http://www.easternecho.com A bill introduced by the Michigan Senate would require all students in public schools to say the Pledge of Allegiance daily. en-us Gryphon 2.3.1-dsw (pewabic)/Foundry5 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:13:35 -0500 webmaster@easternecho.com http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/3367 Kahn said, “Is it not important for our middle and high school students to continue this practice throughout their high school years? Well, no, actually, it isn’t. If it’s not important for adults to say it every day, why is it for little kids? Do we need to get them when they are impressionable, or the brainwashing won’t take? Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:25:43 -0500 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/3367 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/3370 it certainly doesn’t hurt to instill a feeling of pride and responsibility toward the United States . Both respect and responsibility are sorely lacking in the US. If parents aren’t going to convey those values it is left for the rest of society to do so . Remember it takes a village … Past that it is a requirement that in order to become an American citizenship must take that oath. for those people who are here but are not citizens there is an opt out . in some countries swearing in oath of allegiance to another country can result in the loss of citizenship in their home country . I am married to a non US citizen. I wonder did you say the pledge of allegiance everyday it school when your child ? if you did consider what you’ve written here . you don’t seem to me to have been the results of brainwashing . Give your children more credit . I have raised ridiculously free thinking children . they’re both proud of our country and at the same time sad about the injustices that still prevail . and I think it’s striving for liberty and justice for all that is ultimately behind their values . and by the way my eldest isnt so sure about god . that’s her exercising her liberty . she’s an activist in the gay lesbian transgender bisexual community and yet she is none of those things . that is her way of striving for justice . If stating the pledge of allegiance every day at school harmed her in any way I fail to see it . I wonder if so many people in United States are so ashamed of us why they are not in therapy to deal with a family of origin issues . our country disappoints me on many levels . but it also makes me proud on others . we are a work in progress . and I pledge my allegiance to the idea of the united states . because that’s what the US is it is an ideal to strive for. we have a long way to go . we are also blessed to be in a country where there is a possibility of progressing toward that ideal . I guess it’s all about attitude . people see what they want to see . I can see the promise and fail to see the harm in a commitment to the promise, however distant its realization may be . Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:16:45 -0500 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/3370 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/3371 please excuse spelling and grammar and generals sentence structure . I am using a speech to text interpreter . Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:18:52 -0500 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/3371 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/3372 I think the case can certainly be made that youth should be encouraged to take interest in the pride of their country (we should always be trying to improve our community, local or national!), but I feel it might be reasonable to leave it to the discretion of the aforementioned party. I am both supportive and critical of this nation when the need arises, and as a Michigander I certainly understand the desire to encourage people to band together for change/development (I feel we have good reason to here!), but I don’t feel that forcing individuals to swear fealty on a daily basis is appropriate, or functionally useful in achieving this goal. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:11:07 -0500 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/3372 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/3375 DMZ, how does making little kids say the Pledge every day like little totalitarian robots, “instill a feeling of pride and responsibility toward the United States”? Again, why not needed for adults? When adults would violently object to an executive order from Obama making them do it everyday at a time of his choosing, I contend that I contend that any adult who wants to make little kids do no better than a common bully. I understand about new citizens. Makes sense. What doesn’t make sense is why the P of A oath seems to be only good for 24 hours. Why say it over and over again. Can’t we just have the 5 year olds sign it in blood? Then anytime they are suspected of subversion the government can pull it out and hold their feet to the fire about it… unless the goal is actually indoctrination? Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:10:12 -0500 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/3375 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/3381 Violation of free speech !!! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/12/10-year-old-wont-pledge-a_n_355709.html Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:13:35 -0500 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/3381