Students at Calif. College ban Pledge of Allegiance

Reuters ^ | 11.9.2006

[MichaelManureMoore]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Student leaders at a California college have touched off a furor by banning the Pledge of Allegiance at their meetings, saying they see no reason to publicly swear loyalty to God and the U.S. government.

The move by Orange Coast College student trustees, the latest clash over patriotism and religion in American schools, has infuriated some of their classmates -- prompting one young woman to loudly recite the pledge in front of the board on Wednesday night in defiance of the rule.

"America is the one thing I'm passionate about and I can't let them take that away from me," 18-year-old political science major Christine Zoldos told Reuters.

"The fact that they have enough power to ban one of the most valued traditions in America is just horrible," Zoldos said, adding she would attend every board meeting to salute the flag.

The move was lead by three recently elected student trustees, who ran for office wearing revolutionary-style berets and said they do not believe in publicly swearing an oath to the American flag and government at their school. One student trustee voted against the measure, which does not apply to other student groups or campus meetings.

The ban follows a 2002 ruling by a federal appeals court in San Francisco that said forcing school children to recite the pledge was unconstitutional because of the phrase "under God." The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the ruling on procedural grounds but left the door open for another challenge.

"That ('under God') part is sort of offensive to me," student trustee Jason Bell, who proposed the ban, told Reuters. "I am an atheist and a socialist, and if you know your history, you know that 'under God' was inserted during the McCarthy era and was directly designed to destroy my ideology."

Bell said the ban largely came about because the trustees didn't want to publicly vow loyalty to the American government before their meetings. "Loyalty ought to be something the government earns through performance, not through reciting a pledge," he said.

Martha Parham, a spokeswoman for the Coast Community College District, said her office had no standing on the student board and took no position on the flag salute ban.

"If their personal belief is that they don't want to say the Pledge of Allegiance, the district certainly isn't going to dictate what they do," she said.

More than 28,000 students attend the community college, located in conservative Orange County, California, south of Los Angeles.

[MichaelManureMoore]

It's ridiculous how so many have no appreciation or understanding of freedom and privilege. Sure, the Pledge may seem like a trivial activity, when in reality it recognizes how all of us bask in the instituitions of freedom, justice, and security. Just because you disagree with a politician, a party, or the government, doesn't mean you should completely disavow your very loyalty to that which makes your life possible. The Pledge represents much more than the U.S. governement; it is intrinsic to the struggle and sacrifice that created and sustained this country through tragedy and triumph. And for the record...something I call Liberal Lie #666....Separation of church and state was never intended to exclude God, merely to ensure religious freedom. Being the constitution was strongly influenced by judeo-christian ideals and beliefs, it is irrelevant whether a citizen believes in God. "Under God" simple recognizes a fundamental truth to the genesis of this country, and in no way whatsoever forces anyone to adopt any religion. Here's to the patriotic and those who truly love and appreciate America!

[Cindy]

ARTICLE SNIPPET:

""That ('under God') part is sort of offensive to me," student trustee Jason Bell, who proposed the ban, told Reuters. "I am an atheist and a socialist, and if you know your history, you know that 'under God' was inserted during the McCarthy era and was directly designed to destroy my ideology.""

[Cindy]

ping

[pepsionice]

Fine...cut all federal funding to that school and any school in agreement. Let them sit in classes with no AC running and see how they feel.

[Jeff Chandler]

cut all federal funding to that school and any school in agreement.

But then there would be children left behind.

Kumbaya.

Peace out.

New Tone.

[MichaelManureMoore]

I couldn't agree more. Also, this is just a random comment, why is it we must all change for atheists? They say "Under God" offends them...I wonder how many they offend in turn? Of course, that doesn't matter. Somehow, society has been duked into believing - by the ACLU and other liberals - that the desires of 1% are more important than the other 99%. They can hate God and America all they want, but I refuse to change for people who don't give a damn about this country, or its people.

[old and cranky]

Here is who will be running things when we get old...

[LibWhacker]

Bring back the draft. Get them in the Army. Make them fight or die for their country. No deferments. No exceptions. I know not many here will agree with me, but every one of us (males) has an absolute duty and obligation to serve his country. Not just pledge his allegiance to it, but actually serve it. If you don't have that sense of duty, the country is lost. imho

[yoe]

Amen!!

[Pajamajan]

"I am an Atheist and a Socialist"

And a Communist. And a glaring example of why we must learn to communicate our values to the people.

The young are being indoctrinated on college campuses everywhere
to facilitate "Revolution" against us.

Why is a former president of the USA helping Socialists and Communists to get elected?

WAKE UP AMERICA!

