If the principles of the founders have any meaning at all, then a "pledge of allegiance" to a piece of cloth, spoken aloud by rote, is in itself an entirely unnecessary act.
Inserting the words "under God" into it? That's just egregious, and offensive to anyone who sees the merits in separating church and state.
Placing one's hand on a Bible as part of a ritual to be "sworn" into office?
Ditto.
Making the whole process obligatory in a public, secular school system and placing a grade on it? That sounds like the sort of Tea Party goofiness about to be proposed by the likes of Lee Ann Wisehart.
I'll stand during the pledge as a token of esteem to my father and other veterans, but in this, as in these other considerations, shouldn't they be a matter of personal conscience, and not compulsion?
Student Omits ‘Under God’ From the Pledge of Allegiance, School Vindictively Lowers His Grades, by John Prager (AATTP.org)
A California High School student was punished for omitting “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance. Derek Giardina, 17, a student at Merrill F. West High School in Tracy, California, said the Pledge of Allegiance properly as instructed as part of the morning announcements. While he omitted only two words, which were added during the anti-Communist panic of the 1950’s.
Unfortunately, the school lacks the necessary knowledge of American history to appreciate the traditional manner of reciting the Pledge, arguing that if a student is going to lead the school, the pledge must promote one specific deity — or, the “traditional way,” as the school says.
Giardina says he was required to lead the school in the pledge as part of a debate class assignment, but that he would normally abstain because he is disillusioned with our country, and is not at all religious ...
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