There is no reason at all, religious reasons included. You are in this country. It is a Protestant Christian country. Respect that or leave. We'll make the sacrifice of continuing along without you.
There is no reason at all, religious reasons included. You are in this country. It is a Protestant Christian country. Respect that or leave. We'll make the sacrifice of continuing along without you.
You sound like one of my first graders who has just gotten into a fight:). You obviously misinterpreted what I had to say. I am not one of those free-speech fist pounders. In fact, I don't believe that respecting a so-called "right of free-speech"or ANY political reason is a reason to abstain from saying the pledge. I believe that ANY political office holder should NOT withhold from saying the Pledge. And if the phrase "under God" was taken out, it would be a travesty. I leave out the commas on that part when I say it with my students.
This is NOT just a Protestant Christian country. I wonder what the 60 million Catholics would have to say about that view. There are a LOT of different religions and views in this country. That's one reason it is so great--that our ancestors have come from so many diverse areas. Yet we are all together called Americans. It's not a nation of just Bible-Thumping white males, but a nation of families, different cultures, etc. BUT we are all of the American culture and that's the way it should be. That's why we should show the deepest respect to our nation's symbols, and especially towards those who are fighting for our country. That's what brings us together as a nation. We should exist as a nation too.
I know of only ONE case where someone might not say the Pledge and that might be a Jehovah's Witness. I have never had that happen and probably never will.
I still recall how mad my high school math teacher got when one student did a "Heil Hitler" salute to the flag one day. He straightened out that student VERY fast. I would do the same, as would many teachers. Showing disrespect for the flag should not be tolerated.
At least I don't see the disrespect now shown like in the 60's.
To say respect that or leave, I respect your opinion and all. And I too would say that in respect for the flag and for our nation. But I would say, show some respect to others too, and learn what they really say before you are hasty to form a high-hat judgement. You would probably find that I agree with you.