About the publisher: Many thanks to Nicholas Goldberg for addressing a problem I struggled with during my public school years. as in life

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I have long been an atheist and have always objected to the forced public display of religious beliefs. (“Is the Pledge of Allegiance just an empty, performative ritual?”, Opinion, March 20)

The words “under God” must be removed from the

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promise of

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Loyalty. And as Goldberg argues, perhaps we should scrap the entire promise and replace it with an ode to the Bill of Rights.

Frances Segal, Mission Rancho Viejo.

About the publisher: Goldberg couldn’t be more wrong

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promise of

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Loyalty. I have always interpreted “one nation under God” as “a nation under a power greater than our individual selves.” This applies to everyone, regardless of religion or lack thereof.

We must cherish the national rituals that unite us. The recitation of the vow and the singing of the national anthem are the antithesis of performative, empty symbolism, for without them we are a nation disintegrating into millions of myopic, quarrelsome individuals harboring their personal grievances.

I’m not sure what will bring us back together, but offensive reminders like the promise that with so much progress still to be made, this country will remain bigger and better than any of us certainly doesn’t help.

Let’s emphasize what we have in common and celebrate our country, which allows broad criticism and always strives for better.

Ann Bowman, Santa Monica.

About the publisher: During my tenure as a teacher in the Fontana Unified School District, I taught several students who were not

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promise of

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Loyalty because of their belief in Jehovah’s Witnesses. The disciples stand to attention, do not put their hands on their hearts and remain silent.

The Supreme Court decision in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette cited by Goldberg targeted Jehovah’s Witnesses. As a result of this decision, my students’ right not to cancel the pledge was preserved.

Rather than question my students’ loyalty to the United States, I welcomed the opportunity to have my classroom serve as a laboratory where successful experiments were conducted daily to protect my Jehovah.

participation

Witness to the constitutional rights of students. Students of other religions exercised their rights and observed how the constitution should work.

Emilio Alvarez Jr., Fontana..

About the publisher: Goldberg writes, “As a disbelieving American, I am put off, to say the least, by the reference to God in the promise.”

As a believing, born-again American, I refuse to swear allegiance to the flag of any temporal nation because my primary allegiance is to the Lord Jesus Christ.

As I stand ready to assist my fellow Americans as they recite this litany of meritorious patriotism, I choose to remain silent because such a promise is contrary to my Christian faith.

Emery J. Cummins, San Diego