[Cindy]

"Cut all federal funding to that school..."

I agree.

[Cindy]

Thank you for the links Pajamajan.

[Pajamajan]

"Bring back the Draft"

If I was president on 9/11, I would have instituted the Draft 9/12. I agree it's the only way to save our nation.

[Alaska Wolf]

Eliminate student loans. Make the little peckerwads work for their diplomas.

[MichaelManureMoore]

Excellent post!

[Pajamajan]

You're quite welcome (for the Links).

What did you think of the first one? Spooky huh? If you have any questions like- "Why do democrats/liberals......(fill in the blank), the answers can be found on that list.

[LibWhacker]

If you ever run, let us know. I'll vote for you!

I can't believe that kids are being taught and encouraged to have contempt for their country. That's not how you preserve a country, that's how you destroy it.

[Cindy]

Not really spooky...I've been watching this stuff for years.
Sorry situation (gross understatement).

[MaxMax]

they see no reason to publicly swear loyalty to God and the U.S. government.

KILL THEM ALL!
No, wait. This isn't China/Iran/N-Korea/Russia/Africa/BAH!.

Oh well, Nevermind..

[Wilhelm Tell]

Here is who will be running things when we get old...

Don't worry. I'm sure they will have plans to euthanize us. And if they surrender the country to the Islamists or set up their communist utopia, reaching old age won't even be an issue to begin with.

[JOE43270]

If this puke bell is an atheist and a socialist, he is not American. Also he should leave America. Yes, I know history and I know about the "UNDER GOD" and when I say the Pledge I say "UNDER GOD".

[SkyPilot]

Evil never sleeps. History repeats itself.

_{Nazi propaganda poster addressing the Dutch public in 1944 with the words: "The USA are supposed to save European culture". The image utilizes a number of themes, some of which (racism, use of excessive force, American culture and the influence of Judaism) are still in use within modern anti-Americanism.}

American has been on the front lines of Good vs. Evil for a long while now. Too many in the world have chosen Evil, and hate America because she has fought the good fight against it.

Millions in our nation have joined the side of Evil.

I believe our role in this struggle is coming to an end. God has blessed America, and used it for His purposes. But now, the battle must be fought by Him alone, because our time is ending.

We are not the nation we once were.

But I know God is at work. I would rather be on God's side when His wrath comes.

"Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord."

(Ez 38:23)

[paratrooper82]

First the liberal socialist ban the pledge of allegiance in Orange County, California, south of Los Angeles.

Next, the liberal squawker of the House Pelosi and the US house of Representatives!

[reformedliberal]

I can't believe that kids are being taught and encouraged to have contempt for their country. That's not how you preserve a country, that's how you destroy it.

---

What makes you think they want to preserve America as we have known it up until now?

Destroying America from within by inculcating the youth against everything she has stood for is precisely the plan, the goal, and is becoming the reality.

[Beelzebubba]

they see no reason to publicly swear loyalty to God and the U.S. government.

---

These morons need to read more carefully. They would pledging alleigance to the REPUBLIC (and to the flag that symbolizes it), not to the government.

[MichaelManureMoore]

I know developments like this are far from new, but it really got under my skin. Maybe because we just had an election and the fabric of this country seems to be seriously frayering. The good thing, is that yet again, Liberals have inspired me to make a very simple yet poignant sticker. "I Pledge Allegiance To God & Country."(With a picture of the flag and the cross)

Bumper Sticker
http://www.cafepress.com/titillatingtees.66420155

T-Shirt
http://www.cafepress.com/titillatingtees.82704193

Women's Tee
http://www.cafepress.com/titillatingtees.82705043

[LanPB01]

It really can't be stressed enough how much damage is being done to young people at our colleges. In the past three years, I've worked at a large public university and a small, private one. The amount of brainwashing is astounding.

[swain_forkbeard]

How about cutting off all federal funding to all schools?

[MichaelManureMoore]

I couldn't agree more...though I know it will never happen. If they can't respect their country, maybe they will respect not being able to go to college. Over course that's just an overrated opportunity of freedom. Liberal fools!

[FormerLib]

Deport the little pus brains.

[MichaelManureMoore]

I agree 100%. If they can't appreciate the very freedoms that America affords them, then they need to be deported to a third world country to give them a new perspective. This made me so angry...not that there haven't been similar stories...that I immediately made a "I Pledge Allegiance To God & Country" sticker and shirt.

Sticker
http://www.cafepress.com/titillatingtees.66420155
Men's Shirt
http://www.cafepress.com/titillatingtees.82704193
Women's Shirt
http://www.cafepress.com/titillatingtees.82705043