As our Nation celebrated its independence and heritage this past July Fourth, we also became united against a new attack on our country and our Patriotism from our own judiciary.

Most of us grew up reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in school, the words rolling as easily off our tongues as the ABC's and 1-2-3's, and Americans in general are appalled that a federal appeals court would take aim at our sacred oath. And why now, at a time when our country is united in defiance of terrorist aggression, and our fellow countrymen pray to a higher authority for strength and guidance?

Bikers didn't need 9-11 to catalyze our Patriotism and love for our country. Many motorcyclists are veterans, and most of us are more civically involved and politically aware than the average citizen. Despite a reputation for rabble rousing and a rebellious lifestyle, we routinely recite the Pledge of Allegiance at our meetings, rallies and gatherings, and we did so even before it became politically correct.

Former President Clinton once said that you can't love your country and hate your government, but most bikers would respond that we love our country enough to want to fix it. Now, a San Francisco court gives us yet another reason to question authority.

Politicians have been quick to wrap themselves in the flag since the court's June 27 decision, and both sides of the aisle and even President Bush have decried the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declaration that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional because of the words "under God" inserted by Congress in 1954.

In a 2-1 decision, the court said the phrase "one nation under God" amounts to a government endorsement of religion in violation of the separation of church and state. The case was brought by a California atheist who objected to his daughter being compelled to listen to her second-grade classmates recite the pledge.

Critics of the decision were flabbergasted and warned that it calls into question the use of "In God We Trust" on the nation's currency, the public singing of patriotic songs like"God Bless America," even the use of the phrase "So help me God" when judges are sworn into office.

The ruling, if allowed to stand, would mean schoolchildren could no longer recite the pledge, at least in the nine Western states covered by the court: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington state.

However, the ruling does not take effect for several months, to allow further appeals. The government can ask the court to reconsider, or take its case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Incidentally, the Supreme Court itself begins each of its sessions with the phrase "God save the United States and this honorable court."

The 9th Circuit is the nation's most overturned appellate court - partly because it is the largest, but also because it tends to make liberal, activist opinions, and because the cases it hears - on a range of issues from environmental laws to property rights to civil rights - tend to challenge the status quo.

Congress inserted "under God" at the height of the Cold War after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, religious leaders and others who wanted to distinguish the United States from what they regarded as godless communism.