WKMG News reports on the decision of a federal judge in Florida that not only are students free to remain seating during the Pledge of Allegiance, but also that they don’t have to get parental permission to do so:
Cameron Frazier, then a 17-year-old junior, was told by teacher Cynthia Alexandre that he was “so ungrateful and so un-American” after he twice refused to stand for the pledge in her classroom Nov. 8, the lawsuit said.
Requiring Frazier to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance is “in violation of his First and Fourth Amendment rights,” the lawsuit said. ... “This is a decision about freedom and freedom in America means your right to not recite the Pledge of Allegiance or your right to recite the Pledge of Allegiance,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the Florida ACLU. “The impact that we hope this decision will have is that school officials begin to respect the conscience and dignity of young people.”
The Florida Department of Education isn’t happy that students are free to refuse to participate in daily recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance. Apparently, it isn’t part of the government’s job to use government schools to ensure that students know what their right and liberties are.
The Orlando Sentinel says that an appeal isn’t likely:
“But, look, individuals do have the right to dissent or the right to not say the Pledge of Allegiance,” [Gov. Jeb] Bush said. “I think that’s constitutionally clear. I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to do it, but I don’t think we need to spend a lot of time and energy on this.” ... “Judge Ryskamp is a solid, solid jurist,” Bush said, adding that “99.99999 percent of students stand up and say the pledge because they think it’s appropriate and they love their country.”
So, Jeb Bush believes that students have a clear constitutional right to not recite the Pledge of Allegiance, but apparently those who exercise their right do not “love their country.” What about those who, like Jehovah’s Witnesses, don’t participate in the Pledge of Allegiance for religious reasons? What about atheists who feel the that the Pledge excludes them because it’s been transformed into a religious oath and is not simply an expression of patriotism? What about those with a sincere political belief that the Pledge is a hollow and jingoistic?
It seems as though Jeb Bush doesn’t accept that they love their country — which puts him squarely in the same camp as his father who infamously declared that atheists couldn’t be patriotic.
Separation of Church & State:
- Separation of Church and State 101
- Secularism 101
- What is the Separation of Church and State?
- Religion's Place in the Public Square
- Myths About Church/State Separation
- Church and State News
- Church & State Polls
Pledge of Allegiance, Under Gods:
Yeesh… this is a toughy. While i think people *should* stand for the pledge, hand over heart etc, they should not be punished or treated differently for not doing so. That is the ultimate in unamericanism. The solution is this, and only this… no recitation of the pledge at all. To have it and allow kids to not stand means those kids are singled out. Then teachers, parents and administrators feel they have to do “something about it” on one side or another. Not doing it at all solves the problem, though it would sadden me to see a tradition fade.
Furthermore, we should return to the ORIGINAL pledge.
I pledge allegiance to the United States of American, and to the republic, for which it stands. One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
(Where ALL means ALL, not just the moral majority).
Regarding the following:
“but apparently those who exercise their right do not “love their country.What about those who, like Jehovah’s Witnesses, don’t participate in the Pledge of Allegiance for religious reasons? What about atheists who feel the that the Pledge excludes them because it’s been transformed into a religious oath and is not simply an expression of patriotism? What about those with a sincere political belief that the Pledge is a hollow and jingoistic?”
Actually Austin, Jehovah’s Witnesses, at least many of them don’t “love their country”. I was raised a JW, and patriotism was something explicitly and officially discouraged. The reasoning being that one should have allegiance to god, not the govts. of men. As I am now a humanist and atheist I have adopted a similar ethic. My allegiance is to the universal interests of humankind, not to any particular nation-state. I also see nationalism and patriotism as a threat to the interests of humankind, especially the kind promoted in an imperial power such as the U.S.. However, this does not prevent me from being an ardent supporter of the U.S. constitution to the extent that is supports the unviversal interests of humanity.
As always Austin, I thoroughly enjoy what you are doing for the the free thought community.
Sheldon
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
Tell me…how did pledgeing allegiance to the flag of the United States become a pledge to God? Any one who is an American would proudly pay allegiance to the United States of America….if not…then get out of America.
Today I did not stand for the pledge of allegiance in school.I did not stand because I wasnt feeling patriotic. I simply did not feel like standing. My teacher then asked me to stand up.At first I ignored him.He then asked me two more times and I responded “no.” He wrote me up for detention.On the slip it stated “refused to stand for pledge.” He then told me he would call my dean and told me not to “piss” him off.I told him HE was pissing himself off.When my dean called me out the class my teacher said out loud “I will not have that sh** in my class.” I told him to go to hell.As if my school didnt already give me any freedom. I expalined to my dean.My dean tried to go about telling me how people feel about their country.I told him that I did not need him to educate me on patriotism. He then mentioned that “if I wanted to write a paper I could.” I told him that I was not protesting but after reading the 1st amendment I have chanded my mind.
I believe personally that nobody should be forced to have to do this, and to think that it is wrong not to stand is ironic. So many people have done so many great things in this world, and all their contributions, where ever from, from the U.S, or anywhere else, I can comply with the soul fact that people who can give all credit for what this country has made us into the allegiance of one single flag is quite unfair to all that has been done for us. I don’t ever stand for the pledge. I stopped a long time ago, and never will recite it again
1 out of 3 kids drop out of high school in this country today. Maybe it’s because they don’t listen, and their parents don’t think their children have to listen to anyone. Just say the pledge and spend all this energy studying and making this country great again.