Amy+Chang

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Miller. Pledge of Allegiance. Digital image. One Day at a Time. N.p., 24 Jan. 2005. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. .

Is it constitutional to require students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance  in public schools?

 The topic of the Pledge of Allegiance is one I can relate to personally. Many schools require students and teachers to recite the Pledge each morning; this is not constitutional. But some may argue that the Pledge does not impede on anyone's belief systems or harm anyone's opinions, but merely instilling a sense of patriotic pride into the young generation of Americans. However, being the melting pot that America is, the Pledge of Allegiance should recognize all Americans, something it does not do. The refusal to say the Pledge comes from a plethora of reasons; some more personal or political than others. But the false sense of security, equality, and freedom the Pledge implies is dangerous for the growth of the American society. To progress towards an even greater country, America must revise the Pledge of Allegiance and begin to work towards true liberty and justice for all.

Griesinger, Kyle. Pledge of Allegiance. Digital image. Kyle Griesinger. N.p., 05 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2012


 * Pros **
 * The Pledge of Allegiance is a reminder to be thankful for our freedom. ( Elk Grove Unified School District. v. Newdow )
 * The acknowledgment of God respects one of the pillars America is founded upon: freedom to practice religion.
 * Instills a sense of patriotism ( Elk Grove Unified School District. v. Newdow)


 * Cons **
 * The Pledge of Allegiance does not acknowledge all people; there is no "freedom and justice for all". Minority groups are not privileged with the same rights the majority have.
 * "Under God" implies that there is a monotheistic God, but the separation of church and state exists. ( Elk Grove Unified School District. v. Newdow )
 * Instills a false sense of security and equality. Complacency is dangerous for the growth of a nation. (O'Leary)
 * Daily recitation takes away the reverence and sacred oath is supposed to retain.


 * <span style="color: #57afaf; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Court Cases **

Holloman v. Harland Michael Holloman, a former student of Parrish High School in Walker County, Alabama, refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance and instead silently raised his fist while the other students recited it. He was reprimanded by his teacher and later served a paddling from the principle. He later sued his economic teacher, the principal, and the school for unjust punishment. Though his opinion was not constitutionally protected, the court ruled against the teacher because she did not have grounds to properly chastise him. The paddling was served because she found his opinion repugnant, not because he caused any disruption.

Elk Grove Unified School District. v. Newdow A concerned father filed for lawsuit in 2004 when he found out his daughter was saying the Pledge of Allegiance despite what he had taught her. Newdow, an avid atheist, argues although his daughter is not forced in to saying the Pledge, she is coerced to from fear of ostracization. The “under God” adds an acknowledgement of a higher being that, he argues, is an infringement of the Establishment Clause. The court voted unanimously against him; although he’s firm in his beliefs, he does not have enough grounds to veto the phrase because of his objections.

West Virginia State Board of Ed. v. Barnette A group of Jehovah’s Witnesses filed for lawsuit against their school which requires students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or be disciplined. Their beliefs prohibits pledging to any saluting to symbols, including ones of political institutions. Their argument stated that by forcing them to recite the pledge, this infringed on their right of speech and right to practice religion. The Court ruled that the state’s requirement for them to recite the pledge of allegiance or suffer repercussion is an infringement of their First Amendment.

Getting rid of “under God” in the pledge will inevitably cause a domino effect, causing people to push for the termination of all religious reference in the government. This is virtually impossible because the reference to God is everywhere: in currency, the court room, and even government officials’ meetings. It is also impossible to please everyone because a small percentage will always be offended because majority rules. However, being the incredibly diverse melting pot America is, the best decision is to stay neutral when referring to religion. America is increasingly becoming more assorted with each passing year and with a reference to any specific religious omnipotent deity, the minority that was once offended will turn into the majority.
 * <span style="color: #57afaf; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">What I Think **

Though I am swayed very little in my opinion, I will not begin reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The process to removing religious references in society will be a gradual and laborious one and will not happen for the next few generations. For now, I accept that leaving “under God” in the Pledge will do less damage than removing it will. Though it still seems like a foreign entity that does not belong in the pledge, it is more risky to remove it at this point in history. But when the time comes, society will have to make the obligatory decision to remove religion from the pledge.

