Patriotism Under Pressure?

Act Patriotically to Fix the Pledge

In today's society, patriotism tends to express itself in many different ways, from displaying the American flag outside the front door to shooting red white and blue into the air on Independence Day. One of the most familiar ways, to elementary and high school students more than anyone, is reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Now, it has come to the nation's attention that not everyone chooses to say the pledge. Does this mean that those who do not are disloyal? Communists? Or just down right disrespectful. And what is so controversial about saying the pledge every morning in homeroom? The answer to that is most commonly the appeal towards separation of church and state amongst the US population. Though we live in a society in which a large percentage of the population follows Judeo Christian values, not everyone agrees that "Under God" should be in the Pledge of Allegiance. Some school children do not stand during the pledge at school and are heavily reprimanded by teachers or peers. An atheist adult at a town hall meeting was kicked out after refusing to rise as well. Clearly, sitting during the pledge resembles dishonor to America. However, in such a religiously and morally diverse nation, people are bound to have different opinions. Steps have been taken towards reverting towards the original Pledge of Allegiance that did not include the  phrase "Under God," prior to 1954, such as campaigning and organizations unifying in order to rid of the religious expression. The question is which is more patriotic, school children militaristically reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in homeroom every day, or improvement by protesting unjust laws with hope for change.

I am the granddaughter of two United State's veterans. They both served the country valiantly during the second world war. They were never all out, gung ho flag wavers during or after battle, would you call them disloyal to America? Talk about disrespect. When I am criticized for not standing and reciting the pledge or when I am called disloyal, I find it highly more disrespectful than me not saying it at all. Everyone has their own way of portraying patriotism. No one has the right to pressure or compel another person into reciting the pledge. Whether it be for reasons based on the religious aspect of it or some other personal reason, refusing to say the pledge should not be worthy of punishment. Most young school children do not even fully comprehend what the pledge states, yet their teachers call home when a child does not want to say it. I never said it when I was a child, I thought it was illogical to pledge alliance to the FLAG, instead of the actual nation. Plus I never believed in God from the start so I was confused. I did get criticized but as I grew up I realized that I don't care what others think because we all hold different values, who are we to judge others. We can only try to listen and understand. Personally, I still will not be affected if God remains in the pledge or not. I will not be affected if others around me quietly sit or stand and recite.  I just know either way, one person is no more patriotic than the other.