Pledge allegiance to the flag is a fifteen second pledge which was first composed by Francis Bellamy in the year 1892. He was a socialist minister who died in the year 1931. Bellamy, as he was composing the song, he wanted to come up with a song for loyalty stand to the country in which it could be used by all countries and not only in united states of America. The first time it was published was on an article in the states called “The Youth 's Companion,” on the 8th of September 1892. It was a sign of loyalty to the country and all its endeavors. Francis had an idea in mind that all people should be required to sing the pledge or recite by law. It forms the national anthem to the allegiance of the United States. The congress adopted the …show more content…
An oath is a statement of fact or more so a promise that one will abide by the truth and only the truth and that if the oath is broken, one will be liable under it (John, 2008). Children were first introduced to the system of reciting the poem in the year 1892 when they first recited the poem on Columbus Day celebrations held on 12th October. From there onwards, they started reciting it on each and every day of school. As we can understand as to why the government and other organizations as well as the adults recite this allegiance pledge, there is no valid reason as to why the children should be forced to sing it as well. Children are not free thinkers in that they will always succumb to pressure and other environmental factors. This is why their parents or their guardians are responsible for them and they make decisions on their behalf, for example, decisions concerning school attendance. Until the age of 16 years, a person is still considered a child and that they are known not to keep promises and that if they break promises no one should punish them. Therefore, for this reason, the children should not be forced to sing the pledge because it is a holy pledge to the country, something that children do not know about. It was until in the recent past that the Supreme Court in the United States ruled in favor of the children not to …show more content…
The pledge of allegiance to the United States is like a prayer or an oath of which citizens make to protect and respect the country and its flag. Children do not have the independence to uphold by the oath people make while they recite. I believe that over half of them just recite for the sake of it or because it is mandatory and they do not mean the words there in (Richard, 2006). I think that the public schools should not be forced to recite the pledge but should be made optional. Those in the schools do not exactly know what they do and are strictly under the guidance of their parents and teachers. Therefore, they should be allowed to at least reach the minimum drinking age or become adults who can make their own
“Land of the free and the home of the brave.” This line has represented the United States for decades. These words were captured in The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key and since 1913, the United States has adopted The Star-Spangled Banner as its national anthem. We have used the Red, White, and Blue as one of our nation’s symbols. It has fifty stars, to represent the number of states we have in our Union. The military pledges its allegiance to the flag and the country which it represents at all costs. We are the land of the free and the home of the brave, and we are proud to show it.
“I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” As Americans, we say this to honor our state and because we are proud of what we as a citizen of America have done to make it the America that is today. Americans weren’t the only ones that helped; veterans were a big part of the success that made our country the America that I believe in.
The kid’s got no respect, man.” (Rodriquez 19). His teacher becomes furious, because the boy does not want to say the anthem like the other students. He feels obligated to say the anthem, and many readers can relate this aspect to the United States Constitution, where every human being is supposed to have freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, but of course, since the United States is the mother land, all those who live there have to obey their rules.... ...
Gwen Wilde wrote an essay on “Why the Pledge of Allegiance Should be Revised.” In this essay, Gwen believes that the words “under God” should be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance. Gwen informs us that the original Pledge did not include “under God” and the words were not added until 1942, therefore, the words can easily be removed. Although some changes have been made to make it clear that the Pledge of Allegiance is for the United States Gwen believes that the words “under God” do not show any support for our country and only make those who do not believe in God feel uncomfortable. Therefore, Gwen believes that “under God” is not appropriate for the Pledge and does not show that we are a Nation that is “indivisible.”
Many Americans are familiar with the first verse of the poem The Defense of Fort McHenry but not by that name. Over the years since it was written, The Defense of Fort McHenry has become a part of American culture. The Star-Spangled Banner, as it is now known, is sung at sporting events and gatherings across the country but usually not sung in its entirety. Unknown too many Americans is there are actually four verses to our national anthem. “The Star-Spangled Banner” became a well known and loved patriotic song but it would take 117 years before it would become our national anthem. In the 1890’s, the military began using the song for ceremonial purposes. Then in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued an executive order designating it to be used as the national anthem when appropriate. Finally in March 1931, Congress officially named The Star-Spangled Banner as the National Anthem of the United States. Francis Scott Key’s use of setting, structure, and literary techniques in “The Defence of Fort McHenry”, captures the spirit of America and helped it become our national anthem.
