Yes, God forbid you pledge allegiance to your own Country.
(sarcasm)
The operative word in that sentence was “Forced.”
And yes, I am opposed to forcing students to recite a pledge to their country all while we want to teach them about all the freedoms we have in the USA.
SCOTUS, circa WWII:
“We think the action of the local authorities in compelling the flag salute and pledge transcends constitutional limitations on their power and invades the sphere of intellect and spirit which it is the purpose of the First Amendment to our Constitution to reserve from all official control.
We set up government by consent of the governed, and the Bill of Rights denies those in power any legal opportunity to coerce that consent. Authority here is to be controlled by public opinion, not public opinion by authority.”