Some stories to start the week with:
I must admit, although that kid in the Pledge of Allegiance thing should not have told his teacher to jump off a bridge, I actually admire his strength of character greatly. It’s absurdly wrong to force anyone, regardless of age, to pledge allegiance to something they do not believe in. And I think if it wasn’t for the bridge comment, if I was his mother, I’d be proud of his stand and his independant thought.
- Alex on
Re: Grandmas
I’d read this before and think it’s quite amusing because it’s actually very logic and – in a way – not surprising. But it’s just a fact and the variations in mortality are very small! No big deal, grandmas are still great! 
Re: Arkansas boy
“When pressed, the principal admitted the whole incident was sparked by the boy exercising his constitutional right not to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.” Don’t even see where the teacher’s problem is if it’s the kid’s right to do so. O_o”
- Alice on
I think the Pledge of Allegiance kid, should be sent to live in another country if he doesn’t want to honor this one. Does he even begin to realize how many people have lost husbands/children/parents/brothers in active duty for that flag??? The kid should be ashamed and his mother should be too…
- Anonymous on
I think the problem is that kids try to get away with murder. I mean, he’s 10 for God’s sake, he shouldn’t try these rebellious fits at such a young age. I see he wants gay marriage and whatever for the future, I get that, but seriously he should still have some pride for his country or he shouldn’t live here. And where are the parents? My parents would have flipped if that were me, and I would if it were my future children. These parents just let him get away with it. It amazes me how much testing you have to go through to adopt, but anyone can have a child…
- Erika on
the kid’s shouldn’t be made to recite the pledge of allegiance anyway, there is no way that young children can properly understand the implications of being patriotic and should be left to choose when they get older.
- JM on
The boy has every right not to recite the pledge. I agree with his reasoning; as long as there is a group of people (such as the GLBT community) who are being denied their rights (as put forth in the Constitution) in this country, how could anyone say that America’s really living up to its promise of “liberty and justice for all”? He very well understands the meaning of the pledge better than most people who take their rights and freedoms for granted!
The boy is in no way showing disrespect toward the troops by not reciting the pledge. There are many much better, more meaningful ways to show respect toward those who died fighting for our freedoms.
- Miao on
I completely agree with you, Miao!
I also feel the need to point out that there are many reasons why a person might refuse to say the pledge of allegiance. I’m a member of a Christian denomination that considers it idol worship (worshipping the flag). It has nothing to do with one’s respect for our troops or anything of that nature so don’t make it out to be something that it isn’t. While I don’t agree with his “jump off a bridge” comment, I still admire that young man for having the courage to stand up for his beliefs. The other students could learn a lot from him.
- Ash on
Our troops fight for freedom. And one of those freedoms is freedom of speech. No one should have to recite the pledge of allegience if they don’t want to.
- Ply on
To Anonymous (and, to a lesser extent, Erika as well) – how dare we raise children with independant thought? What a shocker. If our children dare to have strength of character and conviction in their beliefs, how can we be sure to crush it? I know! We can send them to another country.
In case it isn’t obvious, I’m horrified that this would even be an opinion, let alone something someone openly admits to thinking. That kid’s mother should, with the exception of the bridge comment, be thoroughly proud of her child. It’s the school that should be ashamed.
- Alex on
I also abstain from saying the pledge. When I recite the pledge with my students, I skip saying the “under God”, as I am not religious and believe in religious freedom. Did you know these lines were added to the original Pledge about 60 years ago? I fully believe in freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Saying the Pledge, with young children, is ludicrous to me. Children, and many adults and politicians, do not understand the words of the Pledge. This to me is brainwashing. You can have plenty of pride and respect for one’s country without ever saying a Pledge!
- Colleen on
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