Do they do the pledge of allegiance in your kids' school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
See, be real. I am an immigrant too. If you choose to enroll your kid in a Catholic school, they will say the Lord's prayer daily. If you choose to come to this country, don't feign surprise about these things, just go back to where you came from, where you apparently have such a high level of personal rights.

I am an immigrant too and I don't have much problem with the pledge either.

However, I don't have issues when other people have problems with it. If they have problems, instead of going back (which some people keep touting), why can't they try to change it? We are now part of the process anyway, right? The pledge is at least not something we grow up with and I won't feel upset if people want to go against it.

PP - what country are you from? Should we move there and change your country's rituals? Or would we be considered to be imperialistic "ugly Americans"? You are free to try to change whatever you want, but you can also expect that many Americans will not look kindly on your activism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
See, be real. I am an immigrant too. If you choose to enroll your kid in a Catholic school, they will say the Lord's prayer daily. If you choose to come to this country, don't feign surprise about these things, just go back to where you came from, where you apparently have such a high level of personal rights.

I am an immigrant too and I don't have much problem with the pledge either.

However, I don't have issues when other people have problems with it. If they have problems, instead of going back (which some people keep touting), why can't they try to change it? We are now part of the process anyway, right? The pledge is at least not something we grow up with and I won't feel upset if people want to go against it.

PP - what country are you from? Should we move there and change your country's rituals? Or would we be considered to be imperialistic "ugly Americans"? You are free to try to change whatever you want, but you can also expect that many Americans will not look kindly on your activism.

Many other Americans, you meant - right? Some Americans would like for schools to stop saying the pledge of allegiance, other Americans want schools to continue saying it, yet other Americans don't care either way.

For what it's worth, this US-born American went to school in a school system in the Midwest where the pledge of allegiance was not said in schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
See, be real. I am an immigrant too. If you choose to enroll your kid in a Catholic school, they will say the Lord's prayer daily. If you choose to come to this country, don't feign surprise about these things, just go back to where you came from, where you apparently have such a high level of personal rights.

I am an immigrant too and I don't have much problem with the pledge either.

However, I don't have issues when other people have problems with it. If they have problems, instead of going back (which some people keep touting), why can't they try to change it? We are now part of the process anyway, right? The pledge is at least not something we grow up with and I won't feel upset if people want to go against it.

PP - what country are you from? Should we move there and change your country's rituals? Or would we be considered to be imperialistic "ugly Americans"? You are free to try to change whatever you want, but you can also expect that many Americans will not look kindly on your activism.

Once you become a citizen of my home county, sure, you can try. I may or may not agree but you certainly have the same right as any other citizens of the country on the issue.
If someone touts "go back to America" I would not support them on that.

If there are enough people (doesn't matter if they are immigrants or not) in this country that insist on keeping the ritual, then there is no need to worry.
If there are, instead, enough people insisting on abolishing it, then why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the take away here is that if I go to another country and I find any customs or practices creepy, weird or uncomfortable, that country should stop doing them to accommodate me. Got it.

At least you've got American Entitlement™ down pat.

I guess I missed the posts where people said that they are immigrants and want the county schools to stop doing the pledge of allegiance because they think it's weird.

Also, one of the great things about America is, or at least used to be, that people who became American citizens through immigration are just as American as people who become American citizens through birth. And you agree that people get to criticize their country, right? "America, love it or leave it" went out in the 1960s - probably before you were born.

I guess you did.

I was also not born here and neither were my children and I find it weird too, I'm sorry. We love it here, we (the adults) feel allegiance to the ideas set out in the pledge (not including the god part which feels unnecessary to me), but I don't expect my children to feel that when they can barely understand the words. They learned about the pledge in pre-k and learned the words then, and I'm fine with that, but I would be very uncomfortable with them having to recite it every day as a ritual. If when they are old enough to understand it they wish to say it, then that is fine with me. But mindlessly reciting a promise every day that they cannot possibly understand feels really uncomfortable to me, and similar to how I would feel if they were made to say the Lord's Prayer every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the take away here is that if I go to another country and I find any customs or practices creepy, weird or uncomfortable, that country should stop doing them to accommodate me. Got it.

