The pledge of alligance?

Question

Im a senior in HS, and EVERY day during 3rd period we say the "pledge of allegiance" and the "texas pledge" and have our "1 min moment of silence". I dont stand up for the pledges, I dont want to, I DONT HAVE TO. And our teacher made a speech about if you dont stand up you'll get sent to the principle's office. Honestly, thats not right,

CAN you get in trouble for not saying the pledges?

[Yes, I understand certain rights are taken away from you when you go to school, but they cant force you to do anything am I correct?]

The reason I dont say it is because I think its dumb that we have to say it every day for every year of our school lives- its like brainwashing us to love america and texas. I dont believe in god either so I dont agree with the statement "one nation under god" even though, yes I know america being based on religious freedoms.

But they CANT force you to say it, right?

note: im not giving the teacher attitude, im not making a big deal out of the situation, lol im the quiet shy kid, i just sit there and let everyone do their thing till everyones done then go about my day

i am thankful for living here. but i feel like i dont need a pledge to express that and the comments about bin laden and al queda or whatever were just plain rude and WRONG

im not spoiled, i have to work for what i want, i pay for all my stuff except for the house i live in and the food my parents provide me with

and not believing in god is my choice, im pretty sure i have more evidence to prove to you there is no god, then you do to prove to me there is one

Answer 1

No, they can not force you to say it. Tell your teacher to read the constitution and the bill of rights.

Answer 2

As I write my answer I'm guessing you will get a mouth full of wide ranging comments. The simple answer to your question is; they can't force you to say it!

But saying you have the right should be followed by the reason(s) you have the right. Our country, no matter what you think of it at this moment in time has fought extremely hard to have what it has. Sure, the politicians constantly fight, there is the right and the left, the ultra humanitarians, horse lovers, dog and cat lovers, and insect lovers. You even have those that love the trees. All have the right to do "Their Thing" because of individuals that fought for those rights.

Just about everything you do today is because someone in the past and your current life time has died or been crippled defending those rights. It's not about Iraq or Iran or anyplace in particular, it's about every time an ordinary American citizen went to the street and said no. No to British rule, No to Japanese Empirialism, No to Hitlers Germany, No to Hate crime, No to the KKK, No to the French and all that infringed on those rights. We fought when it was wrong, and when it was right, but always for a cause we believed in.

Yes, you do have the right to not say something that is against your belief but, you also have the right to give respect to those that fought and died to give you that right. If I believed as you do, I would tell those that critisize you and claim you are going against you values by saying the pledge or, "one nation under God", I would let my position be known, and that I am only saying it out of respect for my ancestors who gave up so much so I could be here at this time.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

Your argument against saying the Pledge of Allegiance does have a legal precedent-- the Supreme Court case of Tinker v. Des Moines. In a nutshell, a few kids decided to wear black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam war and they were suspended. Their parents took the case all the way to the Supreme Court, and the court ruled 7-2 in favor of the Tinker family. It held that the First Amendment applies in public schools, as long as the speech is not disruptive. The case is commonly taught as the case that proves that "rights do not stop at the schoolhouse gate".

I had the same problem in my American History class. I challenged my teacher to have the class think about what we're pledging allegiance to. "And to the government for which it stands"-- I pledge allegiance to no government! (Also, I'm an atheist, so I had objections to the "under God" part.)
For a really excellent book that might aid you in articulating an argument, I would recommend "The Children's Story" by James Clavell. It's a "book" that is really about fifteen pages with illustrations, and articulates how children are indoctrinated with no notion of what the big words in the Pledge really means.

Good luck, and don't be afraid to fight! Change never happens without brave people like you standing up and challenging the status quo.

Answer 4

They can't force you to say the pledge, and they can't center you out for not standing for the pledge, providing you are not interfering with other people's saying of the pledge.

This has been upheld by court case after court case.

Answer 5

Thousands of soldiers have died in numerous wars to defend your right NOT to say the pledge. However, when you step out of the crowd and behave differently, then expect ridicule, hatred, and sometimes even violence.

Unfortunately, many people who never got up off their butts and actually defended this country will be happy to tell you you are unpatriotic; nothing is further from the truth.

I personally wish you felt you could take the pledge (although I always leave out 'under god') but I absolutely respect your right NOT to say it, and would defend you to anyone in doing so.

Answer 6

you could try contacting the Texas Civil Liberties Union, but don't expect much. if your school district still condones pledges, and godlyness, it's unlikely that it'll ever change. I, too, am an atheist, and I know that if you wear atheism on your sleeve, people will take advantage of you because they can always counter by saying, "So what! You don't even believe in God!" You could become a pariah in your own hometown. Good luck.

Answer 7

The school can't force you to make any demonstration of adherence to a political or moral belief system.

I'd much rather have you think about this all and come to your own conclusions over time. I prefer you not be a mindless drone that lets others do their thinking for them. I prefer you not become an angry, silent, and bitter reactionary.

Carry on.

Answer 8

im an atheist too and i understand where your coming from. im also a high school student. here in washington D.C that is illegal. we aren,t allowed to say the pledge of allegiance because of that part "under god". and according to the constitution its illegal anywhere. tell your parents about this. heck you can even sue and get the justice department involved but its probably not that serious.

Answer 9

Tell her you'd very MUCH like to go to the principle's office and discuss her violation of your cival rights. This is America, not friggin mainland China. You don't have to salute the emperor if you don't want to!

Furthermore, if she keeps up with her attitude, start chanting "BABYKILLER!" during her prescious moment of silence.

Answer 10

You could stand but not say it. Then the teacher probably wont notice.
Its really weird they have you say the state pledge. Kids in other states don't pledge to their state every day.

Answer 11

Sounds to me like you are a typical little spoiled brat who is trying to make a statement just for the sake of making a statement and not because you truly believe in anything. I have always said if you don't love AMERICA, then GET OUT. There are too many brave men and woman dying to exemplify the integrity of this great nation and to protect the rights and lives of others for you and all the other punk traders who agree with you to not at the VERY least pledge your alligance to what they are fighting for from the comfort and safety of your class room. Having a strong opinion on something is good, but you should just be ashamed at yourself. If everyone thought like you, there would be no great people defending our country and maybe Osama Binladden himself would have made you his girlfriend by know.