BOYNTON BEACH - (AP) -- A high school junior has sued the Palm Beach County School Board, claiming he was ridiculed and punished for refusing to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance.
Cameron Frazier, with the support of the American Civil Liberties Union, is challenging the school district and Florida law that require students to show written permission from their parents before declining to recite the pledge.
Teacher Cynthia Alexandre called the 17-year-old student ''so ungrateful and so un-American'' after he twice refused to stand for the pledge in her classroom Nov. 8, according to a federal lawsuit filed Thursday.
This raises a lot of interesting questions. For starters, should minors even be required to recite the Pledge? 99% of them have no idea what it means to 'pledge your allegiance' to something. Hell, most of them cannot define most of the words.
Do you consider it 'un-American' for any citizen to refuse to recite the Pledge? It's a free country, is it not? Should you be required to swear an oath of fealty to a country that holds freedom so dear? Sounds totalitarian to me...
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Never criticize someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you DO criticize them, you are a mile away, and you have their shoes...
If you choose any truth and follow it blindly, it becomes a falsehood, and you, a fanatic.
Parents should actually "teach" their children what the pledge actually means. Unfortunately not many people do.
My son is 9 and we have gone over this with him...he has a pretty good grip on its meaning ( for a 9 yr old that is) He actually used the dictionary to figure these words out for himself...because he himself wondered what they ment!
Raising our children to be patriotic and have a love for their country is becoming rare in this day and age. It's a shame...
I agree 100%. I always look around at public meetings to see how many men remove their hat or ball cap when reciting the pledge - not many. Or stand at attention when the flag goes by at parades instead of parking their butts in the lawn chair.
I think people should have the right not to recite the pledge or doff their hat, etc., then I have the right to treat them like the clueless morons that they are.
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"If you promise not to pray in my schools, I promise not to think in your church"
I do notice that too. It is surprising to me that people just don't want or not want to do these things.....its that they aren't aware of it! I am proud that my parents taught me things like this...among the millions of other things.
It tickles me pink when we are somewhere and my kids ( ages 9 & 3 ;o) ) stand tall and smile with pride as the flag goes by at a parade or is raised.
Another thing that annoys me is when I see someone hang the American flag backwards....but that's another post lol
I don't swear allegiance to objects or institutions, because they are insubstantial and untrustable, respectively. I reserve my allegiance to individuals, and precious few at that. Even our pseudo-democracy, which is little more than 'mob rule,' can be led astray as easily as it is to steal an election. Flags are merely symbols, and like banners in the wind, are twisted and manipulated to whatever force makes them wave.
I do not swear allegiance lightly, nor should your children, unless you are content raising a soft crop of brainwashed automatons. Loyalty should be earned through intensive trial, not by repetitious recitation.
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Never criticize someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you DO criticize them, you are a mile away, and you have their shoes...
If you choose any truth and follow it blindly, it becomes a falsehood, and you, a fanatic.
Mindcrime wrote: I don't swear allegiance to objects or institutions, because they are insubstantial and untrustable, respectively. I reserve my allegiance to individuals, and precious few at that. Even our pseudo-democracy, which is little more than 'mob rule,' can be led astray as easily as it is to steal an election. Flags are merely symbols, and like banners in the wind, are twisted and manipulated to whatever force makes them wave. I do not swear allegiance lightly, nor should your children, unless you are content raising a soft crop of brainwashed automatons. Loyalty should be earned through intensive trial, not by repetitious recitation.
That's sad, MC. I guess some of us were taught to respect what the flag symbolizes.
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."
Albert Einstein
I do not swear allegiance lightly, nor should your children, unless you are content raising a soft crop of brainwashed automatons. Loyalty should be earned through intensive trial, not by repetitious recitation.
I am glad that you know what my kids should or shouldn't do...
To me teaching them about what things mean in life is not raising brainwashed automatons ~ its called raising well-rounded human beings who will know the facts.
I don't remember my high school saying the pledge. That all stopped in after middle school. Are there really high schools that still recite it every AM?
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Borrow money from pessimists - they don't expect it back.
Another fine comment from the master baiter himself!
Allegiance is a word that this poster cannot be familiar with and perhaps should not be making comment upon--ESPECIALLY like the one just left to KS!
