Oaths, Scouts and God: When a Pledge of Allegiance Is Painful
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Dianne Klein cynically compares the Boy Scouts’ right to define membership requirements to forcing a public school student to say “God” in the Pledge of Allegiance (“Making America Safe for the Boy Scouts,” Nov. 29).
There’s no comparison. The Boy Scouts is a private organization, one of the many diverse options we Americans are privileged to enjoy.
Although a Scout must say “God” in the oath, he certainly had the option not to join. There are plenty of other organizations for the atheist would-be Scout to join (as well as the homosexual would-be Scout leader).
A public school student does not enjoy optional attendance and forcing him to say “God” is an entirely different matter. The comparison is completely irrelevant and misleading.
DENNIS RUNNING
Paso Robles
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