You have freedom of speech only on property you own or on property where you have permission of the owner to speak. If you speak on property in defiance of the owner then the owner has every right to have you removed from the property. On property "owned" by government the rules are decided by whoever has the most political influence. And government property is financed by coercive means. Sometimes your taxes are used to finance the advancement of ideas you do not share or may even object to. This is wrong and it must change.
In a free-market system no one could ever force you to finance the advancement of ideas inconsistent with your own values.
You can not FORCE anyone to pray, listen, or participate in religious activities...bottom line.
Philosphically, you're correct. However, we have government schools which are financed through coercive means. Some places have mandatory attendance laws which are often so cumbersome that they make homeschooling difficult. And while no child has to participate in a prayer or pledge the child is being forcibly exposed to it. Would you like it if your child was forced to attend a school assembly on deviant sexual behavior?
My child is free to speak of Jesus anywhere she wants, public schools, public buildings, townhall, and if people want to fight over her right to free speech, so be it!
Your time and resources would be better spent removing government from as many places as possible.
I certainly agree with most of the points in your post, but let us concentrate on the above. NO one now can force a child to do these things. In this country if we set a standard and others do not want to adhere to that standard then let them leave. I do not agree with the exuberant amount of TAX I pay each year, but I have made a choice to agree in principle with the system we have set up to allow such theivery, I think it is the best government system in the world and would not go to another country to live...The best I will do is MY part to change people's understanding.
It is somewhat ridiculous for an AMERICAN to complain about being Exposed to the pledge.