The governor of Wisconsin wants the pledge of allegiance and the word “prayer” to be REMOVED from board meetings because they cause controversy.
- Dane County Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner wants to remove the pledge of allegiance and the word “prayer” from county council meetings for being divisive.
- The board’s executive committee will consider Wegleitner’s proposal at a meeting on Thursday, but a decision will be made after the April 5 election.
- Wegleitner, the married mother of an attorney, has been on the board since 2012 and is running for re-election.
- Another board member argued that being able to pray at the beginning of the meeting makes the board more inclusive and diverse.
The Wisconsin County Supervisory Authority wants to remove the Pledge of Allegiance from county council meetings, arguing that the reading is “divisive.”
Heidi Wegleitner suggested removing the promise as well as the word “prayer” from the board’s rules, which are currently reviewed twice a year.
The Dane County Council Executive Committee will consider Wegleitner’s proposal at a meeting on Thursday, although newly elected leaders will have the final say after the April 5 election.
Dane County Superintendent Heidi Wegleitner (left and right) proposed removing the Pledge of Allegiance and the word “prayer” from county council meetings, deeming them “disagreements.”
HISTORY OF ACCEPTANCE FOR LOYALTY:
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by Socialist Minister Francis Bellamy (1855-1931). It was originally published in The Companion to Youth on September 8, 1892. Bellamy hoped that this promise would be used by the citizens of any country.
In its original form, it read: “I swear allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
In 1923, the words “Flag of the United States of America” were added. At this time, it read: “I swear allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and the Republic it represents, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
In 1954, in response to the communist threat of the day, President Eisenhower called on Congress to add the words “under God,” creating the 31-word promise we make today. Bellamy’s daughter objected to this change. Today it reads: “I swear allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the republic it represents, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Source: UShistory.org
“It just seems out of place for us when in a pluralistic society we want to be inclusive and representative,” Wegleitner told Madison.com. “In the end, I think it’s divisive.”
Wegleitner said she studied which areas government agencies make the promise at the start of meetings and found inconsistencies, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
Municipalities that don’t have that promise on their agenda include Madison and Waunakee, she said. Other municipalities such as Fitchburg, San Prairie and Verona include it in accordance with the plans of these cities.
Wegleitner drew parallels between refusing to utter a promise and professional athletes kneeling during the national anthem.
“There are other ways to show community and shared values,” Wegleitner said.
The first version of the Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a socialist minister.
In 1954, Congress revised the promise to add “under God” at the urging of President Dwight Eisenhower.
Board member Tim Rockwell argued that being able to pray at the beginning of meetings makes the board more inclusive and diverse, noting that more than 45 percent of Dane County residents are religious.
“This is all happening in the same city where the Freedom From Religion Foundation is located,” Rockwell said, adding that the county’s religious diversity should be “celebrated, not suppressed.”
Wegleitner, a married mother of one, has been on the Supervisory Board since 2012. Her term ends in April and she is running for re-election next month.
Before taking public office, Wegleitner worked as a public interest lawyer representing low-income tenants in eviction cases.
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a socialist minister.