Re: Child escorted out of class by police for sitting during the pledge, mother outra
I know what the pledge means. However, his explanation only underlines the fact that refusing to say the pledge is just as patriotic as saying it, if we truly do stand for freedom and independence.
Absolute hogwash.
Is there reasons why someone can choose to not say the pledge that make that act patriot. Simply saying "those that don't say it are Just as patriotic" is absolute bull****.
Patriotic is the embodying in action of patriotism. Patriotism is a the devoted love, support, and defense of ones country or national loyalty.
If you don't say the pledge because you think the United States ****ing sucks and is a corrupt force of evil, but your parents happen to live here or your job happens to be here so you're stuck here, then you're not being patriotic by not saying it. You
could, though I'd disagree, argue that you're at least being in line with the Founders and true to some of their beliefs...but one could not say you're being patriotic.
If you don't say it because you're a snot nosed 13 year old that finds out he doesn't have to say it and you decide not to say it because you think it makes you look like a rebel, you're not patriotic for not doing it. You're not forgoing saying it because of some deep seeded respect for our right to free expression or protest and to show your point that you love this country giving you the ability to do it. You're not saying it because you're a snot nosed kid that thinks he's acting like a bad ass. That is not patriotic. (Which frankly, growing up, this was the most common reason I noted anyone ever not saying it)
If you don't say it because you think its mindless words that only deluded sheeple say and that you are so much smarter than everyone else and don't need to say that, that is not patriotic. You're not forgoing saying it out of some dedication and love for the ideals of this country, you're not doing it because you think you're so ****ing smart that your not going to lower yourself into taking part in a "mindless tradition".
If you don't say it because your religion says to put nothing above your god and so you feel it violates your religion, you're still not forgoing it because of "love, devotion, or defense" of your country, so its not patriotic.
Are those necessarily unpatriotic or anti-american? For the most part not really. One could argue it for some, particularly the first example, but for the most part it'd be no, especially with the last one. If anything they are apatriotic, they were done for reasons neither rooted in patriotism nor its opposite. They are rooted in entirely different reasons that has nothing to do with the country...be it their religion, social presentation, or intellectualism.
CAN not saying the pledge be JUST as patriotic? Absolutely! If a kid decides to prove a point to a civics teacher he disagrees with that freedom of speech is the most important aspect of our country, and as such he's not going to say it as an example of that, then yes, he's exhibiting patriotism by showing his love through this country through a political protest specifically to show his love for the country.
If a person decides they are not going to say it at the beginning of an event where they believe issues or law is going to be pushed or brought up that are against what they think is in line with this countries principles and they're not saying it out of protest to denote that they think the use of it is simply to hide the fact they're pushing unamerican ideals, sure, that could be JUST as patriotic.
But just saying, flat out, unequiviocally, its JUST as patriotic not to say it as to say it is riduclous.
Similarly...
One can actually say the pledge and not be patroitic when they're doing it. If they're saying it just because they're told and none of the words inspire, represent, or mean anything to them then yeah, its empty words that are just being stated, not a patriotic display. If a person is saying it because they have to and they actually hate America, its not patriotic.
Simply disagreeing with the government does not in and of itself make you patriotic. I absolutely hate this notion and its just frankly ignorant. Are the people who orchastrated 9/11 "patriotic"? I mean, they disagreed with America and took action about it....I mean, I guess someone could argue the founders would agree with that...they must be patriotic!
If someone doesn't vote because they're a lazy **** who won't get off the couch are they JUST as patriotic as someone that votes because they're choosing (kind of) to excerise free speech by not participating in an antiquated ritural such as voting?
If someone says "Screw the President. He f's pigs. I hate him" or "I hate this country, its the worst place in the world, it is pure evil" are they magically JUST as Patriotic as someone that goes "I disagree with our President, but I am thankful for the ability to say such and I respect the office" or "I love this country and the freedoms its affords us" because, hey, they were excersing free speech so that automatically makes them patriotic.
If no, then why does exercising protesting...regardless of your reason, intent, or what you're protesting...automatically make you JUST as patriotic as those that don't?