10 year old refuses to say pledge of allegence

speakeasy - I think that was VERY well put. I really can't see a legitimate argument to that!

But would that really be taking a stand like he's trying to do?

“I pledge allegiance” (I promise to be true) “to the flag” (to the symbol of our country) “of the United States of America” (each state that has joined to make our country) “and to the Republic” (a republic is a country where the people choose others to make laws for them -- the government is “of, by and for” the people) “for which it stands,” (the flag means the country) “one nation” (a single country) “under God,” (the people believe in a supreme being) “indivisible,” (the country cannot be split into parts) “with Liberty and Justice” (with freedom and fairness) “for all.” (for each person in the country...you and me!) The pledge says you are promising to be true to the United States of America! While I admire your opinion that this is a set of goals, that is not exactly what the definition of a pledge of allegiance means. And I do see where this boy should not be made to say it if he does not believe it, one has to wonder how a ten year old could make that decision for himself.

kitten - what BASIC rights are they lacking? Human rights are "basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled."[1] Examples of rights and freedoms which have come to be commonly thought of as human rights include civil and political rights, such as the right to life and liberty, freedom of expression, and equality before the law; and economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to participate in culture, the right to food, the right to work, and the right to education.

"and equality before the law... the right to work." These two are the basic rights they aren't allowed.

Because they have been denied the most basic rights. If I had kids they wouldn't say the pledge because of the word God. I think since not everyone believes in god that the word should be taken out of the pledge.

I agree that there is not liberty and justice for all. A child rapist was allowed to flee the country because he (Roman Polanski) is a movie director. Charlie Rengel, Tim Geithner, and Tom Daschle are all proof of how there is no justice when the rich and well connected don't pay their taxes.

They can't force him to say it. It would infringe his constitutional rights if they did

That hasn't stopped schools from forcing students to do things that violate their first amendment rights, anyway.

Ok Jey, that much is true. However, I would never choose to live (nor remain in such a hateful place) where I had to worry about slavery or being forced to do anything, nor would I allow such atrocities to happen to my kids. You should also remember that we have paid for the freedoms we do have dearly - with the loss of lives in our military. Unfortunately, with the socialist leanings of this administration, a lot of the freedoms we have come to count on are being severely tested....

I tend to agree with you too.

I agree with you mommyboo, but we wake up each morning without fear of being made slaves and we can each choose what our profession should be and lots of other priveledges like that in comparison to the people in darfur where kids are made to be soldiers I think we ought to give atleast some credit to out government

I wouldn't call this young man a punk. But I am surprised that others in this dicussion haven't called you to task for your views on the lefts real agenda you speak of here. What most fail to realize...what the government gives, the government can take away. Today it is the conservative who is on the 'enemies of the state' list...tomorrow is another day.

Some kids are amazingly in touch with higher thinking at younger ages, especially ones who maybe have very political parents or parents who introduce them to thinking and deciding about things that affect kids - like liberty and justice and what the pledge means. I shield my daughter from politics because most of it makes me VERY angry, but she has started to form her own opinions about some things that affect her because she sees how I deal with them. I personally have no problem with the pledge - she says it at her school and I say it too, but I also believe that people have the right to NOT say it, or NOT say a part, a word, a section, if that's what they want to do. We are not supposed to be threatened or coerced into doing things, saying things, believing things we do not want to. Especially if it goes against our own personal morals.