Pledge of allegiance law

[Zimbacca]

I found out today that it is a law in Washington State that all public schools have to say the Pledge of allegiance.  Doesn't anyone else think that forcing people to say it kind of goes against what it stands for?  Do any other states do this?

[Arrrhalomynn]

What exactly is the pledge of allegiance?

[Hydrobond]

I pledge allegiance to the Flag
    of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
    one Nation under God, indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.

I dont know if it is law here in Ohio, but we always started the school day with it.  

For some reason, I always thought this was similar to what the Third Reich did, but not on as large of a scale.

[Arrrhalomynn]

Yeah, it's pretty damn pathetic to be forced to say that.

[Izret101]

I like the Third Reich comnparision Hydro.
There was also a huge thing over in Cali about getting under God removed from the pledge because of some Atheist. Which is equally pathetic.

[Lord Nepenthean]

And in Catholic schools, they always told us not to worship false idols, and they would show us videos of the silly heathens (Edited to add: I hope you see my sarcasm here.) chanting to stupid objects....  yet we were forced to put our hands over our hearts and pledge allegiance to a piece of cloth that hung from the wall.  Contradictory?  Yes.  Stupid regardless?  Also yes.

[Zimbacca]

I refuse to say it because I'm being forced to.  because if you think about it if you are forced to say it makes it meaningless.  

[Izret101]

And in Catholic schools, they always told us not to worship false idols, and they would show us videos of the silly heathens (Edited to add: I hope you see my sarcasm here.) chanting to stupid objects....  yet we were forced to put our hands over our hearts and pledge allegiance to a piece of cloth that hung from the wall.  Contradictory?  Yes.  Stupid regardless?  Also yes.

I am in a chatholic school now. It all depends on the spin you put on it. According to them you are pledging to uphold freedom and it shows pride in you're counrty and those who sacraficed thier lives in wars for it.
Plus you say God so it can't be bad. :-/

I refuse to say it because I'm being forced to.  because if you think about it if you are forced to say it makes it meaningless.  

I sometimes say it i sometimes don't same thing as praying at the begining of every class. I don't find myself to be a very religious person and so 9 times out of 10 i don't pray. In fact i didnt know any of the prayers when i started going to school here.
For me this is just 3 minutes that we don't have to have real class.

[Odonadon]

I am in a chatholic school now. It all depends on the spin you put on it. According to them you are pledging to uphold freedom and it shows pride in you're counrty and those who sacraficed thier lives in wars for it.

Kind of ironic, don't you think?  Being forced to say it to show you are vowing to uphold freedom?  How much sense does that make?

OD

[Zimbacca]

None what so ever.  In fact even my principal (who is an ex-marine) is against it.

[Izret101]

We are not forced to say it here. It is the states law not the Countries law.

[den68]

my 4 year old daughter is in kindergarten and already knows the Pledge of Allegience.

I been a LONG time but I don't recall having to say the pledge in junior high or high school. I always thought it was an excersise for the younger kids to teach them about patriotism. I don't have a problem with having the kids say it every day if a school tradition. I don't think it's right for it to be a law, that does ruin the meaning. Playing the National Anthem before sporting events has been a long standing tradition but it's not a law, if it were it wouldn't mean anything.

[sinning.dragon]

I found out today that it is a law in Washington State that all public schools have to say the Pledge of allegiance.  Doesn't anyone else think that forcing people to say it kind of goes against what it stands for?  Do any other states do this?

Didn't you know that last year when they started making us say the Pledge in the morning?

Anyway, that crazy librarian called me a terrorist last year for sitting quietly and respectfully instead of saying the pledge. Why do people keep calling me a terrorist?

[Zimbacca]

Oh yeah, I forgot about that.  Oh well, my point is the same.  

To answer your terrorist questing, if you do anything that might be considered unpatriotic even if you're being respectful you're branded a terrorist. Kind of like in the 1950's but instead of being a communist you're a terrorist.

[Arrrhalomynn]

It seems like you're questioning this train of thought... hmmmm, better inform homeland secturity, the fbi, the cia and the local police.

Don't you have the 10 commendments hanging in public buildings too? I remember seeing this michael moore show a few years back in which they had an item about it. I'm not sure it ever went through though.