America and our Flag

Michael_T

Michael_T

NU '26
Joined
Oct 29, 2020
Messages
692
First of all, I write this out of utmost respect, as I do not know the full extent of which this situation occurs.


This morning after the announcements were over, we obviously have to recite the Pledge of Allegiance...

I sit next to someone in my class, that proceeds to 1) Not Stand Up to Recite the Pledge, and 2) Just ignore the pledge as if wasn't currently going on.

What could be some reasons that this is consistently happening, and not just 1 occasion?

As a future service-member this put quite a large amount of distaste into my mouth, and I just thought I share, and look for advice amongst some of the best of the best.

Thank you!
 
I have family members who are Jehovah Witnesses.

Sitting respectfully doesn't bother me. Kneeling does. But anyone has the right to do either. Anyone in this country, that is...
 
Only one person?
That's it?
One time, at my school, nearly the entire gym assembly remained seated during the national anthem.
This translated into the classroom aswell. I clearly remember being only one of 4 people who actually stood for the pledge of allegiance (that is, on the days my school would actually do it) during my physics period...

Some people refuse to pledge allegiance, and stand for the anthem, because they seriously despise the United States--what it stands for--and it's structure aswell.
Others do it because they're on a bandwagon.

There are consequences to their actions.
Can they do it? Yes.
Is it good for the country? Absolutely Not.
 
As stated above, students and teachers cannot be required to stand. They can though be required to be quiet.

This is my 15th year teaching public high school and seventh year in a school just down the river from the five-sided-building. I’ve had some years when a couple students and I were the only ones standing. Other years I’ve been joined by most of the class. It doesn’t bother me to see sitters or kneelers, although I don’t agree with using the American flag as a backdrop for their protest. I‘m still dealing with the 13 who came home a few days ago in flag-draped box.

@MichaelT2022 what kind of advice are you looking for?
 
As a parent of two (patriotic and respectful) teens, I would assume the student not standing thinks he's being cool, is woke, etc. There is so much coverage of athletes and other celebrities claiming to be oppressed and we live in an era when so many look up to these individuals as if they are incredibly good and wise. I bet if you got in a thoughtful, respectful one-on-one conversation with him, he may have a difficult time telling you the true reason why he won't stand during the pledge. My opinion, for what it is worth.
 
PRBWJB said:
As a parent of two (patriotic and respectful) teens, I would assume the student not standing thinks he's being cool, is woke, etc. There is so much coverage of athletes and other celebrities claiming to be oppressed and we live in an era when so many look up to these individuals as if they are incredibly good and wise. I bet if you got in a thoughtful, respectful one-on-one conversation with him, he may have a difficult time telling you the true reason why he won't stand during the pledge. My opinion, for what it is worth.
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Not disagreeing with what you're saying but kids have been sitting during the morning pledge long before the current woke movement. Lots of them are lazy and don't want to get up.
 
As Americans, we own the very precious right of self expression. It’s guaranteed by the Constitution. Ignoring the Pledge of Allegiance is one of those rights.

Our military exists to protect and defend the Constitution, including the right that someone has to stomp on the flag, burn it, desecrate it. You may hate that they do it. But your duty is to preserve their right to do it.

It can seem perverted to some. But it’s what makes our republic the greatest nation on Earth.
 
MidCakePa said:
As Americans, we own the very precious right of self expression. It’s guaranteed by the Constitution. Ignoring the Pledge of Allegiance is one of those rights.

Our military exists to protect and defend the Constitution, including the right that someone has to stomp on the flag, burn it, desecrate it. You may hate that they do it. But your duty is to preserve their right to do it.

It can seem perverted to some. But it’s what makes our republic the greatest nation on Earth.
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There was a poster during WWII that applied to this and sadly, my quick online search could not find it but the theme was.

"We're fighting for the right to Boo the Umpire".

