Opinions

Students views on respect towards the United States flag

Elianne Candelario and Caitlin Starks • November 13, 2012

Elianne Candelario
Staff Reporter

Standing up during the pledge of allegiance should be a choice not an obligation. By reciting the pledge one is expressing loyalty to the federal flag and to the republic of the United States.

Not all students feel that it’s completely necessary to stand up during the pledge. Although I do stand up and recite the pledge, I believe if anyone does not feel comfortable doing so they should not have to.

It is called freedom of speech, if anyone in this school feels standing up and saying the pledge is wrong they should be allowed the choice to stay seated.

In sixth grade I was yelled at by a teacher for not standing up and reciting the pledge, I felt very embarrassed and scared.

My opinion today is still the same, a person who is pro-life will not work at an abortion clinic, a Christian will not pray five times a day like a Jew and a republican will not vote for Obama. I stand when reciting the pledge just to be respectful. I would never want to offend anyone but, if anyone does not feel like it they should not have to.

Sure you might get ugly stares and maybe even a few negative words but at least you are standing up for what you believe in, or in this case, sitting down for what you believe in.

Caitlin Starks
Staff Reporter

Students who don’t stand up for the pledge of allegiance, in my eyes, are immature.

They are immature because truthfully the “Under God” part of the pledge of allegiance was not made in any direct religious sense.

It was added to the pledge of allegiance in 1954 because the politicians of the time believed they could weed out communists because communists supposedly couldn’t say the word “God”. And even if you do have some kind of religious problem with the pledge I could probably understand it on some level. However, most students that do not stand for the pledge are essentially the students that say they do not believe in government, mainly doing it to get attention.

About 99.99% of politicians have their heads where the sun does not shine. But seriously, whether you believe in it or not, the government of the United States of America has done a lot for you ungrateful kids out there.

Are you a child soldier? Are you not protected against the government through civil liberties and by the government through civil rights?

All of you do not realize how different the US is compared to the rest of the world. Even if you could care less about government and feel like you should not have to stand.

I get it be a rebel and all that jazz, The government deserves respect.

Do not just sit there because you think it is cool and will get you attention.

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About the Contributors

Elianne Candelario, Staff Reporter

Hi, my name is Elianne. I’m seventeen, a senior and this is my first year on the Eagle’s Eye Newspaper staff. I chose to be part of the newspaper because I enjoy writing and would like to see where I can take my ambitions. I’m a very outgoing person who loves to laugh; I mean seriously make me laugh... please. I abbreviate everything, I’ts totes fun obvi. I’m awk, k bye.

Caitlin Starks, Managing Editor

Grade : Senior. Academy : AHA Year on staff : 2nd year on staff. Newspaper Role : Managing Editor Why on staff? I'm on the newspaper staff because I love to write and get the news to those who otherwise wouldn't have access to it. I also love to take pictures. What do you do for fun? I play video games, read and write in my spare time. Plans after high school? After high school I plan to attend Texas ATM while working towards a degree in biomedical sciences and studying abroad.