PHOTO BY SAIGE GRIFFIN
BY SAVANNAH KEYSER
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of The United States of America…” Possibly the most famous collection of words in American history, the Pledge of Allegiance has been ingrained into the minds of students since the time they first started school in kindergarten. Schoolchildren have the pledge memorized and branded into their brains before they know what the words coming out of their mouths even mean.
As of late there has been much controversy on whether or not people should be sitting, or kneeling, while the pledge is being recited. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick inspired many people, including other professional athletes, to sit or kneel during the performance of the National Anthem. Kaepernick’s protest is meant to show support of the people of color that are oppressed in this country and to take a stand against police brutality.
“This is because I’m seeing things happen to people that don’t have a voice, people that don’t have a platform to talk and have their voices heard, and effect change. So I’m in the position where I can do that and I’m going to do that for people that can’t.” Kaepernick said.
There has been case after case that show that racism and police brutality is alive and well in America. African Americans are constantly fearing for their lives. Members of the African American community have been killed for no reason other than the fact that racism is an issue in the criminal justice system. This is shown in the shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was sitting in a pavilion playing with a toy gun when he was shot twice by a police officer. Dejuan Yourse is another young African American who experienced how tragic police brutality really is. Yourse was sitting on his mother’s front porch step while he waited for her to come home and let him in. He was then harassed and attacked by an unprovoked police officer who assumed that Yourse was trying to break into the house. Incidents like these happen way too often and it shows not only that racism still exists in this country, but that it is acted upon by people who are supposed to protect all citizens.
Kaepernick’s protest has gained lots of attention on social media. Teenagers have noticed and started to take part in this protest when they can, but it’s not always easy for them. Many students have decided to exercise their right to sit for the pledge but in doing so have endured negative comments and judgement against them.
“I try to sit but most teachers bark at us to stand up,” Junior Madison Worley said. “If I do sit, I definitely feel judged and it upsets me because I have my own way of showing respect towards my country. I just don’t do it standing up with my hand on my chest.”
It is clearly stated in the 1943 Supreme Court decision, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, that forcing students, or anyone for that matter, to stand up and recite the pledge goes against their constitutional rights.
Court Justice Robert Jackson constructed the majority opinion of the Court “No official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us.”
Through this court decision, it was ruled that compelling anyone to salute the flag and pledge their allegiance goes against the freedom of speech and religious freedom in the First Amendment.
When the Pledge of Allegiance was first written, its author, Francis Bellamy, had hoped it would be used by citizens in any country, not just the United States of America. The pledge originally read “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” There was no mention of the United States in the pledge until 1923. This change was meant to be a clarification for immigrants to be clear on the fact that they were saluting to the United States and not to their home country. Similar to the addition of the United States to the pledge, the mention of God was added later as well. One of the first remarks of God in the pledge was made by the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization. The saying “one nation, under God” gained popularity in the early 1950s. Congress passed a bill on Flag Day of 1954 that added the phrase “under God” into the pledge. This is a controversial amendment of the pledge because not only does it disrespect those who do not follow a Christian religion, but it also goes against the separation of Church and State.
Having the choice of whether or not one would like to stand for the pledge is actually a great display of the freedom that this country gives its citizens. Sitting during the pledge is just another way that students can express their freedom of speech. It also allows those who do not believe in God express their freedom of religion as the line in the pledge reads “one nation, under God.” In fact, this nation is comprised of many different religions and not all of them have a god, and therefore not every person in this country should be forced to say this if they do not believe it or follow it.
“Students should be able to sit during the pledge because that is expressing their first amendment right to freedom of speech,” Junior Kaytie de la Vega said. “This country was founded on freedom, and our own beliefs still stand even during a point where we’re supposed to honor our country. Just because one person doesn’t think it’s right doesn’t mean we don’t have the right to sit.”
Many people believe that sitting for the pledge is one of the most disrespectful things one can do. Although it may seem like it, people have their own personal reasons for not standing while the pledge is being said. Not every person who makes the decision to sit for the pledge means it out of disrespect. Many people feel that they are exercising their rights as American citizens to the fullest extent. When they sit down during the pledge, they are reminded that they have the freedom to do so because their rights are protected. These people know that countries with less freedom, or none at all, like North Korea, have no rights that protect their freedom of speech. They are reminded of this especially when they do not stand for the pledge and know exactly what the flag really stands for.
Standing or sitting for the pledge is a choice. It is against the law to force anyone, students included, to stand for the pledge and recite it. These students have their own reason for sitting and no matter what it is, those students and their choice to sit down must be respected.
