Should students be REQUIRED to pledge the flag ?

Question

The Supreme court has actually settled this question awhile back, when Jehovah Witness's went to court for the freedom to opt out of the pledge. (It is a violation of their beliefs) At first the courts ruled that students COULD be required to pledge. Violence broke out against Witness's after this. Later the court ruled in FAVOR of the JW's and ruled that the schools can not REQUIRE students to pledge the flag. What do you think Should the pledge remain optional, should we revert back to making it mandatory or should we do away with the ritual all together ? Should students be able to skip over the "Under God" portion, or should they be REQUIRED to recite every word of the pledge. If you support MANDATORY flag pledging, how should it be enforced ? Would you allow an opt out for religious reasons, or any other reason ? If you support optional pledging, should the schools inform students that the pledge of allegiance is OPTIONAL ?

I never said that I didn't want to pledge the flag, I asked if students should be REQUIRED to.

People have commented that they don't understand why JW's wouldn't want to pledge the flag. It's not a matter of what they "want" to do, it is a matter of what they believe God's will is. To a JW, pledging the flag is idol worship. Just because you don't agree with it, doesn't mean that they aren't free to follow their religion. The first amendments guarantees freedom of religion for ALL citizens, not just to people who follow a religion you agree with. Forcing a JW to pledge a flag, would be just as cruel as forcing an evangelical Christian child to pray to Mary, or particiapte in a Wiccan ritual. I think it is hypocritical to FORCE people to commit what their religion teaches to be a sin, in the name of "freedom". If pledging the flag is supposed to be celebrating the freedom our great country gives us, then let's not drag that freedom through the mud by FORCING people to say words they don't mean. You are still perfectly free to say the pledge, even if a few students don't.

Answer 1

No. But the Pledge should be conducted each day. When some do not participate in the pledge it is a perfect time to teach a lesson on our freedoms and about the cultural and religious reasons why some do not participate.

Answer 2

It is the principal behind it. It also shows whether or not you will stand up for the principals the Flag represents. If they or any other group religious will not, then I question their reasoning. Even visitors from foreign countries at least stand to show respect for their host country!

It should be required and if they cannot pledge or swear to keep American principals then they should simply opt out voluntarily just as people do for public prayers. If you don't believe in a God period, they should be able to opt out voluntarily! With Jehovah's Witnesses it is a violation of their doctrine.From what I understand they think that government outside of a theocracy is an abomination. Check out Romans 13. No other laws are needed.

Answer 3

I agree with the first answer, although I probably would have worded it a little differently.

Why not say under God? This country was found on the basis of Christianity. Even though many people say that they were all pagans and weren't Christians. They need to look up the facts. A lot of them say that Benjamin Franklin was not a Christian. He was not, but he believed in God. He was the one who started the tradition of prayer before the assembly of congress. Check the link to see exactly what he said. It is a great speech.

I have no problem with the pledge. Go ahead, make it required. If someone has a problem, they can leave the US and go somewhere else. How should it be enforced? I would make it part of the daily grade. Many classes, as part of their grade, have a participation grade. If the child will not participate, take points off. Its that simple.

If its made optional (which it should not be) then at least make the kid stand up in honor of the price paid for his/her freedom. Have we become too complacent that we don't realize that what we have came at a large price? Even if I wasn't a Christian, I would still say the pledge. it is a way to remind kids what America is and what it stands for.

Answer 4

I honestly can't understand why this is so much of an issue in the media/government these days. If you live in a country of your own free will (or your parents' free will), you can show its flag some respect.

I guess I don't think it should be flat-out required by entire classrooms (exchange students, for example, can't be expected to pledge allegiance to a country they don't belong to) but kids have to realize the importance of honoring their flag and thus their country.

And I don't really get why it's against anyone's beliefs. You're not pledging allegiance to your fellow countrymen, or even to your government leaders, although making the pledge of allegiance does show your respect for them. You aren't saying you agree wholeheartedly with every measure passed by Congress or every military action taken or the outcome of every election. You're simply asserting your membership in our nation. Being a citizen of a country is like being in a very large family; you won't always get along with all your "relatives," but you have a certain bond that can't just be ignored.

So honestly, I think it shouldn't technically be REQUIRED because that kind of smacks of dictatorial measures, but I don't get why anyone wouldn't say it.

