Replies

Might I ask how many here would have no problem with a child reciting the Pledge, while revising to fit their religion...(under Allah, under Buddha, omitting that phrase altogether, whatever)?

And how many honestly believe that child's beliefs would be respectfully honored in the 'public school' environment?

To draft a Constitutional Amendment requiring recital, in this current form, would be a travesty; and the ruling is proper, if it only bars mandatory recitation. If anyone wishes to voluntarily recite the Pledge, more power to them. If I want to (as someone did earlier in the thread) post here, "God Bless America.", I can do that; but to require attendance, and require and/or enforce recitation, would be contrary to the intent of the Constitution.

Would I be thrown out of the Supreme Court, or Congress, were I to refuse to close my eyes and bow my head during their morning prayer? If so, that, too, would be a mockery of the individual liberty the Constitution is designed to protect.

If anyone wishes to voluntarily recite the Pledge, more power to them. If I want to (as someone did earlier in the thread) post here, "God Bless America.", I can do that; but to require attendance, and require and/or enforce recitation, would be contrary to the intent of the Constitution.

I am a public school teacher. Recitation of the Pledge is voluntary NOW. We cannot and do not force students to say the Pledge.

We DO recite the Pledge as a class each day, but students who do not wish to do so are not REQUIRED to do so.

To draft a Constitutional Amendment requiring recital, in this current form, would be a travesty; and the ruling is proper, if it only bars mandatory recitation. If anyone wishes to voluntarily recite the Pledge, more power to them. If I want to (as someone did earlier in the thread) post here, "God Bless America.", I can do that; but to require attendance, and require and/or enforce recitation, would be contrary to the intent of the Constitution.

Since I came up with the idea for an Amendment (maybe others have too, but I know I did, and I'll speak to my notion), let me say the words I crafted have zero requirement to mandate recitation, but merely to ensure the form remained constant.

This is not a new concept for the Constitution, either. The oath of office for the President is in there, so why not the Pledge?

It can be left to the states, as it is now, what to do with it.