"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." As a student in school, The Pledge of Allegiance was how you started your day every morning. We would stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to show our respect and support for the people who fight for our country. If you were to walk into a classroom today, while the Pledge of Allegiance was being said, you would see that some students would stand and others would be sitting. I believe that respecting the flag should be shown in some aspect, my reasons why, are that it shows respect to everyone who has served our country, would help unite us as Americans, and would give …show more content…
us back flag etiquette. There are a good portion of our nation’s citizens that have a family member or friend currently serving our country or that have served at some point.
Men and women fight for our country every single day, making sure that we are kept secure. Not only are they fighting for our sense of being kept safe, they are also making sure that we have our freedom. Many Americans are familiar with our Amendments. Among the best known is the First Amendment, which is commonly known for the right to have freedom of speech, press, and to peacefully assemble. Many would say that not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance would be their right to freedom of speech, which I would agree with. You would also have to look at the fact that people are putting their life on the line for this freedom. Should we have rules in place to show the simple act of standing as our appreciation for what they are able to provide for …show more content…
us? When I listen to the pledge of allegiance, the key part that stands out is “united we stand.” How can we be united when we don’t stand together? President Abraham Lincoln said in his speech “A house Divided”, “a nation divided cannot stand.” We as a nation are falling in the cracks, we are not standing together in times of heartbreak. We are showing how divided we are with the main protests going on currently like kneeling during the national anthem. Given that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick had a bigger motive, he didn’t intend to disrespect the flag; he just was using it as his way of taking a bigger stance against racial injustice and police brutality. But what did our flag have to do with his protest? We as a country have to show that the flag is not used as a symbol of protest but as a symbol of freedom, loyalty, and equality. The flag code is the traditional way to show the flag respect, as well as instructions on how to not use the flag.
A few rules are: don’t use the flag as drapery, don’t let the flag touch the ground, and don’t use the flag for advertising purposes. So for example, when the flag is so worn or it is disrespect in anyone that it no longer seems fit as a symbol, the flag must then be destroyed properly. When having a flag burning ceremony, it is only to be done by someone who can give it the dignity it deserves. So why is flag etiquette so important? We must show respect and dignity to the flag because of all the sacrifice it took to get us the freedom. Most Americans could say that they have not followed the flag code as strict. Every 4th of July you can look around at your barbecue and see most everyone in an Old Navy flag shirt. This would be against the flag code. I am not saying that we need to change the rules completely, but maybe make them so that everyone can give the flag their respect but showing our joy of patriotism as well. So, if we as a country would go back to showing the flag respect, we as a country might just see that it should not be used as a protest. The flag should only be involved in a protest when shown the proper respect. Don’t stomp on it, spit on it, and burn it in a disrespectful manner. With these set of rules I believe that we can make both parties
happy. I strongly believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Which is why there is always two sides to any argument. But is it worth bring something so powerful, meaningful, and something so patriotic such shame? When showing a protest whether it be silent like sitting for the pledge of allegiance or something so broadcasted like Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem put matters aside and show the flag the respect it has so rightfully earned. "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 believe people lack respect for the flag and what it stands for. Although most people are proud to be an American, some don’t understand what it truly means to be an American. The flag has a history, and should be respected because of that history. Although most believe that respect should be earned, our flag has earned this many times over. And I believe that our flag is taken for granted.
... Since its inception, the Pledge of Allegiance has been and is still used as a sign of respect to the country instead of a religious practice.
“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.” As Americans, we say this to honor our state and because we are proud of what we as a citizen of America have done to make it the America that is today. Americans weren’t the only ones that helped; veterans were a big part of the success that made our country the America that I believe in.
Stripes and stars forever, right? Well, what exactly does that mean? The American Flag can be seen almost anywhere. From the high-school, to the ball park, and even in our homes, the American flag stands as a symbol of all that is good and true in America. When one thinks of the flag, they usually think of the blood that was shed for this country. It was shed so that we could have liberties, such as, freedom of speech and expression, which fall under the first amendment rights of the Constitution. However, when you think of a burning flag, what comes to mind? One might say it shows disrespect and hatred to a country that has given so much. In the case of Texas v. Johnson, Gregory Lee Johnson was accused of desecrating a sacred object, but, his actions were protected by the First Amendment. Although his actions may have been offensive, he did not utter fighting words. By burning the flag, Johnson did not infringe upon another's natural human rights. He was simply expressing his outrage towards the government, which is within the jurisdiction of the First Amendment.
