The Pledge Of Allegiance Pros And Cons

The Pledge of Allegiance in the Public System has become a major issue for students, teachers and lawmakers. The original intention of The Pledge of Allegiance was not to stir up trouble but to express patriotism and pride for one’s country. The Pledge of Allegiance is no longer seen as patriotism, but is now a burden to children’s religious beliefs and a mockery to the families of fallen soldiers. We have our United States soldiers risking their lives to protect us, the U.S. citizens. With the various hardships facing American related associations with international affairs USA citizens should show gratitude by saying the Pledge of Allegiance with pride and fervor. Although everyone has their own personal opinion and standing for the Pledge

it has caused a huge political debate and has questioned many religions. There are many valuable reasons why people do not stand up for The Pledge of Allegiance and many valuable reasons why, here are some.
Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is a controversial topic.

The argument of whether students should or should not recite The Pledge of Allegiance has been discussed by many audiences. A telephone survey shows that sixty-eight percent of adults think school children should say The Pledge of Allegiance every morning: “Most Americans continue to believe the daily Pledge of Allegiance to the flag should be kept in schools and that it should include the words under God” ("68% Think School Children Should Say Pledge of Allegiance Every Morning - Rasmussen Reports™", 2016). “Although sixty-eight percent of parents do believe children to recite the Pledge every morning only one-in-four (twenty-five percent) do not think children should be required to say the pledge (“68% Think School Children Should Say Pledge of Allegiance Every Morning – Rasmussen Reports™", 2016). However some parents think that forcing their children to say The Pledge of Allegiance at their school will cause peer pressure. “You’re asking kids in school to take loyalty oath in front of their classmates,” he says. “I just don’t think that’s right” (“Parents Fight Over Pledging Allegiance In

Schools”,).
All over the United States, public school students are called to attention when announcements are sounded over a loud speaker.

Part of the morning routine is to stand, place their right hand over their heart and recite the Pledge of Allegiance in unison: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which its stands, one nation, under God, invisible, with liberty and justice for all.” This morning routine has now started commotion for children of many different religions as they cannot say the specific words, “under God,” in which, it is a problem if they are: Buddhist, Atheist, and many more. “Nor has any state court found that the Pledge practice violates any state constitutional guarantees relating to religious liberty. The rationale for all these decisions is that the Pledge is patriotic exercise, not a religious one..” (Lindsay, 2014). No court has found The Pledge of Allegiance to go against any religious belief’s, it is simply being a nationalist for your country. “Even if we did have a situation in which the theological views of all Jews and Christians were consonant with reciting The Pledge, which we don’t, that would hardly deal with the legitimate grievances of Hindus, Buddhists, Unitarians, Agnostics, Atheists and others” (““Under God: “ The Pledge, Present and Future”). This quote is exemplifying more of why The Pledge does not go against any specific

religion.
The Pledge of Allegiance is not geared toward one specific, “God,” but geared toward all religions’ “God” as a whole. “Of the 53 states and territories in this survey (the 50 states plus Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands), 43 require public school students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Only one state, Wisconsin, also requires private- school students to do so” (First Amendment Center, 2006). Although in the state of Pennsylvania if a student does not wish to recite the Pledge of Allegiance his/ her parents will receive a written notice. In the state of Tennessee the article states, “Where the Pledge is said, students, faculty and staff may choose not to join. If a student makes this choice he is either to stand or sit quietly” (First Amendment Center, 2006). Francis Bellamay, a Baptist Minister had his own, “new and revised” pledge. “I Pledge of Allegiance to my flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, invisible, with liberty and justice for all” (Lipka, 2013). Bellamay stated his own revision of the Pledge of Allegiance to stay that you don't have to say “under God” when reciting it if it goes against your religion.
First in 1940, in the case of Minersville v. Gobits, the Court said that a public school could force students who were Jehovah’s Witnesses to salute the flag and say The Pledge. Justice Felix Frankfurter states, “Conscientious scruples have not, in the course of the long struggle for religious toleration, relieved the individual from obedience to a general law not aimed at the promotion or restriction of religious beliefs” (“The History of legal challenges to the Pledge of Allegiance”, 2016). “ In a 6-to-3 decision, the court overruled its decision in Minersville School District v. Gobits and held that compelling public school children to salute the flag was unconstitutional” (319 US 624 (1943). This court case was argued and still comes up in the twenty-first century.
“The board of Education on January 9, 1942, . . . order[ed] that the salute to the flag become “a regular part of the program of activities in the public schools,” that all teachers and pupils “shall be required to participate in the salute honoring the nation represented by the Flag; provided, however, that refusal to salute the Flag be regarded as an Act of Insubordination, and shall be dealt with accordingly” ("Supreme Court Historical Society", 2016). However, soon after, in one of the most important Supreme Court cases was the 1943 case of West Virginia State Board of Education v Barnette. The court case was when a family of the Jehovah's witnesses sought to have their children exempted from having to say the Pledge, which, they said, violated their religion. By a vote of 6-3, the court ruled in favor of the Barnettes, but on free-speech grounds.
While standing for the Pledge of Allegiance in the state of Tennessee you notice that every person does not stand, as they are not required to. Students as well as adults do not even stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Should they stand? Recently in the media, which, was more of a spark for people to not stand for The Pledge of Allegiance or The National Anthem was the San Francisco 49ers star quarterback Colin Kaepernick for taking a knee while the National Anthem is being sang/ played. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick stated (Sandritter, 2016). “In the wake of Colin Kaepernick headline- grabbing refusal to stand for The National Anthem, some young people have been starting the star quarterback's lead” (Michaelson, 2016). “Political football has a whole new meaning since 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the national anthem. It's not just the moneyed NFL players expressing their frustration over police brutality and racism in America, the protests are appearing under the glare of Friday night lights” (CNN 2016). For example, a fifteen year old high school sophomore refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, saying, “America sucks,” and “Doesn't support black people.” According to the child and his mother, his teacher tried to force him out of his chair. We can easily see how children follow up behind whom they admire. The justices ruled that legally, no student in a public school system had to participate in The Pledge of Allegiance, and that “Forcing someone to recite it is a violate of the First Amendment and the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution” (Paoletta, 2015). Although some teachers still force students out of their seats Freed of Religion states, “We live in a nation of freedom. Participation in the pledge (or anthem) is voluntary. Those who wish to participate may stand; others may remain seated” (“Pledge of Allegiance – Freedom From Religion Foundation”). You have the right to remain seated.
Over the course of my research I have learned numerous things. Although many arguments have been made reciting the Pledge of Allegiance remains a controversial topic. Common misconceptions regarding the Pledge of Allegiance include racial inequality, differences in religious beliefs, segregation within the country and injustice throughout the country. Although it is considered disrespectful to not recite The Pledge of Allegiance or take a knee during The National Anthem we have to respect The United States citizens and their beliefs. Our country is based on freedom and having freedom means that you have the right to stand or remain seated during The Pledge of National Anthem, it is your choice.