Good day, everypony. Today I'll be discussing something that happened at school today which completely violated one of my rights as an American. So all is going well, 4th period comes by, simply smashing, when suddenly: Announcements, where we say the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag. Everyone stands to salute and say the pledge, except one person. That person is me. I hear incoherent rambling about 'Pledging Allegiance' and 'Liberty and Justice for All'. When suddenly, a teacher walks up to me und sagt, 'Why did you not stand for the pledge?!' I smile and reply, 'Because I won't salute a nation that cares more about money than people.' Two minutes later, I am sent to the principal's office, and sent to In-School-Suspension for 'Not saluting the flag'. Under the First Amendment as an American, I have every right to salute who and WHAT I want to salute, just as I can choose to worship something or speak peacefully at a protest. First Amendment: Right to Free Speech in a peaceful manner; AKA Right to Religion, Protest, Media, expression of Opinion, and Public Conversation. They violated my right to salute what I want to. E.G., express my opinion. Which violates my rights and CAN be punished by the law. So, should this discipline happen to me again, I will be calling a lawyer and settling this in court. So what is your opinion on all of this? Are they in the right to punish me for not saying empty words that have no meaning to me? Discuss here.
Only a facist regime would demand a Pledge of Allegiance to the flag in the first place. If you are forced to, thats a sign that America no longer represtents freedom, liberty or justice. The fact that you have a publicly mandated Pledge of Allegiance in schools over there honestly disturbs me.
That's ridiculous you got suspended for that. You are under no obligation to say the Pledge, just like you are under no obligation to belong to a certain religion. You have every right to seek justice for this. Shame on your school, shame. People will argue "It's our patriotic duty!" Yes because mumbling "...i pledge allegiance..." first thing in the morning when we are all tired is patriotism... Gimme a break... I'd much rather write an essay on why the pledge is an outdated "school requirement" versus saying it everyday.
'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 also have a Texas Pledge. 'Honor the Texas Flag, I pledge Allegiance to thee, Texas, one state, under god and indivisible.' I claim horseapples to the school system.
They don't do it at every school, not at my school, or the school before that, or the school befoer that, but the other schools before that did it, besides the first two. Lol, I just sounded like Pinkie Pie. But in all seriousness, I agree with OP, the bulk of the government (with the exclusion of a select few), care more about cutting spending than they do fixing homelessness and hunger. And, you should talk to your district superintendent about this, they definitely violated your rights. I would've refused to go to the principle's office though, since oyu technically did nothing wrong. Somepony please write a giant brick of text about this subject.
If anything, and I don't even live in the US, you spoke wise words. Kudos to you for doing what you did. What they did was unacceptable. Hypocrites.
Its honestly a tough issue. Before I say anything else, I do believe you have the right NOT to say the pledge, just like, when I choose to I never say the under God part becuase I don't believe in the christian god. But I could see why the action would make people angry. Did they have the right to suspend you? If you go to a public school, NO if you went to a private school that's a bit different. I myself am a federal employee, so I can see where your actions may seem disrespectful to some, especially those who fought for the good values of this country. But we come back to it: what I think doesn't matter a whit since you as an American have the right not to say the pledge. The only time it becomes an issue is when you prevent OTHERS from saying it when they want to. Unfortunately the reality is: adults think you're a punk kid with an attitude no matter what you do, and you're in Texas? Not wonder you got suspended. I had the luxury of going to private, Catholic school in the north east. They didn't give two craps about this sort of thing unless you were hurting someone.
usa, most free country in world. you must do what they say seriously dough, I couldn't even imagine anyone forcing me to even stand up for national anthem. other thing that it's consider not polite (to anyone's anthem, even other country's) but no one can force you to anything. I think teacher would be that who'd get disciplined here for forcing child to do something that's not even in school regulations.
when i saw the thread title my mind went grimdark but your right,you have the right to salute,worship or express anything u want it would be the same as me getting arrested for saying i hate the monarchy in wengland(now THAT was a weird afternoon)
Well. That's just lovely. Hooray for single mindedness? I fail to understand pledging allegiances to flags; They just hand around on poles all day. Pursue action if you so wish, But some unforeseen reproductions may come up. Like general dislike by teachers. In some sense, Canada is better when it comes to this point; I've refused to stand for the anthem before, And there are no pledges to anything I know of. If there are, I've never made one. Sent from my iPod touch 4G using Tapatalk
That is seriously verging on populism. In England, there's a law instating that every school has to do morning prayers. Naturally, no school abides by this law. If, however, it were to become completely mandatory, then I'd just walk up to the Minister of Education and slap him. I do not partake in things which violate my liberty. But then that brings us onto a greater problem: How much liberty can we humans have without descending into chaos?
Have you spoken to your parents about this? This is serious, and needs to be dealt with seriously. Excluding you from school activities is a completely ridiculous punishment for expressing yourself. Edited, this last part was silly.
Note that in Sweden, no one has ever asked me to pledge alligience to the flag. I think the act of a mandatory pledge is a little self contradictory for democratic countries. Loyalty has to been earned, not forced upon people. I would defend the values of my own nation to the death, yet, I could defy it with no legal consequences. That my friend is true freedom. The United States have since long betrayed their own ideals. I also ask you how a country with supposed religious freedom have the audacity to have "under God" in the Pledge of Alligience. Here is a couple of quotes from the founding fathers just for good measure. "Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." Thomas Jefferson "Any people that would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin "I cannot conceive otherwise than that He, the Infinite Father, expects or requires no worship or praise from us, but that He is even infinitely above it." Benjamin Franklin A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge give."James Madison Check out some more for yoursel and you will see how far the nation have fallen from the ideal.
I agree that you should not have to stand for the flag. Some of those very people who fought for your country will say they fought for your right to not stand for the flag. That's exactly what freedom is about - a person's right to choose. In principle I agree completely with what you did. In practice and experience I have this to say - Choose your battles. In Texas, unfortunately, this is probably one you can't win. Life is about compromise. Stand for the flag, but do not salute and do not recite the pledge. This will probably be enough to appease them. This shows respect for the flag, but not blind obedience to something you don't believe in. Just my 2 cents.
This seems like typical american bullcrap. Where the idiots in a false seat of power think they can make and bend others to there way of thinking. I mean think of the problems this could cause, one person doesn't pledge then maybe I few would do the same. That would be horrible, people having their rights as americans and using them oh no. I think Anti-flag said it best. anti flag
