by Guy Page
Last week, Vermont Daily Chronicle began to receive inquiries about Sen. Becca White (D-Windsor) not saying the Pledge of Allegiance on Tuesday mornings when the Senate convenes for the week. Curious, we sat in the balcony as the other senators said the pledge – but neither White or fellow county senators Alison Clarkson nor Richard McCormack were present. Seconds after the pledge concluded, the three entered together and took their seats.
Yesterday afternoon we inquired by email of Sen. White, a first-term senator and former House member and selectboard member for Hartford, asking if she said the Pledge and if not, why not. She emailed this response today:
“I do not say the pledge of allegiance, I take a moment silence and reflection.
“As you may see in the Valley News article I do not say the pledge because I do not believe in God. I am an atheist Unitarian Universalist and a member of the First Universalist Society of Hartland.
“Growing up I just left out the “under God” piece, but in college I had a profound conversation with a Vietnam veteran and dear friend (who has since passed away in part due to health complications from cancer linked to my knowledge from agent orange exposure while serving) LJ Palardy. LJ expressed to me that to omit the “under God” section was worse than taking a moment of reflection and silence on the meaning of the pledge. So in respect for that conversation, I choose to stand and take a moment of silence and reflection.
“I worry that saying the pledge has been used as a litmus test for my patriotism or respect for service members, and it is not. It is a reflection on a religious belief, in the same way I’m sure many Christian Americans would struggle to say a pledge that said ‘Under Oden’ or ‘Under Zeus.'”