An 'investigation' into why students aren’t standing for the Pledge of Allegiance in Dothan, Ala., could easily be construed as a form of harassment or pressure to take part in the ritual.

Americans United often gets requests for assistance from students seeking information and research about separation of church and state. I try to do what I can to help. I believe that if a young person has an interest in our issues, we should encourage it.

There are overlooked connections between Columbus Day and the Pledge of Allegiance – both to the creation of the pledge itself in 1892 and the 1954 addition of the phrase “under God.”