Posted: Sun Sep 29 2002
Bumper Sticker Settles Issue With Cunning Use Of Underline, Capitalization

Janet Pernee, like many other Americans, was shocked to learn of the ninth circuit court's decision declaring the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional, but now she's fighting back.

Pernee is the proud new owner of a bumper sticker which states, in no uncertain terms, her view of the court's controversial decision.

The controversy began in 1954 when the phrase "under God" was added to the Pledge by Congress, and subsequently signed into law by then President Eisenhower.

More recently, an atheist named Michael Newdow filed suit, claiming that when Congress made a law which added the religious phrase "under God", it had violated the First Amendment, which contains an injunction against Congress making laws which add the phrase "under God" to national pledges.

When the court ruled in Newdow's favor, much religious and political fervor erupted across the country, most of which centered around the centuries-old tradition of saying "under God" in the Pledge.

But now Pernee, with the help of BumpCo, the world's largest producer of religious and patriotic bumper stickers, is fighting back with a bumper sticker which reads "One Nation UNDER GOD".

"It was the underline that caught my eye," said Pernee. "It says it all right there: UNDER GOD. You just can't argue with an underlined and capitalized phrase. It shows you really mean it."

Secular groups have plans to strike back with bumperstickers such as "One Nation, INDIVISIBLE", but may not be able to get the stickers on the street before the damage is done.