A student just asked me why i stand but don't say the pledge.

[liberalitch]

I told him that I stand out of respect for everyone who does say it because my allegiance is to the constitution and my fellow citizens.... he seemed to get it.

[moonlady0623]

1. I stopped saying it too...

I stopped in 1971 when TWO childhood friends I loved very much died in Vietnam. I decided that as long as our beautiful youth were being used in such a horrible way I would not pledge allegiance.

Liberty and Justice for All? when it happens, I'll say the words again.

[Goblinmonger]

2. I teach in Wisconsin

and we have to say the pledge every morning. This is high school, so I have several students that "protest" and don't stand up nor say it. There are actually teachers in the high school that MAKE the kids stand. I try to tell them they can't do that, but they won't listen.

Anyway, I think I am going to write to a couple state legislators and suggest that we have students recite the preamble to the constitution. It is just as pertinent (if not more so) and you don't have problems with people that won't pledge to an object nor people that have a problem with the "under god" thing (I am an atheist and, when I do say the pledge, omit the god reference--nobody has said anything about that yet).

Kind of babbly, but, in short, I'm with you. :toast:

[greenbriar]

15. I teach High School in Kansas. I make my kids stand, but they do NOT have

so say it, and I do not say it just to show them that its okay to stand and say nothing

[Goblinmonger]

16. It should be OK for them to sit, too

especially in high school. I don't think they should be able to disrupt, but they should be able to opt out if they want to.

I would think there would be a free speech suit against you for making them stand if someone wanted to complain. Just my $0.02.

[SaveElmer]

3. I'll say it...but

Leave out the "under God" part of it.

I think the important part of the pledge is "...and to the republic for which it stands..." To me that makes it more than just an oath to a flag.

[liberalitch]

5. That is a good point...

[AZBlue]

8. Yeah, I'm not pledging allegiance to the flag, it's just a symbol of what

I really am pledging allegiance to. I know some right now don't want to say it because they disagree with this administration but it has the opposite effect for me - I say it and remember why I'm fighting, what ideals our nation was built upon and how it should really be. As I say it I'm actually promising to myself and my country that I will see it return to it's rightful condition.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

4. I also do not say the pledge

and my patriotism has been questioned for it. I do not pledge my allegiance to an inanimate object, or to a government. I pledge my allegiance to myself, my God, and the principles and freedoms that this country stands for. One person said "A lot of people fought and died so that you could say that pledge!" I respectfully responded "Even more have fought and died so that I could choose whether or not to say it."

Plus I am in Texas, and it is state law that if you say the American pledge you also have to say the "State pledge", which is a bunch of BS as far as I'm concerned. The civil war was fought so that we DONT pledge to a state.

(I'm a high school senior)

[zapp]

7. Welcome to DU!

Have you seen this website?

http://worldcantwait.org

[gratuitous]

11. As if a real traitor would have any problem standing and lying

I mean, I've seen men stand and with their hand on the Bible swear to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and then do their level best to tear it down and make it of no effect at all.

If that's all an oath or a pledge means in our society, then I'll decline to participate.

[Matt Jordan]

12. Who could that be?

Let me see, who might have done a thing like that...

...could it be SAT- I mean, DUBYA?

Matt

[displacedtexan]

6. When I taught, I would skip the "under God" part.

No one noticed.

[NVMojo]

9. I quit about 5 years ago

[FormerDittoHead]

10. I stopped saying it because I didn't think it was necessary EVERY DAY...

Why the hell say it EVERY DAY like some kind of PRAYER?

I said it once, why say it again? (I figure)

It would be like having to repeat my wedding vows every day...

What kind of robots do they want?

[KansDem]

13. I sometimes use an alternate version:

I pledge resistance
to the Flag
of the Corporate States of America

and to the Republicans
for which it stands
one nation, under Canada
with liberty and justice for some.

We live in a rather conservative area; the only time I'm called on to recite it is at my children's' school assemblies. I don't know if anyone actually understands me through the collective mumble, but then, I really don't care if they do.

[xxqqqzme]

14. don't say it anymore

kind of like those loyalty oaths in the 50's - how many times do I HAVE 2 pledge allegiance before it takes? I'm not pledging to any flag either....'with liberty and justice for all' - what a joke that is and getting worse by the minute.

[libnnc]

17. I'm a substitute teacher

I stand but I won't say it. I haven't been asked about it yet by any of my students. My only allegiance is to the Constitution as well.