At least you've got American Entitlement™ down pat.

I guess I missed the posts where people said that they are immigrants and want the county schools to stop doing the pledge of allegiance because they think it's weird.

Also, one of the great things about America is, or at least used to be, that people who became American citizens through immigration are just as American as people who become American citizens through birth. And you agree that people get to criticize their country, right? "America, love it or leave it" went out in the 1960s - probably before you were born.

I guess you did.

I was also not born here and neither were my children and I find it weird too, I'm sorry. We love it here, we (the adults) feel allegiance to the ideas set out in the pledge (not including the god part which feels unnecessary to me), but I don't expect my children to feel that when they can barely understand the words. They learned about the pledge in pre-k and learned the words then, and I'm fine with that, but I would be very uncomfortable with them having to recite it every day as a ritual. If when they are old enough to understand it they wish to say it, then that is fine with me. But mindlessly reciting a promise every day that they cannot possibly understand feels really uncomfortable to me, and similar to how I would feel if they were made to say the Lord's Prayer every day.

Where does this poster say that the schools should stop doing it?

Nobody has to recite the pledge of allegiance in school. That is very well established in law. You don't have to say it, you don't have to put your hand over your heart, you don't even have to stand up. And you don't have to leave the room if you don't say it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the take away here is that if I go to another country and I find any customs or practices creepy, weird or uncomfortable, that country should stop doing them to accommodate me. Got it.

At least you've got American Entitlement™ down pat.

I guess I missed the posts where people said that they are immigrants and want the county schools to stop doing the pledge of allegiance because they think it's weird.

Also, one of the great things about America is, or at least used to be, that people who became American citizens through immigration are just as American as people who become American citizens through birth. And you agree that people get to criticize their country, right? "America, love it or leave it" went out in the 1960s - probably before you were born.

I guess you did.

I was also not born here and neither were my children and I find it weird too, I'm sorry. We love it here, we (the adults) feel allegiance to the ideas set out in the pledge (not including the god part which feels unnecessary to me), but I don't expect my children to feel that when they can barely understand the words. They learned about the pledge in pre-k and learned the words then, and I'm fine with that, but I would be very uncomfortable with them having to recite it every day as a ritual. If when they are old enough to understand it they wish to say it, then that is fine with me. But mindlessly reciting a promise every day that they cannot possibly understand feels really uncomfortable to me, and similar to how I would feel if they were made to say the Lord's Prayer every day.

I'm that PP and I should make it clear - I don't want the country to stop anyone doing anything. Our school doesn't require it and that's something I'm happy about. As an immigrant and now citizen, I'd like to think that I'm allowed an opinion on this, and that I'm now as American as anyone else here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the take away here is that if I go to another country and I find any customs or practices creepy, weird or uncomfortable, that country should stop doing them to accommodate me. Got it.

At least you've got American Entitlement™ down pat.

I guess I missed the posts where people said that they are immigrants and want the county schools to stop doing the pledge of allegiance because they think it's weird.

Also, one of the great things about America is, or at least used to be, that people who became American citizens through immigration are just as American as people who become American citizens through birth. And you agree that people get to criticize their country, right? "America, love it or leave it" went out in the 1960s - probably before you were born.

I guess you did.

I was also not born here and neither were my children and I find it weird too, I'm sorry. We love it here, we (the adults) feel allegiance to the ideas set out in the pledge (not including the god part which feels unnecessary to me), but I don't expect my children to feel that when they can barely understand the words. They learned about the pledge in pre-k and learned the words then, and I'm fine with that, but I would be very uncomfortable with them having to recite it every day as a ritual. If when they are old enough to understand it they wish to say it, then that is fine with me. But mindlessly reciting a promise every day that they cannot possibly understand feels really uncomfortable to me, and similar to how I would feel if they were made to say the Lord's Prayer every day.

