“Under God” was added in the 1950s. Prior to that, it was… ” One Nation, Indivisible, With Liberty and justice for All.” Look it up. What we think is part of our history, is really a recent addition to our vernacular.

Oh no, I know that.  In fact, I had a student last year that asked a question regarding the addition of these phrases that allowed me to have a teachable moment.

He asked why some people wanted to remove the phrase, “Under God.”  I told him the history of the pledge.  Most of my students were completely shocked that the phrase had not always existed. 

Then I asked him to imagine what it would feel like to be someone who didn’t believe in a God and had to recite a pledge that included that.  He responded that it would feel really bad and that he thought he understood their point of view after the discussion.