Pledge of Allegiance in Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh...the memories of saying the pledge and then break out into song...such a baby boomer element

I remember at my school in NJ, we said the pledge and then sang..was it America The Beautiful? I don't think it was the National Anthem. I wish my DD had that experience in school.

[Anonymous]

We sang My Country 'Tis of Thee!

I hated it.

[Anonymous]

I would like to know which US wars were fought for "our freedom", versus fighting for cash, land grabs, asset accumulation, "freedom" from taxes and other positive government interventions, random political alliances, etc. I can think of like two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would like to know which US wars were fought for "our freedom", versus fighting for cash, land grabs, asset accumulation, "freedom" from taxes and other positive government interventions, random political alliances, etc. I can think of like two.

They fought for your freedom to be forced to say the pledge of allegiance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We sang My Country 'Tis of Thee!

I hated it.

So YOU hated it. Big deal.

Are you saying that's a good reason to do away with it altogether?

[Anonymous]

I hated singing that only because I was SO SHY about my (terrible) singing voice!

I'm just open minded about this stuff. My kids say the pledge. They also go to a fantastic Jewish preschool and participate in Shabbat on Fridays, prayers and all (in hebrew) and we are atheist. I think it's so cool. I just don't really "get" the whole "it's immoral to pledge allegiance to something so evil" if you live here. Or the "I whip out boggle during our anthem". Maybe I'm just some hormonal mother sucker but the anthem usually brings a tear to my eye, somehow especially if it's a child singing it. Our country is so far from perfect-- but so am I. Something about being in a huge stadium and seeing so many people standing, hands over heart, some singing- it just gives me hope that just MAYBE we really can come together as one. Or more like one. Or that we can do better. And I think that uniting over SOMETHING is powerful. So when I see these sweet kids, PROUD that they memorized this (my kids are not religious)......it just makes me happy. Maybe I'm just a stupid sap, but I don't see the evil in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We sang My Country 'Tis of Thee!

I hated it.

That's because it's really an English tune, God Save the Queen. Sing American dammit!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No flags in our classrooms thus no need to engage with this moribund relic of a bygone era. How many Americans know the first thing about the Flag Code? DCPS itself surely doesn't follow many of the providions relating to the proper display of the Flag. Let's just put the time to better use by teaching some of the more important fundamentals of civics and American history.

And drop DC history which is a waste of time. DCPS teaches that Marion Barry was some kind of ML King-like figure, rather than a racist, crooked, tax cheating scumbag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We sang My Country 'Tis of Thee!

I hated it.

Come on! It's a great song. And it's God Save the Queen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hated singing that only because I was SO SHY about my (terrible) singing voice!

I'm just open minded about this stuff. My kids say the pledge. They also go to a fantastic Jewish preschool and participate in Shabbat on Fridays, prayers and all (in hebrew) and we are atheist. I think it's so cool. I just don't really "get" the whole "it's immoral to pledge allegiance to something so evil" if you live here. Or the "I whip out boggle during our anthem". Maybe I'm just some hormonal mother sucker but the anthem usually brings a tear to my eye, somehow especially if it's a child singing it. Our country is so far from perfect-- but so am I. Something about being in a huge stadium and seeing so many people standing, hands over heart, some singing- it just gives me hope that just MAYBE we really can come together as one. Or more like one. Or that we can do better. And I think that uniting over SOMETHING is powerful. So when I see these sweet kids, PROUD that they memorized this (my kids are not religious)......it just makes me happy. Maybe I'm just a stupid sap, but I don't see the evil in it.

I grew up JW. Here are the reasons they cannot pledge.

http://thejehovahswitnesses.org/flag.php

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No flags in our classrooms thus no need to engage with this moribund relic of a bygone era. How many Americans know the first thing about the Flag Code? DCPS itself surely doesn't follow many of the providions relating to the proper display of the Flag. Let's just put the time to better use by teaching some of the more important fundamentals of civics and American history.

And drop DC history which is a waste of time. DCPS teaches that Marion Barry was some kind of ML King-like figure, rather than a racist, crooked, tax cheating scumbag.

The history of the Nation's Capital is a waste of time? Not to those of us who live and work here. There's significantly more to it than Marion Barry. Believe it or not, historians have written quite interesting books about the District of Columbia and its singular federal status, which has been worthy enough for skewering by Steven Colbert and John Oliver. Maybe Oklahoma or North Dakota should drop teaching its history.
.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No flags in our classrooms thus no need to engage with this moribund relic of a bygone era. How many Americans know the first thing about the Flag Code? DCPS itself surely doesn't follow many of the providions relating to the proper display of the Flag. Let's just put the time to better use by teaching some of the more important fundamentals of civics and American history.

