Nothing in Particular, Really

In his article “Under God”, Samuel Huntington explores the controversy that arose when the line “under God” was taken out from the Pledge of Allegiance. Keeping a rather objective stand, he makes a point of stating the arguments both for and against the omission of the particular line.

The issue arose when atheists, a minority in the United States of America expressed their dissatisfaction of being “outsiders, not full members of the political community” (Huntington, 2). To be made to refer to a god can be seen not only unconstitutional, but also in conflict with the ideals the nation was built on – a promise of religious equality amongst all. However, Huntington also addresses the importance of religion in American society, stating an opinion that by omitting “under God” from the Pledge, atheists are imposing their beliefs, or lack of, on the rest of their community.

Gary Markstein, on the other hand, gives the reader a very subjective view on the matter. By replacing the debated line with “one nation under nothing in particular” he makes a point that without religion, there is no true ideal that creates a connection between the people of America. This can also be seen as harsh criticism of the society, seeing that Markstein seems to believe that, except for religion, nothing is really a striving force for the nation.

While the two authors address the same subject, in their works we can see a difference of opinion, one which undoubtedly mirrors that of the very nation of the United States of America.