Basically, one point has been missed. And that is, aside from whether issues like the Pledge "divide" us, I don't like the decision because it stirs up a lot of controversy that's not needed. There are a lot of real substantial problems that have to be dealt with, and stirring up the religious crazies does not help. Note that not only Bush, but people like Diane Feinstein and Dick Gebhardt feel compelled to weigh in on the side of "under God."

In other words, if one is a "progressive" or liberal or whatever, and wants substantial progress, on this earth, toward a better world, does it make any practical sense to antagonize one's natural friends who are Black or Hispanic or southern white and also gung ho about God? When the issue is purely symbolic?