Many students all across America stand and salute to the flag every morning and repeat these words, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, To the republic for which it stands, one nation, Under God, Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” There are controversy behind these words of historical allegiance, and that is why many people are refusing to stand for the pledge. This nation was founded upon freedom and liberties, and with those liberties comes with the freedom to choose your religion. The words “Under God”
First, I would like to talk about the history of the Pledge of Allegiance. Many people today recite the Pledge of Allegiance but do not know the history that took place behind it. The Pledge of Allegiance was originally written more than a century ago. The original pledge was: I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic, for which it stands, one Nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all . The flag serves as a symbol of our country and its proud traditions of freedom and equal opportunity. In the 1920s, the National Flag Conferences replaced the phrase “my Flag” with “the Flag of the United States of America.” In 1954, Communist threats occurred causing Congress to add the words under God to the pledge. Then 12 years later, Congress reviewed the Pledge of Allegiance and added the words “Under God .” While reciting the Pledge of Allegiance it should be recited by standing placing your
Laycock’s strongest argument is that the Pledge of Allegiance “asks for a personal affirmation: I pledge allegiance to one nation under God” (Rourke, p.41). Unlike “In God We Trust” which is etched onto each American coin, the Pledge of Allegiance requires children to profess their faith in God each morning. Whereas “you don’t have to read and mediate” (Rourke, p.41) the text on the coins which can easily be ignored when counting the change in your pocket, it is significantly harder to avoid the daily ritual of reciting the Pledge. Laycock furthers his claim by recognizing the link that “Under
Training American children can take many forms; whether it is how to acquire knowledge, recitation day by day in attempt to instill allegiance to their country, inducing fear of not being completely socially accepted, or forcing them into a religion they don't truly understand. And if a child were to speak up, punishment would surely follow. Children must learn in the school accepted ways. Children must stand every morning for the pledge. Children must fit in and confide in their peers. And Children must believe the religion they are fed. They don't have a choice; this is all what they are conditioned to believe. Just as the belief that everyone is important is conditioned in infants in Brave New World by a speaker repeating it in their sleep. Children aren't as free as perceived from the outside.
What good could come from refusing to say a pledge? But looking back on these examples of America’s cycles of injustice, I feel validated in my decision. All acts and bills attempting to remedy these issues have failed. America is not a place of freedom for many of its citizens. If other students realize their rights and recognize there is not liberty and justice for all in this country, there will be a revolution. There will be a revolution of youth refusing to stand for such
At the beginning of each day in many public and private schools around the country, students stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. In fact, 35 states have passed laws mandating that the Pledge be recited on a daily basis. This issue has been a source of controversy for years. On one side of the argument exists families and educators who believe in the citizenship and patriotism that reciting the Pledge brings (Chiodo, 2011). On the opposing side, families and educators argue the possible threat to an individual’s First Amendment freedoms.
Why should we stand for the pledge of allegiance? Because of the veterans who died for us? Because they fought for what we call “freedom”? I personally don’t think it should be a requirement for school.
Throughout the twentieth century, the United States Supreme Court has protected students’ rights to practice their religious beliefs, so long as they are not “disruptive, discriminatory, or coercive to peers who may not share those same beliefs” (Education Weekly, 2003, para. 3). In 1943, the Supreme Court ruling in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette stated that students could not be “forced to salute the flag or say the pledge of allegiance if it violates the individual’s conscience” (First Amendment Cyber Tribune, 2002). The 1963 decision in Engel v. Vitale made school prayer unconstitutional, and similarly found school prayer at graduation ceremonies in its 1992 Lee v. Weisman decision (First Amendment Cyber Tribune, 2002). Student-led prayer at public school football games was found unconstitutional in 2000 with the Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe (First Amendment C...
Within my whole school career I have noticed one thing regarding the pledge of allegiance, in elementary school the class was in unity pledging their allegiance. Then in middle school all stand but not all repeat it aloud. Finally in high school there is a common practice of neither standing nor reciting it at all. I believe that the factors that play a role in not standing nor reciting the pledge of allegiance consist of a majority of the students being flat out lazy, uninterested in what the pledge of allegiance stands for, or just do not believe that reciting that pledge daily is necessary at all.
Annie Laurie Gaylor quoted Thomas Jefferson in her article The Case Against School Prayer, “No citizen shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever…” and that to “compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of [religious] opinions which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical” (Gaylor, 1995, p. 7). No man should have to be subject to anything that he does not believe in. Prayer should not be allowed in the public school system because of the idea of separation of church and state and the First Amendment.