Gelernter, Lincoln and the pledge

Re “Lincoln’s words, our pledge,”

Opinion, Nov. 18

David Gelernter has completely misconstrued the case concerning the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. The problem is not requiring children to repeat the words of Abraham Lincoln, it is the government requiring children to affirm a particular kind of religious belief. I wonder if Gelernter would object, since there is only one God, if the children said, “under Allah” or “under Baal” or “under Zeus.”

ROBERT C. LEWIS

La Mesa

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I have a problem with the penultimate paragraph in Gelernter’s commentary. I believe that freedom of religion includes freedom from religion; I also believe not only in freedom of speech but also in freedom from speech. Gelernter believes it is all right for children to be “coerced by peer pressure” to say words contradicting one of their most basic rights; I believe this is totally unacceptable.

M’LOU DIETZER

Irvine

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Gelernter obviously reveres Lincoln. So much so that Gelernter implies that since Lincoln inserted the words “under God” into the Gettysburg Address at the last minute, we should all be obliged to repeat those words every time we say the Pledge of Allegiance. Judeo-Christian beliefs deserve respect; non-theist beliefs apparently do not. How does that jibe with “with malice toward none; with charity for all” [from Lincoln’s second inaugural address]?

KIT HOPE

Garden Grove