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This 10 year-old boy refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance in school. His mother supports him. Would you support your child if he/she refused?

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I would support my child if they refused.

Are you kidding me. We say the pledge of Allegiance to honor our country and those who fought and died for our freedom. Let me guess he just didn't feel like saying the pledge. I say you need to introduce that child to some veterans who have lost there arms and legs, wives who have lost their husbands, mothers who have lost their sons and tell them it is to much to ask for my child to stand up and honor them. If my child refused I would teach them why we say the pledge and make sure they understand the cost and price people have paid so that they can have an education, live in country that is free and all the many other rights we have.

You don't have to guess. The story says, very clearly, that he's refusing to stand based on principle:

quote:

"Their son told them last weekend he had decided to no longer stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance at school because he didn't believe there is liberty and justice for all, especially when it comes to gay rights"

That's not being disrespectful to veterans. It is an example of the very thing that makes this country great: The freedom we have to stand by our principles. And the idea that no one should ever be REQUIRED - or even feel required - to recite a pledge to anything, ever.

I would not just support my child. I would applaud him.

Sorry I did read it afterwords. Who do you think gave him the idea that America is unjust or that gays are not treated equally. Could it be the parents. hmmm.... I get the fact that
our children to need to believe in something and stand up for what is right. In reality do you think the child is sending a message or do you think the parents are sending a message through the child. That's what I have a problem with.

I guess we should all sit down during the pledge because there is something in America we all disagree with.

You are only concentrating on the America part of things ... the pledge also states that we are one nation "under God." Not every child in America believes in God and they should not have to place their hand over their heart and proclaim that they do.

That aside, I think this boy's logic and reasoning was sound and I would be proud if he were my son. What gave him the idea that gays are not treated equally? Maybe his parents. Or maybe just having a basic understanding of current events and history.

As far as I know, the pledge of allegiance is not intended to honor veterans. It is a statement of loyalty to the United States of America.
If the boy believes that there is not "liberty and justice for all" in our country and feels like he can't recite those words in good conscience, then good for his parents for supporting his choice.
Chloe'smommy, I think presuming that the child is expressing the views of his parents and not thinking for himself is shortsighted. I know that my 9 year-old is plenty astute enough to think through an issue himself, and it's often the young people who challenge the status quo that we grown folks have come to accept as inevitable.

I would have been very embarrassed if this had been my child. Maybe we would be in a better place if parents taught their children to love and respect our country for the amazing place that it is and not focus on the negativity. The world is not a fair place for anyone. Some might say that as woman we are not treated equally, but that doesn't mean I won't say the pledge. As a sign of respect to our country and all of the veterans who have fought for our very lives he could atleast stand there respectfully. A lesson in American history should have taught him all of the wonderful things this country has stood for and done over the years. However if they are looking for the negatives I am sure they will find some, no place is perfect, in fact I think that is why so many of our ancestors left their homelands to come here...

Lawmommy, I would be shocked if the opinions that the boy has are not the same as his parents. Parents who have strong feelings on issues and discuss them with their children can very easily persuade them to feel or believe something. If you don't believe that then how can you explain prejudice in young children? If children are not taught to have certain feelings about other races then there would not be the race issues that there are today. It is the same thing here. If this issue was not discussed at home it probably wouldn't have escaltated to this point.
Children at this age are astute however they are also very easily influenced and it is not difficult to indoctrinate them to one way or another of thinking. I don't necessarily know that Chloesmom was shortsighted as you said but I don't find it hard to believe that some parents today would use their children to push their own beliefs and agendas.

I agree that many children can logically think through many issues. He was upset because of the lack of liberty for homosexuals. To me it just doesn't sound like his perception is coming from a remotely typical 10 year old.
The pledge was also meant to unite us, and for us to hold the idea of justice and liberty to all as a moral standard. Does it happen everyday, everywhere, no. We as individuals can do what's right when we see mistreatment of others and help each other out. Not standing for the pledge is not the right forum for a 10 year old to show his greviences with the country. It is up to us as adults to show him when, where and how.
What if it was your nine-year-old in the class with him. Would your child understand what he is doing and why even if he was given a chance to state his reasoning. Or would your child see this kid as being defiant as disrespectful to authority.

When you say "I pledge of allegiance" you're saying that you are giving an oath of loyalty. So the line "I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America" means that you're giving an oath of loyalty to the United Stated of America, because the American Flag represents the United States.
If you are not loyal to the United States what are you????

SteelersMomma, you make a very good point. Children are easily influenced and generally hold their parents' opinions in high regard. And his parents likely do share the views he expressed, but that doesn't mean that his parents are using their child as a means of expressing their politics.
I don't think that refusing to say the pledge is disrespectful to anyone or to the country as a whole. In fact, it could be taken as quite the contrary - he is demonstrating his respect for the ideals that our country is supposed to be based upon ("liberty and justice for all") by calling attention to the fact that, in his belief, those ideals are not being upheld.

Obviously, it is a symbolic gesture, his refusal to stand and recite the pledge, just as it is a symbolic gesture for those who do stand and recite it. It doesn't mean he isn't loyal to the United States. Conversely, all the people who stand and recite it willingly everyday don't necessarily mean, or even understand, what they are saying. He has apparently thought it through and believes that the words don't ring true and therefore doesn't want to participate.
Chloe'smommy, if my son were in that child's class, I'm sure we would talk about it, including about the talking back that got the kid in trouble.

quote:

Originally posted by Chloe'smommy:
I guess we should all sit down during the pledge because there is something in America we all disagree with.

That's what we did during the Viet Nam war,,,,Protest is our obligation as citizens. Why do you hate America?