Thursday, March 31, 2005
Today: BUY PEPSI
I received this crazy forward today that--well, let's just have you read it yourself.
Subject: Dont Buy Pepsi in the NEW CAN
Don't buy Pepsi in the new can. Pepsi has a new "patriotic"
can coming out with pictures of the Empire State Building,
and the Pledge of Allegiance on them.
However, Pepsi left out two little words on the pledge,
"Under God." Pepsi said they didn't want to offend anyone.
In that case, we don't want to offend anyone at the Pepsi
corporate office, either. So if we don't buy any Pepsi
product, they will not be offended when they don't receive
our money that has the words "In God We Trust" on it.
HOW FAST CAN YOU FORWARD THIS ONE?
Now, my response:
Hey guys,
Sorry if this bugs you, but on occasion when you’re going to send a forward to everyone you know, you're going to have to expect that not everyone on your list agrees with such a forward. Let me explain why I will not be boycotting Pepsi and why, in fact, I'll be writing a letter of support to them.
The pledge to the flag, when originally written, did not contain the words 'under God' in it. It should have been left alone.
It was written by a socialist (that's right, a pseudo-commie) minister, Francis Bellamy, as a personal pledge in the late 1880's.
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
It was never a law—not written with the Constitution, it was merely published into a periodical called "Youth's Companion" to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' landing. It grew into popularity and was changed, replacing 'my flag' with ‘the flag of the United States of America,’ much to the chagrin of Bellamy’s family.
In the early 50's, the Knights of Columbus tried to add "under God", but were unsuccessful until President Eisenhower agreed with a sermon by Rev. George Docherty suggesting that the pledge was unspecific enough to be from any country. The 'under God' wasn't added because we're a Christian country--only because we wanted to show that we were different than Communists, who are Atheist. The 'under God' was added on Flag Day in 1954. After that change was made, officially, Bellamy’s Granddaughter said that he wouldn’t have been happy with that change either.
Now, here’s where I personally don't understand why more Christians aren't up in arms about the use of their personal beliefs as a political device simply added to distinguish our country from another. The use of "under God" in the pledge to the flag, is pretty unchristian—a blatant, vain use the Holy's name--to set a country apart from another country is not being reverent to the Word. I’m just looking at it from the point of view of someone who grew up Catholic. I have never been happy with that use, even as a child.
Speaking of which, the mention of “in God we trust” on the money is another thing that’s pretty obviously against Christ’s wishes. Isn’t this the same Christ who was angry about moneychangers in the temple? Wasn’t this the same Christ who said ‘give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give unto God what is God.”? Don’t be fooled into thinking that the appearance of “God” on our official accoutrement is in any way reverent of the religious principals the belief system is based on than—more like it’s using the coding of religion to serve its own ends. If that’s not idol worship, I don’t know what is.
Yours in the Constitution,
Matt Mager
I received this crazy forward today that--well, let's just have you read it yourself.
Subject: Dont Buy Pepsi in the NEW CAN
Don't buy Pepsi in the new can. Pepsi has a new "patriotic"
can coming out with pictures of the Empire State Building,
and the Pledge of Allegiance on them.
However, Pepsi left out two little words on the pledge,
"Under God." Pepsi said they didn't want to offend anyone.
In that case, we don't want to offend anyone at the Pepsi
corporate office, either. So if we don't buy any Pepsi
product, they will not be offended when they don't receive
our money that has the words "In God We Trust" on it.
HOW FAST CAN YOU FORWARD THIS ONE?
Now, my response:
Hey guys,
Sorry if this bugs you, but on occasion when you’re going to send a forward to everyone you know, you're going to have to expect that not everyone on your list agrees with such a forward. Let me explain why I will not be boycotting Pepsi and why, in fact, I'll be writing a letter of support to them.
The pledge to the flag, when originally written, did not contain the words 'under God' in it. It should have been left alone.
It was written by a socialist (that's right, a pseudo-commie) minister, Francis Bellamy, as a personal pledge in the late 1880's.
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
It was never a law—not written with the Constitution, it was merely published into a periodical called "Youth's Companion" to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' landing. It grew into popularity and was changed, replacing 'my flag' with ‘the flag of the United States of America,’ much to the chagrin of Bellamy’s family.
In the early 50's, the Knights of Columbus tried to add "under God", but were unsuccessful until President Eisenhower agreed with a sermon by Rev. George Docherty suggesting that the pledge was unspecific enough to be from any country. The 'under God' wasn't added because we're a Christian country--only because we wanted to show that we were different than Communists, who are Atheist. The 'under God' was added on Flag Day in 1954. After that change was made, officially, Bellamy’s Granddaughter said that he wouldn’t have been happy with that change either.
Now, here’s where I personally don't understand why more Christians aren't up in arms about the use of their personal beliefs as a political device simply added to distinguish our country from another. The use of "under God" in the pledge to the flag, is pretty unchristian—a blatant, vain use the Holy's name--to set a country apart from another country is not being reverent to the Word. I’m just looking at it from the point of view of someone who grew up Catholic. I have never been happy with that use, even as a child.
Speaking of which, the mention of “in God we trust” on the money is another thing that’s pretty obviously against Christ’s wishes. Isn’t this the same Christ who was angry about moneychangers in the temple? Wasn’t this the same Christ who said ‘give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give unto God what is God.”? Don’t be fooled into thinking that the appearance of “God” on our official accoutrement is in any way reverent of the religious principals the belief system is based on than—more like it’s using the coding of religion to serve its own ends. If that’s not idol worship, I don’t know what is.
Yours in the Constitution,
Matt Mager
