I Pledge Allegiance...

**K1NGKONG** · Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 35

So today, like everyday, I was in 2nd period and the announcements came on and told everyone to stand up for the Pledge.

I sat down throughout the thing like always, not saying a word, while my naggy ex told me the whole time to get up as I was being disrespectful. I didn't feel like arguing with her so I just told her she was being disrespectful by talking during it and then she shut up.

After it was over she told me that I had no respect for the soldiers in Iraq risking their lives for me because I did not stand up or Pledge Allegiance. This is about the exact opposite of how I feel about our armed forces, I have the utmost respect for anyone risking their lives for our country.

So this all passes by, and about 15 minutes later in class, my teacher calls me up to her desk and asks me if there was any certain reason I didn't stand for the Pledge today. I responded with a no, and then she said that she would appreciate me doing it because it showed respect for our country. She was very nice about it, so I just said sure I will from now on.

Anyway, this has all led up to the question:

How do you feel about standing during the Pledge? Is it disrespectful to sit down? What about stand up and not say a word?

Idk.
Discuss!
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**zYgote** · Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 1709

Sigh.
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**dspoonrt** · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 2449 Location: Columbus, OH

Of course, not standing up for the Pledge of Allegiance is disrespectful. The question, then, is what are you being disrespectful toward? The country, in general? That's a pretty ambiguous thought. The President? Perhaps, no one can blame you for that. The armed forces? If that's your perogative, sure, but you claim that it's not about the troops. American policies and the Congress that supports them? Another perhaps; the Congressional approval rating hasn't been very high recently. My guess is that you're either looking for attention or you feel strongly about some of these issues. I would lean toward the first reason, since you're in high school (right?) and high school is all about looking cool. You can help shed more light on all of this, though.
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**jesse0986** · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject:

I'm not terribly interested in getting into a debate about etiquette or anything, but I'm just curious what reason you have for not standing. I know you told the teacher you don't have a reason but I frankly don't buy that; there has to be something that makes you decide to not stand.
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**K1NGKONG** · Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 35

Honestly I don't stand up because I believe the Pledge is a joke, and saying doesn't mean I respect/disrespect anything more or less than if I were or were not to say it.

It seems pointless to me is why I don't stand for it.
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**MrJiggles4** · Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 626 Location: Chandler, AZ

I usually stand but when I don't it is due to pure lazyness cause I am really tired
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**dspoonrt** · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 2449 Location: Columbus, OH

It's about just being grateful to live in America, grateful to those who died in winning our freedom from England and keeping it secure in conflicts afterwards. It's a tradition. You may not want to take part because you're an adolescent. Adolescents are supposed to question authority, norms, etc. Great. Do you really not feel one way or another about being born in a privileged country, being able to elect your leaders, and everything else that goes along with living in America? We have some corruption, other problems, sure, but at the end of the day it's still great to live here. I would second notions to ask yourself why it is you think you shouldn't stand up. Saying I don't know why I do something isn't reason to stop doing it.
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**jesse0986** · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 6:13 pm Post subject:

**cobainage1994** · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 2020 Location: Whitewater , WI

**K1NGKONG** · Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 35

**cobainage1994** · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 2020 Location: Whitewater , WI

**thegibbonator** · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 6:28 pm Post subject:

I'm not an American, so I'm probably not the best person to try to answer this question: Why is the Pledge mandatory? In England, people are patriotic out of free choice. I'm not a huge patriot, but I enjoy living in my country and I'm grateful for what I've got in life. However, if somebody was forcing me to say I loved the country and the Queen, I'd probably end up hating it, even though it's a great country to live in.

Do any Americans feel the same way about the States, that they'd support it much more if they weren't being forced to in the first place?
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**Josseppe95** · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 1045 Location: Philadelphia

**guitarroker** · Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Posts: 1993 Location: Iceland

What's the Pledge of Allegiance?

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**K1NGKONG** · Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 35