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School drops Pledge of Allegiance during ceremony (Diversity Alert)
KATU.com ^ | June 11, 2008 | Bob Heye and KATU Web Staff

Posted on 06/11/2008 5:02:22 PM PDT by PROCON

PORTLAND, Ore. - The exclusion of the Pledge of Allegiance from a southwest Portland elementary school's ceremony has proved upsetting for a local mom.

Departing fifth-graders at Capitol Hill Elementary usually open their promotion ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance - but not this year.

"I was sad," said parent Briana Reese. "The flag was sitting up there, you know. Two of the kids went up and they said 'Everybody rise,' and we rose, and I thought for just a second 'Oh yeah, we're going to put our hands on our hearts and we're going to salute the flag' - but no."

Reese had heard that the principal planned to take the pledge out of the ceremony.

"I think that's what they should be doing - telling kids you should be pledging your allegiance to this country," Reese said. "This is a great country. You're here for a reason."

The pledge was instead replaced with a singing version of the preamble to the Constitution.

(Excerpt) Read more at katu.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: disgusting; diversityuberalles; education; pledgeofallegiance; publikskoolz; stoclpilesong
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1 posted on 06/11/2008 5:02:22 PM PDT by PROCON
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To: PROCON

Well, at least they were doing something sort of semi patriotic by setting the preamble to music.


By mere coincidence, Last night, I clicked into one of the Portland newspapers website on a non-political subject (into which they managed to insert a non sequitur snipe at conservatives anyway) and was greeted by a big red and black advertising banner for the American Socialist Party supporting Obama.

Wow, Never have I been so proud of America.
/S


2 posted on 06/11/2008 5:13:42 PM PDT by LegendHasIt (Noone/Nohow '08)
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To: LegendHasIt

Yah but they stopped short of the actual constitution so as to avoid any of the question that might come if the kids developed a familiarity with it.


3 posted on 06/11/2008 5:17:08 PM PDT by festus (Tagline removed.)
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To: PROCON
The pledge was instead replaced with a singing version of the preamble to the Constitution.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

As for me, I would much rather my children know the U.S. Constitution that recite the Pledge.

4 posted on 06/11/2008 5:17:27 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: trumandogz
As for me, I would much rather my children know the U.S. Constitution than recite the Pledge.
5 posted on 06/11/2008 5:18:33 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: trumandogz

“promote the general Welfare”

Yah but they are just going to learn that welfare is guarenteed in the constitution :-)


6 posted on 06/11/2008 5:18:35 PM PDT by festus (Tagline removed.)
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To: festus
...secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

That is one of the most beautiful statements ever written.

7 posted on 06/11/2008 5:21:06 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: trumandogz
But did you read the E-Mail?

The following is the full e-mail response that parent Briana Reese received from Principal Pam Wilson: "The Pledge contains the words, 'under God' and we have many Muslim families here. So out of respect for the diversity of religious faiths practiced by our school community (parents and families) we decided that this year the students would memorize and sing the Preamble to the Constitution. At the rehearsal on Friday they did it from memory and to a wonderful song. It was very joyful and unique. I think you, and other parents, will really appreciate the creative and new way to open the program."

This diversity cr@p is what P!$$es me off!

8 posted on 06/11/2008 5:21:08 PM PDT by PROCON (No more politics, I promise!)
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To: PROCON

Briana Reese needs to understand that the Constitution is more important than the Pledge.

Hopefully, now her children, unlike their mother do understand the importance of the Constitution and its Blessing of Liberty.


9 posted on 06/11/2008 5:23:45 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: PROCON

ping


10 posted on 06/11/2008 5:23:50 PM PDT by wintertime (A mother is as happy as her least successful child.)
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To: PROCON

ping


11 posted on 06/11/2008 5:23:52 PM PDT by wintertime (A mother is as happy as her least successful child.)
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To: PROCON

I’ve long thought that Portland, Oregon was the showcase for the Communist Party of America. This is just one more indicaator that I am far from mistaken!

If I still lived in Portland, with children in school as I did for many years, there is no way I would shut up about this until the Pledge of Allegiance was firmly installed in every school there.


12 posted on 06/11/2008 5:25:29 PM PDT by Paperdoll ( on the cutting edge)
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To: Paperdoll

Do you have an email address for the school?


13 posted on 06/11/2008 5:26:47 PM PDT by RoseofTexas
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To: PROCON

Without God, you cannot have the “Blessings of Liberty” as written in the Constitution.

I will stand with the Principal and the U.S. Constitution on this matter.


14 posted on 06/11/2008 5:27:34 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: trumandogz

Indeed it is very beautiful.


15 posted on 06/11/2008 5:29:45 PM PDT by festus (Tagline removed.)
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To: RoseofTexas
Do you have an email address for the school?

I will e-mail the principal and say that I am proud of her teaching the American Children the United States Constitution.

Every, child in every school in the land should now those those beautiful words in the Preamble to Our Constitution.

God Bless her.

16 posted on 06/11/2008 5:30:00 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: PROCON
The Principal's explanation from the article:

'"The following is the full e-mail response that parent Briana Reese received from Principal Pam Wilson:

"The Pledge contains the words, 'under God' and we have many Muslim families here. So out of respect for the diversity of religious faiths practiced by our school community (parents and families) we decided that this year the students would memorize and sing the Preamble to the Constitution. At the rehearsal on Friday they did it from memory and to a wonderful song. It was very joyful and unique. I think you, and other parents, will really appreciate the creative and new way to open the program."'

Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance has now been superseded because the possibility exists (in the mind of the principal) that Muslim families might be offended. No actuaal complaint required. Gee, that's funny. Last time I checked, Muslims believe in God. And I'm sure Muslims really appreciate being blamed for everything that the ultra liberals cook up using their executive power to give voice for the disdain they have for the traditional values and practices of their country.

17 posted on 06/11/2008 5:30:12 PM PDT by Captain Rhino ( If we have the WILL to do it, there is nothing built in China that we cannot do without.)
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To: Captain Rhino

Wait...Muslims don’t have a God to be under?


18 posted on 06/11/2008 5:32:53 PM PDT by Der_Hirnfänger
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To: PROCON

Awesome.

A lot of people don’t like being required to recite the pledge for various (valid) reasons, but every last American needs to know and be able to recite the Constitution.

Every. Last. One.

I like the Pledge just fine, but it is in no way equal to the Preamble.

I do wonder if they did the School House Rock version, though, which is the only one I’ve ever heard put to music:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aNb9AoY5XXE


19 posted on 06/11/2008 5:38:58 PM PDT by mountainbunny
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To: PROCON
"I think that's what they should be doing - telling kids you should be pledging your allegiance to this country,"

I think Elementary School children are too young to make a statement like this. They don't understand it, so its just a chant to them.

I lead the pigeons to the flag ...

This loyalty oath should be reserved for those old enough to fully understand what they are saying.

20 posted on 06/11/2008 5:39:44 PM PDT by Doe Eyes
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