Where does this poster say that the schools should stop doing it?

Nobody has to recite the pledge of allegiance in school. That is very well established in law. You don't have to say it, you don't have to put your hand over your heart, you don't even have to stand up. And you don't have to leave the room if you don't say it.

Just read it and use your brain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Just read it and use your brain.

Here's what that PP says:

I'm that PP and I should make it clear - I don't want the country to stop anyone doing anything. Our school doesn't require it and that's something I'm happy about. As an immigrant and now citizen, I'd like to think that I'm allowed an opinion on this, and that I'm now as American as anyone else here.

Please stop picking fights. Americans - all Americans, however they got to be Americans - are indeed allowed to have opinions about things and to advocate based on their opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All 500+ of us said it for 13 years in my nova public HS/MS/elem graduating class. We turned out fine. Most of us are very liberal to boot!

I don’t get the complaint. It takes 1 minute, and you don’t have to mean it, and you don’t even have to participate. And it shows a tiny appreciation for what we have.

I agree. And, I'm the kid of immigrants, FWIW.

However, this is Montgomery County. I'm pretty sure if you're bothered by the pledge, you could get some other parents together and ban it in MCPS. I would bet that would be a successful campaign actually. MCPS might even spend some money, form a committee, get some 'feedback' from parents, and have an independent agency run a report.

It's crazy, because parents don't seem willing to band together to get MCPS to take action against the ridiculous number of sexual predators in school, or to get a solid curriculum implemented in ES. However, a cause like this would very likely get lots of support. I'm not from this area, and this is such an interesting county, IMO.

Now wait a minute. Don’t forget about the consultants! MCPS would have to hire consultants!

And pay them lots of money! And, then say they don't have enough money to hire more teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't born in this country and I am uncomfortable about the idea of my kids doing it

This is why many of us are frustrated. You want to come here and benefit from the economy and from the protection of your rights, but don't feel "allegiance"? This is a civic ritual, and if it "brainwashes" kids into valuing "liberty and justice for all", I'm good.

I was also not born here and neither were my children and I find it weird too, I'm sorry. We love it here, we (the adults) feel allegiance to the ideas set out in the pledge (not including the god part which feels unnecessary to me), but I don't expect my children to feel that when they can barely understand the words. They learned about the pledge in pre-k and learned the words then, and I'm fine with that, but I would be very uncomfortable with them having to recite it every day as a ritual. If when they are old enough to understand it they wish to say it, then that is fine with me. But mindlessly reciting a promise every day that they cannot possibly understand feels really uncomfortable to me, and similar to how I would feel if they were made to say the Lord's Prayer every day.

See, be real. I am an immigrant too. If you choose to enroll your kid in a Catholic school, they will say the Lord's prayer daily. If you choose to come to this country, don't feign surprise about these things, just go back to where you came from, where you apparently have such a high level of personal rights.

This!

-PP who is a kid of immigrants and finds it odd that someone would be so disturbed by kids learning the Pledge of Allegiance and saying it daily

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't born in this country and I am uncomfortable about the idea of my kids doing it

This is why many of us are frustrated. You want to come here and benefit from the economy and from the protection of your rights, but don't feel "allegiance"? This is a civic ritual, and if it "brainwashes" kids into valuing "liberty and justice for all", I'm good.

I was also not born here and neither were my children and I find it weird too, I'm sorry. We love it here, we (the adults) feel allegiance to the ideas set out in the pledge (not including the god part which feels unnecessary to me), but I don't expect my children to feel that when they can barely understand the words. They learned about the pledge in pre-k and learned the words then, and I'm fine with that, but I would be very uncomfortable with them having to recite it every day as a ritual. If when they are old enough to understand it they wish to say it, then that is fine with me. But mindlessly reciting a promise every day that they cannot possibly understand feels really uncomfortable to me, and similar to how I would feel if they were made to say the Lord's Prayer every day.

