I still don't get what the big deal is, in highschool I stopped standing for the pladge half way through sophmore year. No one cared till one semester in junior year where I just stood up so the teacher thought I was saying something.
So, 10 pages of thread and nobody cared to explain to non-americans what is the pledge to allegiance and why it should be important? Are you aware we're not all american, right? I root for this boy though!
The Pledge of Allegiance is when in the morings in American schools, children stan up, put their right hand over their heart and say:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
This is extremely controversal in America, there have been many court cases to change this verse.
I still don't know how it is controversial when this was consider normal for the majority of America's time as country. When the "free rights movement" started just a few decades ago, the minority stood up and made it controversial on their terms. If you look around what America is right now, it's chaos of violences, sex, scandals, etc. A great think would see that compared to what America is, this nation is falling into nothing. This new era of society changed America to their own liking. What was once good, is now consider bad, what was once bad, is now acceptable.
The Pledge of Allegiance is when in the morings in American schools, children stan up, put their right hand over their heart and say:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
I don't want to offend anybody, but this sound to me like instituzionalized brainwashing.
This is extremely controversal in America, there have been many court cases to change this verse.
Besides those two words, the pledge isn't really that bad of a thing. I'm sure that this kid doesn't have a problem with the actual pledge or what it represents. It seems more likely that he has a problem with the other people who say the pledge. The pledge is about liberty, justice and fraternity (and I mean that in a non-sexist way), right? So when this kid sees people who are part of our nation being denied basic rights, it removes all of the virtues from the pledge. There are these people out there pledging this same pledge, and then denying gays their rights (specifically the rights to marry someone you love, work where you want to, enlist in the army, and live where you want). That being said, what does the pledge actually represent? Nothing. So why stand?
I don't like the pledge. It says "With liberty, under god," WAIT A SECOND. What's this I hear about the separation of church and state? I am very homosexual rights pro. I myself am not a homosexual, but the abuse they get is just unfair.
Then it's in this boy rights not to stand, am I right? Why the teacher tried to enforce this on him? Why can't he belive that what he was pleadging was untrue?
I saw a few people on here just saying, "Oh what's the big deal, just stand up and don't protest or do anything, it's a waste of time!"
Why should he sit there while he believes an injustice is going on? Why should he stand and support a pledge he doesn't believe in, or views as hypocritical?
How are we supposed to challenge injustice and improve our nation if we never stand up for things we believe in? We can't just sit around and take whatever anyone shoves down our throats without contesting what we don't agree with.
I think it's great that this kid is standing up (or not) for this. I agree, we pledge that our country stands for "liberty and justice for all", yet people are still being prosecuted for their views and beliefs... He's not disrespecting our country. He's doing his part to fight against those who are sullying our country and stripping rights and liberties from certain groups of people who are doing nothing wrong...
Also, please don't tell me that "the bible says..." I know most people on here won't, but still - anything from the bible is irrelevant in government/American law.
Then it's in this boy rights not to stand, am I right? Why the teacher tried to enforce this on him? Why can't he belive that what he was pleadging was untrue?
WexMajor82 - I believe that what you are saying is exactly what many others on here are saying. "Why do teachers and administrators try to enforce this on him? It is his right not to stand." That's one of the sides to this issue, that he should not have to stand and recite this pledge.
Also you said,
I don't want to offend anybody, but this sound to me like instituzionalized brainwashing.
Which I do agree with. When some over-dramatic 'traditionalized' (not a word I don't think) teacher gets upset when a child won't mindlessly recite this pledge, I find it somewhat disgusting. If we all act like sheep and just do what our "superiors" tell us... well that's what the corrupt and powerful want, cooperation without resistance.
Not saying the whole government is evil... But there are some people who should be taken out of office. Such as those in the case of denying gay rights? I think so.
