A Pledge of Pride, Loyalty and Honor

As of Saturday, September 17, 2011

I recited the Pledge of Allegiance every day during my eight years in public school, John Jay Audubon No. 42, Scranton, Pa. Every morning my classmates and I stood up, placed our rights hands over our hearts and recited the words.

In 1959 Miss Aikman made our fifth-grade class memorize a portion of the Preamble to the Constitution, too. As a young student I realized that America, while not perfect, did aspire to be “one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

In 1892 Edward Bellamy wrote the pledge because he believed it would “protect [the] immigrants and native-born and the insufficiently patriotic Americans from the ‘virus’ of radicalism and subversion.”

Today Congressional sessions open with the pledge, as do organizations such as the Boy and Girl Scouts, Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus and the Freemasons.

The pledge, modified four times, was last revised in 1954 to include the words “under God.” However, before this, controversy ensued. In 1940, Minersville School District v. Gobities ruled that Jehovah Witness students could not be compelled to speak the pledge. In 1943, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette ruled that public school students could not be compelled to recite the pledge as it violated their First Amendment rights. Others argued that young children could not understand what they were reciting.

Today many school districts have allowed students to refrain from reciting the pledge as a matter of choice, so some students stand to recite, while other students remain seated where they can amuse themselves with texting their friends.

Miss Aikman taught me how to become a citizen. For me, our flag is a cloth of honor, and I recite the pledge with pride, loyalty and honor.

Thank you, Miss Aikman.

Gayle Parker

Whispering Pines

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Courseaire 1 year, 8 months ago

How selfish of you not to consider the feelings of others that might be offended by your pride, loyalty and honor. It can be so hurtful to them. Shame.

lhines48 1 year, 8 months ago

I can also remember having to standup in the class room every morning and recite the Pledge of Allegiance when I was in school too. That was part of the morning devotion that we had each day before class started. I can also remember having to learn and recite the Preamble to the Constitution. I think that those type of things help mold most of us into good citizens and built character. It is a shame that the First Amendment which was designed to protect our rights has taken so many away.

Larry H

Mythreekids 1 year, 8 months ago

Some of my fondest memories were standing in Mrs. Clark's 8th grade class at West Southern Pines High School singing The Little Brown Church in the Wildwood, Reciting the Pledge, Prayer and a Bible Verse. I recently asked one of mine what they do during 'moments of silence' in school. He said with laughter, "I ask God to take care of me." I am not offended by other's practice or non practice. My practice works for me and that is what matters to me. America was established in part because of a pursuit of religious freedom. I am grateful for it, proud of it and refuse to 'hide it' because somebody else doesn't like it. I don't eat cauliflour but I don't try to keep others from enjoying it. Very same principle. This is America, land of the Free and Home of Brave. A special thank you to those men and women who 'choose' to continue to fight for the freedoms we enjoy.

pookiegirl1984 1 year, 8 months ago

To be a citizen of this great county is an honor. Therefore, being able to say the pledge of allegence is a right and one we should not take for granted. Though, some of us do not chose to participate in this patriotic action those who do should not be chasized for their actions.

jimt 1 year, 8 months ago

You do realize (or probably you don't) that the Pledge was written by a "Christian-Socialist".

FightFireWithFire 1 year, 8 months ago

What are you trying to say, Jim? That Christian Socialists are bad? That is an interesting statement. Care to expound on it for us?

While Mr. Bellamy wrote the pledge, the words have changed over time. "under G-d" was added unofficially by Mr. Bowman in the late 1940's. Then President Truman made it an official part of the pledge on Flag Day (June 14) 1954.

For more on this subject: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_o...

jimt 1 year, 8 months ago

"What are you trying to say, Jim? That Christian Socialists are bad?"

On the contrary. It's just an interesting sidebar to a "conversation" dominated by pious conservatives, all convinced that America is doomed, and who cite the Pledge as an example of all that's good about America. Introduce the fact that it was written by, god forbid, a socialist, albeit a Christian Socialist, and most of them freak out or deny it. Perhaps its also worth noting that Bellamy asked that we "pledge allegiance to the United States of America...," not to the flag, but I nitpick

Bigguy 1 year, 8 months ago

Never had a problem with the Pledge. When I moved here some forty years ago we had a fourth grade teacher reading from her bible to us each morning and gave us her interpetation. Her spin on things were a little differant than what I was learning at church and Sunday School. The one Jewish kid in the class was being picked alot because of what this lady was teaching.

plublius 1 year, 8 months ago

School districts do not decide the rules regarding the pledge. The state has legislated exactly how the pledge is to be handled: it must be offered daily but students have the right to remain silent and seated if they so choose.

Yukonjohn 1 year, 8 months ago

I spent the best ten years of my life defending that flag and the precious country it stands for. While I grew up in West End, I have lived in Alaska for over 30 years. I agree, children should be allowed to recite the pledge every day, but decline if they so choose. The same words that protect our right to worship as we choose, also protects them from HAVING to. I believe in strict adherence to the Constitution on all counts....one of the many reasons l have, and continue to live where l do.