Fox News is at it again. They are reporting that the school board in Arlington, Massachusetts has banned the Pledge of Allegiance in its schools. If you look up the definition of banned, it says " To prohibit, especially by official decree." To ban something is very different from not requiring. As a result of this news story, the school board had to send out its own press release to clarify the matter. Is it really so hard to check your facts, or at least a dictionary?
Personally, I remember having to recite the pledge every morning in elementary school and junior high. I don't really remember doing it in high school however. It is monotonous. It becomes rote. Therefore, it loses its real meaning. It should be voluntary. It should be a personal expression of your own patriotism. There is a time and place for it. But every day in school seems to lessen its real meaning.
Since I'm talking about the Pledge, I should take this opportunity to campaign for the removal of "under God" from the Pledge. It is, in my opinion, a clear violation of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. The government is clearing establishing a religious position that I do not agree with. I am also a realist and know that this has about as much chance of being rescinded as does getting "In God We Trust" off of our money.
There are more important First Amendment issues to fight for.
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