Courageous student stays seated for pledge. Super patriots go nuts.

[Cyrano]

About two months ago, a Palm Beach County high school student refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance. The teacher went bugshit and so did the principle. The ACLU is now suing Florida over a state law that says a student must stand for the pledge.

The LTTEs are still pouring in from freepers, fundies and every other brand of nut job. Most are vicious, hateful, and say things like "Send the little creep to Iraq to learn about freedom."

These imbeciles can't grasp the real courage this student displayed. He stood up (or, rather sat down) when it was not popular to do so. I wonder how many of his "I'm more patriotic than you" critics have that kind of courage.

When interviewed, the student said: "I believe the real meaning of the flag - freedom, liberty, and equality, - has been tarnished by the recent policies of our government." We could use many millions more like this kid, and millions fewer Kool-aid drinkers.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Good for him!

[Deja Q]

2. Freedom and protectionism,

send the freeper rabble to Iraq.

As long as our economy continues to remain unprotected and open for disintegration, we will be in danger.

I still can't fathom how they swallowed the SOTU where * says (the jobs shouldn't be segregated by) "isolationism and protectionism"... yet we neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed to protect America (by engaging in isolationist and protectionist policies the last 4 years.)

Sorry, but the economy IS America. PERIOD.

[annabanana]

3. give him some support here

His hometown paper poll is going against him by 26% to 73%
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/yourtown/content/local_news/epaper/2006/02/05/m1a_pledge_0205.html

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. Do you agree with the settlement... as as students will be permitted

to not take part in the Pledge of Allegiance?

Yes 26.98% 443
No 73.02% 1199

[mcar]

14. done

[karlrschneider]

21. Up to 36% yes

:kick:

[hwmnbn]

6. done......

Do you agree with the settlement -- as students will be permitted to not take part in the Pledge of Allegiance?


Yes 27.01% 444

No 72.99% 1200


Maybe another thread to DU this poll would be helpful.

[Pacifist Patriot]

7. Yes, please start its own thread for this. It's shameful.

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. Done...DAMN! Please start a thread with this poll...we need to DU it!

Do you agree with the settlement -- as students will be permitted to not take part in the Pledge of Allegiance?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes 27.62% 458
No 72.38% 1200

:grr:

From personal experience, a battle I'm fighting right now, I know what this poor kid is going through. Please start a thread with this poll so we can help this kid!

[unblock]

4. sometimes i stayed seated to finish my homework :)

other students would nudge or jeer me to stand, and i would say, "hey, i pledged my allegience once, and my allegiences don't expire every 24 hours."

[soup]

9. "my allegiences don't expire every 24 hours"

What a great response! I love it. :hi:

[txindy]

15. Okay, now THAT is a great answer.

:toast:

[in_cog_ni_to]

17. I agree!

Great answer!:toast:

[lostnfound]

10. It means NOTHING if it is forced.

Worse than nothing, actually.

You can live in a country where...
only those who want to, stand for a pledge
or one where..
all must stand and have no choice.

Seeing a crowd stand in the first scenario, you can be sure you are witnessing love of country

seeing a crowd stand in the second scenario, love and fear look the same.

Thinking that it can be forced is the same mentality that would make prayer and church attendance mandatory.

[Cyrano]

16. In the 1940s, supreme court justice Robert Jackson said

"Words uttered under coercion are proof of loyalty to nothing but self-interest. Love of country must spring from willing hearts and free minds."

This was part of a supreme court decision on a case brought by a Jehovahs Witness saying the pledge was against his religion.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Why Don't The Ones Who Stood Go To Iraq?

And how does MAKING someone join the army teach them about freedom? It teaches them the opposite, i would think.
The Professor

[stop the bleeding]

18. yep

[ypsiguy]

12. From Matt Groening:

I plead allignment to the flakes
Of the Untitled Snakes of A Merry Cow,
And to the Republicans, for which they scam
One nacho, underpants, with licorice and jugs of wine for owls.

Hey, it's a free country.

[progressoid]

13. He has a whopping 30% support on the newpaper's online vote

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/yourtown/content/local_news/epaper/2006/02/05/m1a_pledge_0205.html

[The Blue Flower]

19. My letter to the reporter

Several points:
Why is it necessary to make this statement of allegiance on a daily basis? Is it assumed that one's allegiance falters overnight?
Why is it necessary to prove your love of country by reciting these words in front of an audience? Even Jesus said do not mouth your prayers in public.
How is freedom served by forcing a person to mouth a few words?
What do the words "and to the Republic" mean? What Republic? We live in a democracy.
If this is about allegiance to the particular form of government instituted in the Constitution, then how is that reconciled with our present new form of government in which the executive claims he may spy on, kidnap, torture, and even kill without due process? That is a distinctly different form of government, one not consistent with the values embodied in the words "with liberty and justice for all."
Because this is not the Republic for which the flag used to stand, then pledging allegiance to a mere symbol--"I pledge allegiance to the flag"--is a form of idolatry. My faith forbids idolatry.

I could go on. Those who scream the loudest about this young man's lack of patriotism are the ones who do not believe in what America stands for.

[progressoid]

20. give this kid some support here!!

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/yourtown/content/local_news/epaper/2006/02/05/m1a_pledge_0205.html

[Midlodemocrat]

22. I just sent a letter to the editor

commending his bravery for not pledging something he doesn't believe. I don't have a copy, but I said stuff along the lines of dissent in wartime is the highest form of patriotism; forced pledging smacks of lockstepping a la pre-WII germany and the freedom of Iraq is a joke because the women of that country will be living under a theocracy that will make the Taliban look tolerant.

I commend that kid.

[saltpoint]

23. Loud cheers from my house for this student in Florida.

Excellent example of thoughtful citizenship.

[Saphire]

24. freedom = do as I say.