See, be real. I am an immigrant too. If you choose to enroll your kid in a Catholic school, they will say the Lord's prayer daily. If you choose to come to this country, don't feign surprise about these things, just go back to where you came from, where you apparently have such a high level of personal rights.

This!

-PP who is a kid of immigrants and finds it odd that someone would be so disturbed by kids learning the Pledge of Allegiance and saying it daily

But it isn't Catholic school. It's public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't born in this country and I am uncomfortable about the idea of my kids doing it

This is why many of us are frustrated. You want to come here and benefit from the economy and from the protection of your rights, but don't feel "allegiance"? This is a civic ritual, and if it "brainwashes" kids into valuing "liberty and justice for all", I'm good.

I was also not born here and neither were my children and I find it weird too, I'm sorry. We love it here, we (the adults) feel allegiance to the ideas set out in the pledge (not including the god part which feels unnecessary to me), but I don't expect my children to feel that when they can barely understand the words. They learned about the pledge in pre-k and learned the words then, and I'm fine with that, but I would be very uncomfortable with them having to recite it every day as a ritual. If when they are old enough to understand it they wish to say it, then that is fine with me. But mindlessly reciting a promise every day that they cannot possibly understand feels really uncomfortable to me, and similar to how I would feel if they were made to say the Lord's Prayer every day.

See, be real. I am an immigrant too. If you choose to enroll your kid in a Catholic school, they will say the Lord's prayer daily. If you choose to come to this country, don't feign surprise about these things, just go back to where you came from, where you apparently have such a high level of personal rights.

This!

-PP who is a kid of immigrants and finds it odd that someone would be so disturbed by kids learning the Pledge of Allegiance and saying it daily

I am not disturbed with kids learning it.

I would disturbed if they were to be asked to say it everyday - not disturbed enough that I would actually do anything though. It is just a nuisance, that's it.

[Anonymous]

Come on people.... Here in MoCo there are tons of families who don't feel any allegiance to the United States. Their allegiance is to their home country first and foremost. They are here to work and find it disturbing that their kids have to say the pledge in school. This is the county you chose to live in so you just have to accept the fact that it's not going to change for a generation or 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't born in this country and I am uncomfortable about the idea of my kids doing it

This is why many of us are frustrated. You want to come here and benefit from the economy and from the protection of your rights, but don't feel "allegiance"? This is a civic ritual, and if it "brainwashes" kids into valuing "liberty and justice for all", I'm good.

I was also not born here and neither were my children and I find it weird too, I'm sorry. We love it here, we (the adults) feel allegiance to the ideas set out in the pledge (not including the god part which feels unnecessary to me), but I don't expect my children to feel that when they can barely understand the words. They learned about the pledge in pre-k and learned the words then, and I'm fine with that, but I would be very uncomfortable with them having to recite it every day as a ritual. If when they are old enough to understand it they wish to say it, then that is fine with me. But mindlessly reciting a promise every day that they cannot possibly understand feels really uncomfortable to me, and similar to how I would feel if they were made to say the Lord's Prayer every day.

See, be real. I am an immigrant too. If you choose to enroll your kid in a Catholic school, they will say the Lord's prayer daily. If you choose to come to this country, don't feign surprise about these things, just go back to where you came from, where you apparently have such a high level of personal rights.

This!

-PP who is a kid of immigrants and finds it odd that someone would be so disturbed by kids learning the Pledge of Allegiance and saying it daily

But it isn't Catholic school. It's public school.

Yes. So they don’t say the Lord’s Prayer.

But it’s public school in the US. So we say the Pledge of Allegiance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. So they don’t say the Lord’s Prayer.

But it’s public school in the US. So we say the Pledge of Allegiance.

No, actually, we don't. Or rather, in some schools, we do. In other schools, we don't.