Shameful is an inadequate term but then again, this poster always seems to be full of partially-exposed inadequacies, misogynist or otherwise inappropriate commentary like this.
The poor, easily-excitable fellow (an avatar? lol) I mean that and now will pray for you and ask others to do the same too. God Bless You Jim, Hufnagel! God Bless You.
ONLY an absolute Coward would answer the question like that.
Let's just get this out in the open and over with fast, eh? Answer the question directly or you have no claim to bravery and are a mere pimple or speed bump along the via of life. Which are you Jim Hufnagel?
I already know but it would be appropriate now for you to further validate it for all the rest of the readers like you've been doing here today.
If you live in the Wilson school district, I respectfully ask for your vote.
Jim Hufnagel
James Hufnagel
751-3877
225 Ontario Street
Wilson NY 14172
Education:
BS, 1981, Biology, Cornell University.
MBA, 1986, Computer Information Systems, City University of New York
Can you state what your educational philosophy is?
I believe that in a free and democratic society we are obligated to provide young people with the intellectual tools necessary for them to be productive citizens who make a positive contribution to our community and country.
Life is far more complicated today than it was for the previous generation. For example, facility with computers has become an essential requirement for not only most careers, but also personal activities like finances, communications, and information gathering. It is important that the education we provide to our young people not only emphasizes the thinking skills we all learned in Math, Science and English, but also equips them with the tools needed to prosper in contemporary society.
If elected, what would be your main goal to achieve over the course of your three year term?
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Off to look for the NOW citation and then reference JH's previous comments...
I am glad that you know what my kids should or shouldn't do... To me teaching them about what things mean in life is not raising brainwashed automatons ~ its called raising well-rounded human beings who will know the facts. PS ~ I do like your $10 words though
All I'm saying is that if you trust your kids to make the right decicions, to make up their own minds, they'll be better adults for it. Can you honesty say that a 7-year-old (who has been instructed to salute a flag since birth) has even an inkling of what his allegiances are? That's good ol' brainwashing. Were you ever given a choice about the pledge? I have a friend with a young son. She never forbade him from swearing, but she explained that certain words make people uncomfortable. The result? He doesn't swear. Not because someone told him "never say these words," but because he was allowed to make up his own mind and thus determine what kind of person he is. He is happy to live in this country because he has been to other countries where it's not as nice. He knows why he likes the USA. He is going to be a well-rounded person because he'll be allowed to experience life from any angle and take advantage of every opportunity. It's not because he's forced to regurgitate his mother's beliefs as his own.
The $10 words weren't even on purpose, I guess I just felt like talking on tiptoes that day...
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Never criticize someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you DO criticize them, you are a mile away, and you have their shoes...
If you choose any truth and follow it blindly, it becomes a falsehood, and you, a fanatic.
JSpeer: I like your "ringside" scenario from over on the other thread--Non-Sequitur. Please count me "in" and not out--As in KO or UNCLE.
As you certainly know, I'm in favor of settling a difference in the way you suggested. I just don't like to make the suggestion...you know. Well, JS, if you'd like to post that message over here, it would certainly seem to apply. I'd love to see that message left where ever this may take us.
I'd like to see a "gate" and a charitable cause to get the end result. Nothing fancy. Nice and cheap-- Just like this whole thing is sure to be! LOL
I'm in if you can persuade JTW (think Fratianno..).
See ya in the funny papers and place my name permanently on THAT card.
All right guys let's make this a clean fight. No hitting below the belt or in the back of the head. When I tell you to break, THAT MEANS BREAK! If a fighter is knocked down goto the neutral corner. Good Luck to both of you and when the bell rings come out FIGHTING!...Michael Buffer enters the ring. Ladies and Gentlemen tonights contest has been brought to you by Punch Out Promotions (JSpeer's promotions co.) and ScottLeffler.Com And is Sponsored by the following, All Pro Inspections (John Villella) Confer Plastics ( Bob Confer) and J Speer Renovations.( of course Me!) This will be a 10 round title fight in the 175 lb weight class and will be for the ScottLeffler.Com Light Heavy Weight Belt and bragging rights. "LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!" DING! DING! The fighters come out and touch gloves.......you make you own ending!
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."
Albert Einstein