God and the Pledge

I don't think that women are a minority, but no one can argue with me that they were treated that way until the league of women voters was established in the 1920's.  Black men were given the ability to vote before women of any color were (I am not condoning that it took as long as it did for either in this statement it is just a matter of fact).

True, but the concept in his time was sticking very true to the wording of the 1st Amendment in that no laws could be made enforcing religious practice

My reference to Separation of Church and State was meaning that the phrase was not used in legal instances until 1874 with the Supreme Court decision. 

I personnally believe that we have taken the wall of separation a bit too far in not allowing a person in public office to often even state that they have religious beliefs.  This was not what Jefferson was stating in 1802.  He addressed his own religious beliefs several times in various letters.