Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No one is saying it is. If you read the OP, the suggestion was that NOT saying the pledge was an outrage. No one on this thread has argued that teachers/children/anyone should be prohibited from saying the pledge.

But, some people seem to take pride in not saying it--that is what is sad.

Think of all those young men landing on the beaches in Normandy..........

Random reference to WWII...ok?? But generally our armed forces fight to protect our freedoms, including free speech. It's sad that people don't understand that because it's such a fundamental part of the US history and identity.

The highlighted portion. DH spent 26 years in the military, got to deploy to some lovely garden spots, and the primary reason he served was to protect and defend the Constitution. While he was active duty he carried a pocket sized Constitution with him, as a reminder. If a teacher or student doesn't want to say the pledge, that is OK. Forcing them to say the pledge is wrong.

No one can force us to say the pledge, or sing the Happy Birthday song or even say "Here" during roll call. But unless you have a strong personal/religious reason for not doing so, why not participate?

Why do you need a "strong personal/religious reason"? And who is to judge what is "strong"?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No one is saying it is. If you read the OP, the suggestion was that NOT saying the pledge was an outrage. No one on this thread has argued that teachers/children/anyone should be prohibited from saying the pledge.

But, some people seem to take pride in not saying it--that is what is sad.

Think of all those young men landing on the beaches in Normandy..........

Random reference to WWII...ok?? But generally our armed forces fight to protect our freedoms, including free speech. It's sad that people don't understand that because it's such a fundamental part of the US history and identity.

The highlighted portion. DH spent 26 years in the military, got to deploy to some lovely garden spots, and the primary reason he served was to protect and defend the Constitution. While he was active duty he carried a pocket sized Constitution with him, as a reminder. If a teacher or student doesn't want to say the pledge, that is OK. Forcing them to say the pledge is wrong.

No one can force us to say the pledge, or sing the Happy Birthday song or even say "Here" during roll call. But unless you have a strong personal/religious reason for not doing so, why not participate?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No one is saying it is. If you read the OP, the suggestion was that NOT saying the pledge was an outrage. No one on this thread has argued that teachers/children/anyone should be prohibited from saying the pledge.

But, some people seem to take pride in not saying it--that is what is sad.

Think of all those young men landing on the beaches in Normandy..........

Random reference to WWII...ok?? But generally our armed forces fight to protect our freedoms, including free speech. It's sad that people don't understand that because it's such a fundamental part of the US history and identity.

The highlighted portion. DH spent 26 years in the military, got to deploy to some lovely garden spots, and the primary reason he served was to protect and defend the Constitution. While he was active duty he carried a pocket sized Constitution with him, as a reminder. If a teacher or student doesn't want to say the pledge, that is OK. Forcing them to say the pledge is wrong.

No one can force us to say the pledge, or sing the Happy Birthday song or even say "Here" during roll call. But unless you have a strong personal/religious reason for not doing so, why not participate?

Anonymous wrote:

The highlighted portion. DH spent 26 years in the military, got to deploy to some lovely garden spots, and the primary reason he served was to protect and defend the Constitution. While he was active duty he carried a pocket sized Constitution with him, as a reminder. If a teacher or student doesn't want to say the pledge, that is OK. Forcing them to say the pledge is wrong.

Agree. My problem is why they do not want to say the pledge. Sure, they have the right not to do so, but I also have the right to have an opinion. I find it very sad that people do not feel pride in saying the pledge. Like your president or not, this is still your country and is protecting your right not to say it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No one is saying it is. If you read the OP, the suggestion was that NOT saying the pledge was an outrage. No one on this thread has argued that teachers/children/anyone should be prohibited from saying the pledge.

But, some people seem to take pride in not saying it--that is what is sad.

Think of all those young men landing on the beaches in Normandy..........

Random reference to WWII...ok?? But generally our armed forces fight to protect our freedoms, including free speech. It's sad that people don't understand that because it's such a fundamental part of the US history and identity.

The highlighted portion. DH spent 26 years in the military, got to deploy to some lovely garden spots, and the primary reason he served was to protect and defend the Constitution. While he was active duty he carried a pocket sized Constitution with him, as a reminder. If a teacher or student doesn't want to say the pledge, that is OK. Forcing them to say the pledge is wrong.

The highlighted portion. DH spent 26 years in the military, got to deploy to some lovely garden spots, and the primary reason he served was to protect and defend the Constitution. While he was active duty he carried a pocket sized Constitution with him, as a reminder. If a teacher or student doesn't want to say the pledge, that is OK. Forcing them to say the pledge is wrong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No one is saying it is. If you read the OP, the suggestion was that NOT saying the pledge was an outrage. No one on this thread has argued that teachers/children/anyone should be prohibited from saying the pledge.

But, some people seem to take pride in not saying it--that is what is sad.

Think of all those young men landing on the beaches in Normandy..........

Random reference to WWII...ok?? But generally our armed forces fight to protect our freedoms, including free speech. It's sad that people don't understand that because it's such a fundamental part of the US history and identity.

Anonymous wrote:Patriotic correctness is the new political correctness.

Anonymous wrote:Well, if they do not want to display allegiance to their country, they should be able to stand the heat.

Anonymous wrote:Oh lord, anything, anything at all can be a controversy. If there isn't a real problem, make something up....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My youngest had a teacher in elementary school who didn't say the pledge. One of the children asked, and she answered that it was for personal reasons. That was that. The kids still said the pledge (or not, as appropriate individually) when directed, and the teacher stood quietly, respectfully.

It was a great experience for my kid in a bunch of ways. He learned that not everyone does everything everyone else is doing. He learned that his teacher had her own life. He learned that one does not continue questioning "personal reasons" because it's rude. He learned how to be respectful even when he's not engaging in common behavior. After that experience, he no longer complained about saying grace at his grandparents house - he had learned the concept of being respectful of others beliefs even when he doesn't share them.

Well said.

Anonymous wrote:Patriotic correctness is the new political correctness.

Anonymous wrote:My youngest had a teacher in elementary school who didn't say the pledge. One of the children asked, and she answered that it was for personal reasons. That was that. The kids still said the pledge (or not, as appropriate individually) when directed, and the teacher stood quietly, respectfully.

It was a great experience for my kid in a bunch of ways. He learned that not everyone does everything everyone else is doing. He learned that his teacher had her own life. He learned that one does not continue questioning "personal reasons" because it's rude. He learned how to be respectful even when he's not engaging in common behavior. After that experience, he no longer complained about saying grace at his grandparents house - he had learned the concept of being respectful of others beliefs even when he doesn't share them.

Anonymous wrote:No one Is required to say the pledge. As I don't want to live in a totalitarian state, I'm happy to keep it that way. Also, see Constitution and the Supreme Court.
No, you should not email the teacher to ask why he or she isn't falling in line with your narrow definition of public patriotism.