And drop DC history which is a waste of time. DCPS teaches that Marion Barry was some kind of ML King-like figure, rather than a racist, crooked, tax cheating scumbag.

The history of the Nation's Capital is a waste of time? Not to those of us who live and work here. There's significantly more to it than Marion Barry. Believe it or not, historians have written quite interesting books about the District of Columbia and its singular federal status, which has been worthy enough for skewering by Steven Colbert and John Oliver. Maybe Oklahoma or North Dakota should drop teaching its history.
.

Whenever someone brings up Barry I chuckle. It's more to DC History than Barry. I don't even recall learning about him when I took the class in the early 2000's. I do remember learning about the various circles (Grant, Sherman etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No flags in our classrooms thus no need to engage with this moribund relic of a bygone era. How many Americans know the first thing about the Flag Code? DCPS itself surely doesn't follow many of the providions relating to the proper display of the Flag. Let's just put the time to better use by teaching some of the more important fundamentals of civics and American history.

And drop DC history which is a waste of time. DCPS teaches that Marion Barry was some kind of ML King-like figure, rather than a racist, crooked, tax cheating scumbag.

The history of the Nation's Capital is a waste of time? Not to those of us who live and work here. There's significantly more to it than Marion Barry. Believe it or not, historians have written quite interesting books about the District of Columbia and its singular federal status, which has been worthy enough for skewering by Steven Colbert and John Oliver. Maybe Oklahoma or North Dakota should drop teaching its history.
.

Whenever someone brings up Barry I chuckle. It's more to DC History than Barry. I don't even recall learning about him when I took the class in the early 2000's. I do remember learning about the various circles (Grant, Sherman etc.).

There are several morons on the DC Council who actually want to rename struggling UDC after Marion Barry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if policy requires it in school, your kid would not be required to say it, only to be quiet and respectful while others do.

Of course. My kids have never attended a school where the pledge was recited, but if they did, I would advise them to stand respectfully and quietly, even if they choose not to recite, just as I would ask them to do if we were in any other country where a national pledge/anthem, etc., was being recited/played/sung. Basic manners, folks. We are a bunch of leftist atheists, fwiw.

I agree with both these posts. We are atheists, but I can still respect the pledge and the flag. My kids know the words, and that is ok with me. When they decide to ask me about god we can have a discussion. Because the reality is, lots of people believe in god - and they might choose to... that's ok with me. I don't worry about having to discuss it.

Thank you. I appreciate your perspective. I am a Christian and I respect the atheists who don’t feel as if they have something “to prove.”

NP. Frankly, I've yet to meet one.

You have. They just don't talk about it. Why would they? My husband has worked with his company for 7 years and I doubt anyone there knows he is athiest (like no doubt in his mind, as there is in mine, that there is no higher being and that all we are are atoms of the earth). He gives two figs about religion, so why should he bring it up?

I'm guessing that the PP means that she specifically takes issue with atheists who have something "to prove"….you know, akin to evangelical christians. Your husband sadly wouldn't fit her criteria as he would fall into the "respectful" atheist who knows his place and doesn't talk about it , therefore is respected by the Christian PP.

If you both are, why can't you spell atheist? I was for a while, too. Just don't embarrass yourselves. Represent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if policy requires it in school, your kid would not be required to say it, only to be quiet and respectful while others do.

Of course. My kids have never attended a school where the pledge was recited, but if they did, I would advise them to stand respectfully and quietly, even if they choose not to recite, just as I would ask them to do if we were in any other country where a national pledge/anthem, etc., was being recited/played/sung. Basic manners, folks. We are a bunch of leftist atheists, fwiw.

I agree with both these posts. We are atheists, but I can still respect the pledge and the flag. My kids know the words, and that is ok with me. When they decide to ask me about god we can have a discussion. Because the reality is, lots of people believe in god - and they might choose to... that's ok with me. I don't worry about having to discuss it.

Thank you. I appreciate your perspective. I am a Christian and I respect the atheists who don’t feel as if they have something “to prove.”

NP. Frankly, I've yet to meet one.

You have. They just don't talk about it. Why would they? My husband has worked with his company for 7 years and I doubt anyone there knows he is athiest (like no doubt in his mind, as there is in mine, that there is no higher being and that all we are are atoms of the earth). He gives two figs about religion, so why should he bring it up?

I'm guessing that the PP means that she specifically takes issue with atheists who have something "to prove"….you know, akin to evangelical christians. Your husband sadly wouldn't fit her criteria as he would fall into the "respectful" atheist who knows his place and doesn't talk about it , therefore is respected by the Christian PP.

If you both are, why can't you spell atheist? I was for a while, too. Just don't embarrass yourselves. Represent.

ha ha that's me (i before e). But in my defense, I'm not an atheist, just my husband. I'm more agnostic.