Dallen+Jones

The Right Not to Pledge

"Students! Know Your Rights." Students! Know Your Rights. ACLU, 20008. Web. 04 Dec. 2012. . "Pledge of Justice." About.com Political Humor. About.com, 2012. Web. 04 Dec. 2012. . =Guided Research Question: Should the pledge of allegiance be said every day at school? I am interested in learning the history behind the pledge allegiance and why children across America are told to say it everyday at school. Also I want to find out what states are required to recite this pledge everyday and whats states are not. Another thing I will be researching is all of the changes that have been made to the pledge since it's existence.
 * For Saying The Pledge of Allegiance || Against Saying The Pledge of Allegiance ||
 * * Shows respect for the soldiers fighting in the war
 * It shows honor for the freedom you have in the country you live in
 * It is tradition
 * “Everyone” says it
 * You live America so you should say it || * Not everyone is a Christian
 * People have the right to say and not say things they chose not too
 * Some people are against the war
 * Forcing people to say it denies their rights of the First Amendment
 * Just because people chose not to say it doesn’t mean people are being disrespectful
 * Why should children say it in school every day if they are not going to say it every day when they are adults? ||

What I think:  Before writing this argument I was completely against the Pledge of Allegiance .  I thought it was not as respectful and honorable as Americans claimed it was .  First of all it disrespected all the people of a different religion and ethnicity as a normal Christian American who live in America .  The reason why is because they may not praise the same God as we do . <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> This offends people and personally I think it is one reason why I think that some of the rest of the world thinks we are so stuck up and full of ourselves <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> There is nothing wrong will being patriotic by pledging your allegiance to your country <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> But there does become something wrong when you deny people of their rights and make them feel obligated to show their allegiance to something they don’t believe in <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> So when I see that students are being forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance in America today, it hurts me and makes me feel ashamed to call myself American <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> The reason why is because like I said earlier in my argument, I have been that kid in my class who was looked down on and made fun of for not saying the Pledge of Allegiance <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> But I will admit that I learned some good things about the Pledge of Allegiance <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> I learned that when you are reciting the pledge you are not just saying it to be saying it <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> You are showing respect to your country and honoring the men and women who fight to protect our country every day <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Students are also showing the unification of their country when they stand up all together at some period in time their school day and recite the Pledge of Allegiance <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> So now in my heart I feel that the Pledge of Allegiance is being said every day in schools across the country to represent more good than evil <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> But the evil isn’t created by the words in the pledge <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> But by the people who are reciting it every day and making people who don’t feel bad about it <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> So when Americans stop pressuring and forcing and creating laws to get people just to say a few words, then that’s when the Pledge of Allegiance will fully embody what a pledge is <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Americans as a whole have to start practicing what they preach in all aspects of their life not just in some <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Even to as something as the pledge, it will still make a difference <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> It will show that America is a country of their word <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> I think by starting with something as small as just saying the Pledge of allegiance without any confrontation to those who chose not to say it will make a big difference on how other countries look at us <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> And before we go overseas to fight for what is right, we must fight for what is right here in our own homelands <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> I feel that if we put more importance on meaning what we say and stop worrying about others and trying to convert people into thinking the same way then that’s when our country will become better <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Allow people to think on their and to come up with their own beliefs, and just keep on walking <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Then we won’t have to keep having arguments on the First Amendment and different topics that fall underneath it <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Then I think finally America will become that country that our founding fathers envisioned <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Works Cited <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">"ELK GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DIST <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> V <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> NEWDOW <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">" //ELK GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DIST// <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> V //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> NEWDOW //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Legal Information Institute Cornell University Law School, 24 Mar <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 2004 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Web <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 11 Dec <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 2012 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Gross, Crystal <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> "Pledge of Allegiance in Schools: Not Required in These 5 States <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">" //News, Lifestyle, and Social Action on TakePart// <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> NPR, 19 Sept <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Web <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 11 Dec <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 2012 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Richey, Warren <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> "Supreme Court Declines Pledge of Allegiance Case <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">" //The Christian Science Monitor// <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> The Christian Science Monitor, 05 Oct <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 2009 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Web <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 11 Dec <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 2012 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Smith, Tovia <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> "Parents Fight Over Pledging Allegiance In Schools <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">" //NPR// <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> NPR, 19 Sept <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Web <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 11 Dec <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 2012 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Washington Post //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> The Washington Post, 24 Feb <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 2010 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Web <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 12 Dec <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 2012 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">"West Virginia State Board of Education v <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Barnette <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">" //West Virginia State Board of Education v// <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Barnette //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Legal Information Institute Cornell University Law School, 11 Mar <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 1943 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Web <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 11 Dec <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 2012 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 17.3333px;">.
 * **__<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 37.3333px;">Court Cases __** || **__<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 37.3333px;">Summary __** ||
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 26.6667px; text-align: center;">ELK GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DIST. V. NEWDOW || <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Michael Newdow sued in federal district court in California, arguing that making students listen - even if they choose not to participate - to the words "under God" violates the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. The district court dismissed Newdow's complaint for lack of standing, because he and the mother of his daughter are divorced and he does not have custody. ||
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 29.3333px; text-align: center;">FRAZIER V. SMITH || <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Cameron Frazier, a junior, arrived for his fourth-period math class at Boynton Beach High School and informed the teacher that as a matter of conscience, he would neither stand nor recite the Pledge of Allegiance. To resolve the case, the justices would have had to clarify a landmark 1943 ruling in which the high court declared schoolchildren in West Virginia may not be required to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. ||
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24px; text-align: center;">WEST VIRGINIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION V. BARNETTE || <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Members of Jehovah's Witnesses objected on religious grounds, students were expelled from school. The Supreme Court first upheld the state law but reversed itself three years later in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943). The Court held that schools may not coerce or force students into reciting the Pledge, observing the existence of an individual right of conscience to sit silently while others recited. ||