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77% Say Children Should Say Pledge At School Every Day

Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by Revmitchell, Nov 28, 2008.

  1. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Seventy-seven percent (77%) of U.S. voters say school children should say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning at school, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

    Just 13% say they should not, and nine percent (9%) are undecided.

    Eighty-two percent (82%) say the words “under God” should remain in the Pledge as well. Fourteen percent (14%) think the phrase should be dropped from the Pledge, and just four percent (4%) have no opinion.

    Voters are closely divided over whether students should be able to opt out of saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. Forty-four percent (44%) say they should be allowed to do so, but 47% disagree. Nine percent (9%) are not sure.


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  2. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    Well, let me stick my toe back in the water a bit here. I realize that Mitch will likely not agree with me, but here is some food for thought anyhow.

    While I indeed understand the benefit of teaching loyalty and patriotism (not talking about nationalistic jingoism here), compulsory oaths such as the Pledge of Allegiance being placed upon school children seems wrong on several levels. To wit:

    1. Children don't understand the words they are being compelled to recite.
    2. Such oaths of fealty to the state are more in line with facist or Communist regimes than free democratic republics.
    3. Rather than allegiance to a symbolic piece of fabric, wouldn't a pledge to defend the Constitution be better? After all, it works for our elected officials. The Constitution is what codifies our liberty, whereas the Flag is symbolism that means different things to different people.

    As to the right to opt out, that is settled law since 1943's West Virginia State Board of Education vs. Barnette decision, which stated compelling students to recite the pledge was a violation of their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Besides, with a few exceptions of late, our rights are not usually up for a majority vote.

    As to the phrase "under God", that is a bigger debate; however that notwithstanding, it is obviously a poor placement in the text of the Pledge. It breaks up the original thought of "one nation indivisible", that is one thing that cannot be broken apart.

    Incidentally, many are not aware that the Pledge as originally written was authored by Francis Bellamy, a Christian Socialist, to celebate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day.
     
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