A local school district in the Houston, Texas area has recently amended their policy which formerly read that students stand while the Pledge of Allegiance when recited in the morning. Two seniors decided one day that they did not want to stand during the Pledge and it has become the talk of the town who measures about 3600 citizens strong.
The two faced no discipline but still decided to take their protest to the ACLU, who in turn sent a request to the school board petitioning for a change in the policy on behalf of all unpatriotic students. The Texas ACLU had this to say: “Our bill of rights and American tradition protect dissenters and the majority just the same, and the right to express disagreement is a patriotic value that all Texans should fight for.” Anyone familiar with the ACLU’s work knows what rediculous statement that is.
It speaks volumes that the school seniors took their “cause” straight to the ACLU. They received no discipline and were merely asked to stand. They were under no obligation to recite it, cover their heart, or other customary ritual associated with the Pledge of Allegiance.
It has become fashionable to be disrespectful over the past few decades. It’s a shame that people blur the lines between having a right and doing what’s right. I for one, think it should be obligatory to stand and recite the Pledge in public schools through high school.
Sifting Reality 
“I for one, think it should be obligatory to stand and recite the Pledge in public schools through high school.”
Good for you. I support your right to believe whatever you like. That people should stand, etc. Now respect other peoples right to not be obligated to pledge an allegiance to something they don’t want to, for any reason they like. Freedom of speech? Freedom of Expression? So you believe it’s fine for you to express your beliefs, but it’s not okay for people who don’t agree with you to express theirs. Got it.
You got it, certain things should be above those freedoms. Reciting and standing for the pledge of allegiance is one, and another: it should be illegal to burn and desicrate the American flag.
You’re ridiculous. Give one good reason? Besides you thinking it’s a good idea. What happened to your love of freedom? Where in the constitution does it mandate patriotism? Forced patriotism, is not patriotism at all. What’s American about forced patriotism?
It’s not really about forced patriotism as much as it is about forced respect and reverence. The flag represents America’s values and the soldiers who died for the freedoms we enjoy, so i think flag burning/desicration should be exempt from protection of free speech.
Standing for the pledge in public schools, yeah, that’s a bit of forced patriotism. But it’s not really an overbearing forced patriotism, like singing songs of praise to the president in countries like N. Korea. The Pledge of Allegiance is more of a verbal acknowledgement of being an American and not working against he rbest interests.
“It’s not really about forced patriotism as much as it is about forced respect and reverence.”
Where do we draw the line? What’s acceptable to force people to resect and what’s not? Is koran burning okay? Is bible burning okay?
If you get to pick things to force me to respect, do I get to pick things to force you to respect?
“But it’s not really an overbearing forced patriotism, like singing songs of praise to the president in countries like N. Korea.”
So forced patriotism is fine as long as there’s a line? And who decides what is overbearing and what’s fine?
And what benefit does forcing people to be patriotic actually have for anyone? And doesn’t forced patriotism diminish the meaning of the pledge for those who actually want to say it? If you no longer have a choice in saying it, what’s so patriotic about it? It be like forcing people to get married. Two people who were madly in love and got married because they wanted to make a publicly recognized commitment to one another are put on an equal level with two people who got married because the law says they had to. Or is it more important to you for people to do something meaning less, then actually try to foster true patriotic feelings in people?
“It’s a shame that people blur the lines between having a right and doing what’s right.”
When you pledge an allegiance is it just to the things you like about it or to everything it is?
I refuse to pledge an allegiance to a nation built on genocide. A nation that screams sovereignty at any criticism by the international community, but says no issues violation other nations sovereignty. A nation that says they believe in Human Rights, but tends to rewrite the definition of Human Rights as they go along.
You pledge an allegiance to whatever you like, and I’ll do the same.
I had no idea you hated this country so much. I’ve learned a lot about you over the past few months.
And I you!
I hate a lot of things about this country, but I don’t hate this country as a whole. Like I love how I have the right to protest in this country. I love how I have the right to say out loud what I think is bad about this country. I love that the reigning ideologies supported by our constitution are liberty and equality, whether or not we as citizens or law makers do a good job reaching for those goals, at least we know what we are reaching for. And when people have died her and abroad fighting for my rights, I’m not going to take those rights for granted. I’m going to cherish them and use them. Because it’s our rights that are really what make being an American meaningful, not symbols, pledges, or songs. And above all else, I love what are nation has the potential of becoming. If I was going to pledge to something it be that goal. I would pledge to work every day and to do my best to make America the best it can be, not a pledge to stand with America for whatever it stands for, not a pledge to deny my own voice when the constitution clearly states I’m entitled to one.
John…
You got it, certain things should be above those freedoms. Reciting and standing for the pledge of allegiance is one, and another: it should be illegal to burn and desicrate the American flag.
You are unaware, perhaps, that there’s a whole group of Christians who refuse to say the pledge for biblical reasons? Those in the anabaptist tradition (Mennonites, Amish, etc – among others) refuse to say oaths or pledges of any sort. I’m in that camp, myself.
I may or may not decide to stand while others are saying the pledge (or sing the national anthem), but I certainly don’t think the right of some to see people forced to stand during such pledges ought to be “above our freedom.” If I were “forced” to stand, that would be my cue to refuse to, on principles of liberty and freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
It has nothing to do, at least sometimes, with patriotism – I certainly love my country and her best ideals – and a lot to do with integrity and respect of beliefs.
As to this…
“It’s not really about forced patriotism as much as it is about forced respect and reverence.”
Wow. I agree with Kelsey. That’s just a scary notion, a position rather on the extreme side so much that it makes me wonder if this is a gag or a joke?
“Forced respect?”
As if you could do anything but LOSE respect by trying to force it.