As distasteful as disrespect to our flag, national anthem or pledge may be, those actions do fall within the protections of the
First Amendment to the US Constitution and I personally and many on this site have taken oaths to Protect and Defend that
Constitution. As an aspiring military member you should understand that we defend that which we agree with as well as
that which we do not. I find the rhetoric of Conservative/Fundamentalist Islam which actively preaches AGAINST so many
of our freedoms to be abhorrent yet have and will continue to defend its right to be present here in the US.
 
A few years ago at a previous school we would do a multi-cultural show before the winter break. It was a huge affair in the second largest gym in the district. Every country represented at the school had a national flag carried by a student with roots to that country. It looked like the opening ceremony at the Olympics and I'm not hyperbolizing. Once all the participants had marched in and were in place on the gym floor, the band played the national anthem and the MCJROTC honor guard presented the colors of the USA.

This school is where the kids from the local military base go. Most of the students in the bleachers stood for the anthem when the MC told them to. Many of them did not stand and continued talking. I was standing on the floor on one end of the gym next to a student in a wheel chair. He struggled to push himself up with only his arms. His legs were atrophied and paralyzed, yet he balanced himself at his version of the position of attention until the last note of The Star Spangled Banner. I'm all emo remembering and writing this. Of the two thousand people present, he for sure had a reason not to stand but chose to do so.

I can only imagine that kid wished he could stand like others or even sit like the others. I'd bet though he was a kid who would be one who would proudly wear the cloth of this nation as a cop, firefighter, or military member.
 
Attending a performing arts school, there are many different viewpoints about our country, and what we stand for. In my AP Government class today, where we recite the pledge and have our announcements and whatnot, only me and 2 other people stood out of our class of 30. I remember in sophomore year when I fully committed to serving my country. I noticed people didn't stand it and also filled me with the rage and sadness I'm sure you feel now. Soon, I learned that I need to stop worrying about others, as I don't know what their experiences have been and if there has been a circumstance where they no longer feel the pride in standing for our country. All that matters is that I stand for what I believe in, and I set the example for not just others, but also for myself in the future when I dedicate my life to the country which I'm proud to live in. I stand facing the American flag, right hand over my heart, and from the depths of my soul I pledge myself to this country.
 
Devil Doc said:
A few years ago at a previous school we would do a multi-cultural show before the winter break. It was a huge affair in the second largest gym in the district. Every country represented at the school had a national flag carried by a student with roots to that country. It looked like the opening ceremony at the Olympics and I'm not hyperbolizing. Once all the participants had marched in and were in place on the gym floor, the band played the national anthem and the MCJROTC honor guard presented the colors of the USA.

This school is where the kids from the local military base go. Most of the students in the bleachers stood for the anthem when the MC told them to. Many of them did not stand and continued talking. I was standing on the floor on one end of the gym next to a student in a wheel chair. He struggled to push himself up with only his arms. His legs were atrophied and paralyzed, yet he balanced himself at his version of the position of attention until the last note of The Star Spangled Banner. I'm all emo remembering and writing this. Of the two thousand people present, he for sure had a reason not to stand but chose to do so.

I can only imagine that kid wished he could stand like others or even sit like the others. I'd bet though he was a kid who would be one who would proudly wear the cloth of this nation as a cop, firefighter, or military member.
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This is a beautiful story, thank you for sharing this.
 
I used to really really really be against the whole kneeling for the anthem bit.

But it’s MY opinion that there are injustices in this country, and it’s MY opinion, that myself and everyone who served fought to keep the US free, and keep their freedom of speech, and protect their ability to express their opinion.

At the end of the day, the flag is a flag. Everything that been done since the 1770’s has been done under that flag. Men and women have fought and died under that flag. But what did they fight for?

The flag is sacred, yes, but the people are who I fight for.

If someone wants to kneel, sit down, or refuse the pledge of allegiance, that’s their right. My grandfathers and I didn’t decide to fight so we could force people to stand. We did it so people could be free, and live their life as they pleased.
 
Yes, I agree that we have the right to self-expression. However, the Flag represents that among other rights, and if you are going to kneel or sit, then, in essence, aren't you denying those rights? Ironic.
 
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