Answer 5

This is one of the questions I have wavered on. I want my child to say the pledge, I want his allegiance to this country and to God but do I have the right to tell someone else what to do with their child. Which is no unless it is hurting the child.

Plus you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink so making them say it wont accomplish much more than resentment. I do think they should have to be quiet and respectful of those who want to say the pledge and if the teacher disagrees with it they should also allow the pledge to be said. No we should not pledge any other countries of flags this in America and I wont go to another country and pledge theirs

At our daycare the children say a little prayer before they eat but I do not make the kids say it. If they don't wish to say it they can just be silent while the others do. To show respect for others.

Answer 6

Honestly, YES! This is America. Have some respect for your country regardless of whether it is Mexico, France, Britain, whatever. If pledging allegiance to YOUR country's flag is that offensive to you, then you probably are in the wrong country. This is such a small thing to ask of a country whose citizens are so unpatriotic and apathetic as it is...in fact, not pledging allegiance is simply advocating this apathy of Americans. It was a VERY sad day when the judge ruled the it not be required. Freedom of speech, blah blah blah...I know that's the argument that others will use but honestly, what is YOUR reason for not wanting to pledge allegiance to such a great nation??? And please, don't say because it's my right. Give me something concrete and specific, not abstract and ignorant...


the "YOUR" reason was not directed at the author of the question...sorry for the confusion...it was directed at the general population...

also...again...why would you simply not feel like standing up if you dont mind me asking? Is it just sooooo much effort to stand up for that minute or less pledge? And as for the part about this country being the reason that you do not have to stand and pledge the flag...how hypocritical...if you think about that reason logically, you will truly see how that attitude will be the demise of such a nation that allows such freedom.

o yes...and as for "African" (this is not a true statement unless you are actually from Africa) Americans not wanting to pledge because of oppression and slavery: are we STILL living 150 years ago in the past? what about what the flag represents now?

i suppose that every flag regardless of the confederate flag or the American flag or any other country's flag has a stigma attached to it from some point in that country's history...does this give its citizens the right to show disrespect? If you do not like this country and have a problem with standing for a whole minute out of the day to show this respect and civility, then the first poster was correct, you should leave and see where else you can enjoy such freedom for so little in return.

Answer 7

Yes and no. As this country is supposed to remain religiously neutral, (The Extreme Right seems to ignore this) than people should have the right to opt out of the Under God speech. The pledge shows support for this country, regardless of who is at the helm. Required maybe. Encourage yes.

Answer 8

Absolutlely, the pledge of allegiance should not be required and kids should know that they have a choice not to pledge. The flag does not represent the same thing to everybody living in this country. First off, for African Americans the American Flag represents years of oppression and slavery so standing for the pledge would be partially supporting the kidnapping and enslaving of the blacks, and the effects we see today which are living in poverty and ghetto's because that is how the whites back then wanted them to live...trapt. If a Native American were to stand for it, they would be pledging to the death of their ancestors and the destruction and pollution of the land they so greatly cared for. Columbus gets more recognition than them when it comes to the "discovery" of America.
As for the Under God part...I am a Muslim so I do believe in God but under no circumstances do I think that it should be impressed on children who's parents may not want that. It is a violation of the seperation of Church and State and though I do think the concept of God and moralitty and ethics should be taught to children, I believe it is the place of the parents to decide while the child is young.
I personally have delved further into politics as I got older and I now would not stand for the pledge if it was manditory. For me the American flag (as in the american government) represents a support of the oppression of my fellow arabs and it is exhibited in Iraq, Palestine, and in the American government's support for the IDF. I under no circumstances hate America or Americans and I don't think that people would chose not to stand for that reason, it is just simply that the American government has not been very helpful to countries that can't help or control America. Hope I could help.

Answer 9

If everyone is required to pledge to the flag, it becomes meaningless. Just like a promise or contract made under duress is not binding. Forcing people to pledge to the flag dilutes the experience of those people who willingly CHOOSE to pledge.

Answer 10

As a kid, I had no idea what the pledge meant. Forcing kids to stand for the pledge seems kind of counter-productive. As an atheist, I couldn't care less about the "under god" part, it means nothing to me, and doesn't offend. As an enlightened adult, I believe in the pledge (and for which it stands), but wouldn't bother to stand for it, and I never stand for the nat'l anthem. They're silly and have nothing to do with being patriotic. I'm exercising my right to be lazy.