Students Should Act Wit Intention During the Pledge

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.

In 2012, the Nebraska School Board made it mandatory for public schools to set time aside every day for the Pledge, but students are not forced to recite it. Ever since students had the option to stand or sit, the Pledge has created controversy in and out of classrooms.

Students have many different opinions about the role of the Pledge in public schools. During the daily announcement, students can be found passionately reciting, robotically parroting, quietly standing, respectfully sitting, or completely disregarding the Pledge of Allegiance. While some have never critically thought about the meaning of the Pledge, others have well-informed reasons for doing what they do (or don’t do).

Supporters of the Pledge see it as a way to honor people who have fought for the freedom that is provided to all American citizens. The daily recitation upholds the foundation of patriotism and opportunity. The strong language such as “one-nation” or “liberty and justice for all” is seen as a call for equality in the U.S., and the Pledge is key to respecting that.

Objectors of the Pledge have a different interpretation of the meaning behind it. A common issue cited is the phrase “under God,” which is seen as a violation of religious freedom that blurs the distinction between church and state. The phrase was added in 1954 to differentiate America from the “godless communists”. Other advocates cite the exclusionary history that the Pledge was built on. Its origins are traced back to fears about the racial, ethnic, and religious contamination that Americans feared immigrants would bring with them.

Finally, objectors also claim that the Pledge is blatantly statist, since it forces mindless patriotism in children’s heads from an early age. Children do not know what it means to pledge allegiance to a country when they are 6 years old.

Regardless of which stance students believe, they should genuinely consider what the Pledge means to them. It’s time for students to act with intentions. If the Pledge is a sentiment students agree with, they should proudly stand. If it’s something that students disagree with, they should be a conscious objector and stay seated.

In either case, students should be respectful enough to stay silent during the recitation of the Pledge. It’s impractical and restrictive to ask all students to stand for the Pledge, but whether they’re a supporter or an objector, a student should consider the meaning behind the Pledge and understand why they do or don’t stand for it.