A reader pointed me to Snopes’ coverage of the Dr Pepper controversy about which I wrote yesterday. [thanks, Kareem] Snopes points out that the words “under God” were not part of the Pledge of Allegiance as originally written, but added by an act of Congress in 1954. I seem to recall earlier controversies about the phrase, perhaps from militant atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair? I stopped reciting the Pledge of Allegiance decades ago — not, as you might imagine, because of finishing school but in response to my opposition to the Vietnam War. [Up on stage as the valedictorian at my high school graduation ceremony, I shocked the 1200 graduating seniors’ families (and my own family…) by conspicuously remaining seated as the Pledge was recited. Part of my fifteen minutes of fame, I suppose. I also spurned Gen. William Westmoreland’s offered handshake on nationwide TV…] But if the Pledge were a part of community life these days, it’d be important to antagonize the God-fearing fundamentalist Shrub-types by conspicuously omitting the phrase. Why not write a letter to Dr Pepper telling them you know it was disingenuous of them to say they left out the offending phrase out of space considerations, when clearly they were trying to be ecumenical and avoid controversy, but that you applaud their action and that, even if the boycott doesn’t amount to anything, you’re going to drink more of their product to show your support? [Only half-serious, of course, but only half-joking… -FmH]