either be wearing swastikas while greeting others with "Heil Hitler" or we would be saluting a flag of the Rising Sun while greeting others with "Ohiogiziamus," "Kumbawa," or "Kinichiwa."

Charles J. Sippel, Waterloo