[Fester Chugabrew]

We might be surprised how many people listed above are on our side when it comes to conservative principles. My first instinct upon hearing this is that we’re dealing with a bunch of Commies and liberal asshats. A more-informed perspective may reveal a group of people who love our Country, but do not worship it; who are willing, able, and happy to excercise the freedoms granted here, but refrain from using force to bring something into the world that God has bestowed in the first place.

We should not make our National Anthem compulsory at sporting events, nor should we make the Pledge of Allegiance compulsory, for that in itself would mitigate the very idea of being a free people, would it not?

The above being said, I’ve never been offended by the fact that a free country cannot be such without real fights and battles of flesh and blood, nor do I shrink in the least from either singing the National Anthem or saying the Pledge of Allegiance. For our convictions to be honest, however, a certain amount of civility and latitude must extend toward those who express reservations under the circumstances.

In short, this is a stange case where the battle seems plain on the face of it, but it may not be so.

Cordially,

-FC

[mancini]

Respectfully, when they say the following, I am not sure that conforms with the point you make:

The national anthem also promotes the United States over and against other nations, violating Christian internationalism and worldwide fellowship. In an attempt to be “hospitable” to American patriots, we believe Goshen College’s decision rejects a higher call to be a transnational body that resists the boundaries set by nations. Furthermore, the institution is compromising its witness to the world by intentionally aligning itself with an entity that has engaged in militarism, oppression and imperialism since its inception.

I wonder if they also will be willing to surrender this nation's boundary to a worldwide entity in the promotion of "Christian internationalism and worldwide fellowship." Yeah, it makes me wonder alright.

[calex59]

We should not make our National Anthem compulsory at sporting events, nor should we make the Pledge of Allegiance compulsory, for that in itself would mitigate the very idea of being a free people, would it not?

While what you say may be true, it is just as much a squashing of freedom to prohibit the Anthem and pledge as it is to require them. This school is taking away people's first amendment rights by banning the Anthem.