Opinion: Disaster news overshadows pledge fracas

The subject of last week’s Rusty Saber was the generous response of Americans to the ravages left by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. That generosity surely must define the nature of the average American. Everywhere you go, there’s some sort of opportunity to give to hurricane relief in plain view. People everywhere are continuing to give.

I have been reminded that a flip side to the philanthropic responses were the reports of looting of abandoned property by some whose nature is less than generous.

Without doubt, a few hoodlums took advantage of a desperate situation. Granted, some New Orleans victims, initially trapped by raging floodwater, stole food for themselves and their families.

That’s different from thugs stealing everything in sight.

While early reports by media of rampant gang violence, rapes and murders have been mostly discounted, there was looting of valuables that had nothing to do with survival.

I saw a fairly detailed report on television following Hurricane Rita regarding severe damage to interiors of some homes and businesses in Texas caused by looters, not the storm. It’s a shame that this sort of thing follows most natural disasters, but a few goons shouldn’t distract from the admirable response of most Americans.

One other post-hurricane thought: Amid relief efforts, we must keep in mind the needs of other groups and projects that depend on the generosity of the public. The scores of needs that existed on the day before the hurricanes struck are with us today. For all the good done by hurricane relief, it hasn’t done anything for all those other causes supported by donations.

The real test of America as a good society will be how well we sustain our generosity. The poor, the hungry, the needy and myriad other causes remain with us.

Taking the pledge

Nearly lost in storm news has been the on-again, off-again saga of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools. When the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the issue, it appeared to be dead.

Although it could change at any moment, as this is written, a federal judge has determined it is after all unconstitutional for public school children to use the words ‘’under God’’ when reciting the pledge.

Some may be able to find it, but I don’t know exactly where in the U.S. Constitution it says that it is unconstitutional for school children to repeat what is essentially printed on their lunch money: “In God We Trust.”

It may be a wild one, but my guess is that the final word has yet to be spoken on this matter. Until then, one judge has declared the reference to God in the pledge to be unconstitutional. So be it.

But wait, how will this decree be enforced? Let’s say that an out-of-control sixth-grader blatantly defies the judge and willfully interjects the banned “under God” while reciting the morning pledge.

Surely this wayward youth must be punished. Think about it: If he gets away with this, what’s next? His crimes will escalate. Who knows, if he isn’t stopped, he might end up committing the ultimate offense: Singing a Christmas carol in class.

Since this judge has expanded the constitutional envelope, how to enforce the edict isn’t clear-cut. I’m not certain who should be arrested and punished – the minor child and/or parents? The teacher? The school principal? School board members? The hall monitor? I haven’t a clue.

What the heck, arrest them all. Round them up and sort them out later.

So many questions, so few answers.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.