Pledge

6-28-12

Is the Pledge of Allegiance something we should force on kids?

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

We are a nation filled with many people. These are people that as a whole would hopefully be happy
that they reside in this country that provides them with opportunity and resources that are not always
available in other countries.

One of those opportunities is the ability to believe in whatever deity, way of life or even obscure cult
film principles that are out there. We can be Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Atheist, or even Whovian. These
can include a god or the absence of one. We can fly a flag of any country of origin on our porch. We can
openly slam our government and work towards changes. We are not bound to the US as our only means
of livelihood.

I saw a cartoon this morning depicting a child refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in class.

I was appalled.

I will be the first person to tell you that I wish nothing but the best for our troops who fight and die for
our country. I especially understand that before I was born, there were wars that truly were fought as

a way to keep our country from being taken over by another land. They were not wars in which there
was questionable involvement and many young soldiers were killed despite being sent overseas without
any say in their fate. We had a draft that separated boys from families and fitted them in uniforms that
would not only be their clothing for the next 2 to 4 years, but often would be the last thing they would
ever wear since they might be sent home in that uniform while both were packed away in a pine box.

The cartoon doesn’t show a man in his 70’s. It shows a man in his maybe late 40’s or early 50’s. Also,
based on his hair cut, he is still a military man. He isn’t some guy who was drafted into submission. He is
regular army and is proud to be someone in that position. He has made a choice. Shouldn’t the kid in the
picture have the same luxury of said choice?

A guilt laden image showing kids that they are somehow disrespecting their country and the military
personnel that work for it is downright irresponsible.

How do we know if this guy didn’t join the military simply to pay for college? How do we know he wasn’t
a guy that joined because his dad made him join because he kept getting into trouble at school? How
do we know that he didn’t join because his girlfriend left him? We don’t know the reasons he joined.
We can’t infer that this is a man of excellent character simply because he lost the use of his legs while
serving in the military.

I am a firm believer in showing kids real examples of people who make a difference. I don’t shy away
from something that might be considered too shocking for a young person. I took my 5 and 7 year old to
a viewing of our recently deceased neighbor. They hardly remembered her, yet they were inches away
from her casket that contained her peaceful body. They were told quite matter of fact that their uncle
shot himself after a long battle with bi-polar disorder. They know that people are not always good, and
they know that bad things happen to the wrong people at times. They know the world can provide some
wondrous things, and some cruel tricks.

I would never put a wounded soldier in front of them and guilt them into reciting words they don’t
fully understand. I haven’t even touched on the fact that the pledge itself is inconclusive based on it
neglecting those of us Americans that don’t believe in God. It is a pledge that we require students to
recite even if they are not legal citizens. It is a pledge that is stated to a flag that no longer is a symbol
simply of a strong country. How often have you seen its image draped on the back of a couch in the
form of a comforter or perhaps emblazoned on a tank top? Maybe this is a way people show pride, but
the pride is muddled and diluted to a point where it is hard to get on board with its message.

Patriotism is a wonderful thing. I also think it has its place. A child refusing to stand and rattle off 31
words doesn’t make them a bad citizen. If anything, it makes them an even better one for exercising the
very freedom that this teacher is trying to use as a reason to stand.

I pledge allegiance to my life that is lucky enough to take place in America. And to my elders, I thank
you for your sacrifices when we demanded so much of you. And to my children, may we never put you
through that again and continue to work towards a peaceful and open-minded nation.