To the Majority Opinion it’s a flag of our nation but to the Dissenting opinion its means more than just a flag. It means “White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & velour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice." In this case the Dissenting opinion gave reasons why flag burning should be banned. Eventually Congress passed the Flag Protection Act of 1989. The Act banned flag burning regardless of whether the person burning the flag intended to cause offense to
Gwen Wilde wrote an essay on “Why the Pledge of Allegiance Should be Revised.” In this essay, Gwen believes that the words “under God” should be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance. Gwen informs us that the original Pledge did not include “under God” and the words were not added until 1942, therefore, the words can easily be removed. Although some changes have been made to make it clear that the Pledge of Allegiance is for the United States Gwen believes that the words “under God” do not show any support for our country and only make those who do not believe in God feel uncomfortable. Therefore, Gwen believes that “under God” is not appropriate for the Pledge and does not show that we are a Nation that is “indivisible.”
The Pledge of Allegiance has become a major issue for students, teachers, parents and lawmakers. The original intention of the pledge was not to stir up trouble, but for a celebration of Christopher Columbus discovery of the new world. The pledge is no longer thought of as a celebration, but an infringement on children's religious beliefs. Do you believe that children's rights are being infringed on? Some people believe that the pledge is a great honor for our country. It has shown, and provided us with great pride just like our American flag. The Pledge of Allegiance being recited in the public school system does not infringe on the students religious beliefs, but is a way for us to honor our country and everything that we have done to get to this point in history.
The burning of an American flag is not necessarily anti-American or unpatriotic. Sometimes, the greatness and majesty of the flag is better portrayed in the powerful political and societal statement of destroying it. This act can convey the feeling of the American people that their government is not the body it should be or that it is not doing the will of the people. This is probably one of the most emotional actions they can take to get the government's attention. Some of these protestors may even love the flag as much as those who are for banning flag burning, but the burners want to emphasize the seriousness of their complaint. The act of burning a flag may be the people's way of telling the government that it is co...
I’ve lol been standing for the pledge of allegiance since I was in elementary and never really understood why. Freedom of speech, you say what you want, when you want, and how you want to. It’s your right to stand up or not. “People die for our country.” “Sign of respect for the country we live in.” “Take pride in being an American.” How can we be proud to be American if it only brings negative stereotypes to everyone’s head, it has never been what it preaches to be. Being American is actually embarrassing. Just because I was born here doesn 't mean I have undying loyalty to America, being American means nothing to me, to be truthful.
Have you ever heard the saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover"? There are many things that look very unpleasing on the outside but actually have a meaning bigger than just our lives. Something that has a special meaning to me is the American Flag. Imagine a dirty, old flag that is still standing after a war that many soldiers have lost their life for. Thinking about that gives the flag a bigger meaning than just old cloth. The flag stands for all of Americans loyalty to their country. It also represents the hardships our country has overcome over many decades. The American Flag stands for everybody that has fought and died for our country. One of the biggest things the flag stands for is the loyalty of our people.
Many students all across America stand and salute to the flag every morning and repeat these words, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, To the republic for which it stands, one nation, Under God, Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” There are controversy behind these words of historical allegiance, and that is why many people are refusing to stand for the pledge. This nation was founded upon freedom and liberties, and with those liberties comes with the freedom to choose your religion. The words “Under God”
Many parents, educators, and school officials defend the Pledge of Allegiance and other rituals and symbols for the themes of ...
First, I would like to talk about the history of the Pledge of Allegiance. Many people today recite the Pledge of Allegiance but do not know the history that took place behind it. The Pledge of Allegiance was originally written more than a century ago. The original pledge was: I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic, for which it stands, one Nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all . The flag serves as a symbol of our country and its proud traditions of freedom and equal opportunity. In the 1920s, the National Flag Conferences replaced the phrase “my Flag” with “the Flag of the United States of America.” In 1954, Communist threats occurred causing Congress to add the words under God to the pledge. Then 12 years later, Congress reviewed the Pledge of Allegiance and added the words “Under God .” While reciting the Pledge of Allegiance it should be recited by standing placing your
Controversy over the flying of the Confederate flag is rampant in today’s society. Specifically, whether the flags should be flown in public places such as schools, courthouses, and capitols. The Confederate flag has been flown over many state capitol buildings. Men across the southern half of the United States died simply for the ideas of that very flag. The flag memorializes the sons of the South who died during the Civil War. The men who lost their lives battling for the Confederacy were not simply fighting over slavery, they were engaging in battle for other very important factors such as trade, tariffs, and state rights. The Confederate flag should be allowed to be flown over public places such as schools, courthouses, and capitols because it captures the essence of American
For this reason, I believe that the Pledge of Allegiance should continue to be recited in American Public Schools, I do however believe that for those with contrasting religious views should be allowed to omit “under God”. They should also be given the choice whether to say the pledge or not. We have amendments in the constitution granted citing freedom of speech to include freedom of religion. I believe that not allowing those with differences of opinion of the pledge would devalue those amendments and would be very contradictory. I grew up in an abusive home as a child and I was unsure of what my purpose and self worth was. I wasn’t an especially patriotic person, but I believe that my time in the Air Force was where I found those things. I was proud to protect others and it gave me a sense of pride to do for others what I could not have done for me in my