However, I do think the argument to have “under God” removed from the Pledge of Allegiance a little far-fetched. I propose an alternative: children should not be forced to recite the pledge every day because they will grow up not fully comprehending the purpose of the pledge, thus defeating its purpose <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">. They will treat it as another mundane activity that is expected of them daily and mindlessly recite words that they have long since memorized. To retain the reverence that it is supposed to have, it should not be said every day.

I do not hate religion nor am I an advocator for liberal atheism, but a pledge that does not live up to its implications does not have place in public schooling. I am thankful to be an American, yes, but I’ve witnessed first-hand the complacency of the people I exist with, blindly thankful for the freedom they know so little about and quick to critically remark other societies. The popular opinion thinks the Pledge is an excellent expression of patriotism but many students will tell you differently. Many have memorized it to a subconscious level and only mindlessly repeat words that everyone else is. Expression of patriotism should not merely be saluting to a flag; it should be focused on bettering the country. Acts that better oneself, be it doing well in school and becoming a trade savvy economist or an avid volunteer in the local soup kitchen, will show what the Pledge of Allegiance has long since lost its ability to do: true patriotism <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">.


 * <span style="color: #57afaf; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Works Cited **

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">ACLU. "American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) - Under God in the Pledge - <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> ProCon.org."Under God in the Pledge. Procon, 22 Aug. 2007. Web. 5 Dec. 2012.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">"Americans United." Bush Brief In Pledge Case Says Public Schools Can Teach <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> About God. Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Feb. 2004. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Cline, Austin. "Ninth Circuit Court Decision on Endorsement & Coercion." About.com <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> Agnosticism /Atheism. About, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Elk Grove Unified School District. v. Newdow. 328 F. 3d 466. Certiorari to the United <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 14 June 2004. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">"Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow." Home. Street Law, Inc., 2004. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Feerick, Jack. "America Was Founded on Secular Principles." Religion in America. <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> David Haugen and Susan Musser. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Faith in America." Saturday Evening Post 281 (Nov.-Dec. <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> 2009): 44-51. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">"First Amendment Schools: The Five Freedoms - Court Case." First Amendment Schools: <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> The Five Freedoms - Court Case. First Amendment Schools, 2006. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Holloman v. Harland. 370 F.3d 1252. United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> 28 May 2004. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">O'Leary, Cecilia, and Tony Platt. "Enshrined Patriotism Endangers America." Is It <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> Unpatriotic to Criticize One's Country? Ed. Mary E. Williams. San Diego: Green <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> haven Press, 2005. At Issue. Rpt. from "Pledging Allegiance: The Revival of <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> Prescriptive Patriotism." Social Justice 28 (Fall 2001): 41. Gale Opposing <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> Viewpoints In Context. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Prothero, Stephen. "There Should Be Prayer and Bible Study in Public <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> Schools."Atheism. Ed. Beth Rosenthal. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> U.S. Supreme Court. "'Under God' Should Be Removed from the Pledge of <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> Allegiance." Religion in America. Ed. Mary E. Williams. San Diego: Greenhaven <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Part II: Nebraska Zen Center et <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> al., Amicus Curiae Brief." 2004. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">West Virginia State Board of Ed. v. Barnette. 319 U.S. 624. The District Court of the <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> United States for the Southern District of West Virginia. 14 June 1943. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Whitney, Mike. "The Phrase 'Under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance Is an Establishment of Religion." <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> Church and State. Ed. Lynn M. Zott. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> Rpt. from "Time to Dump the Pledge." Counterpunch (31 Mar. 2004). <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;"> Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.