Pledge Of Allegiance Research Paper

Bui 1

Huy Bui

Social Studies Discovery

16 December 2015

8th Grade CBA

Pledge of Allegiance and Freedom

In schools, respect is something that is more mandatory than voluntary. One example is the Pledge of Allegiance, which is to give respect to the Flag. The Pledge was composed in 1887 by George Balch. Then in 1954 the words “under God” were added. Every day in schools students rise up, put their hand over their heart, and, in unison, say the Pledge. But student should not have to say the Pledge as it is already optional in many districts. Even though some argue that the Flag represents freedom and deserves respect, the Pledge of Allegiance violates that freedom of speech and religion.

In some schools the Pledge already is optional by the law.

“As Franklin Delano Roosevelt explained, ‘It is a pledge to maintain the four great freedoms cherished by all Americans: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want and freedom from fear’” (Abby). He says that the Pledge should be said and respected for its meaning. Even so, flags can be burned legally. In a court case “In a 6-3 ruling, the Court of Criminal Appeals tossed out the law, saying it was too broadly written and criminalized an act that is protected by the First Amendment's right to free speech. Apparently rarely used, the 26-year-old law threatens one year in jail and a $4,000 fine for those who intentionally damage, deface, mutilate or burn the U.S. or Texas flags.”(Lindell). If flags can be burn legally under free speech then the Pledge of Allegiance should be optional rather than required. And also the first Amendment say “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” (U.S. Const. Amend.

In a court case a judge Lawrence Karlton “He states that the phrase ‘under God’ violates the children's right to be ‘free from a coercive requirement to affirm God’” (CNN). This shows that the Pledge is putting kids in an environment that might go against his/her believes. And according to Under God, “A surprising number of Americans nonetheless felt that the judges had a good point-that the reference to God in the pledge was an inappropriate endorsement of religion on the part of the government.”(Piereson). The government, by having students say the Pledge isn’t fair because it endorse or support religions with God, and not acknowledging the religions that don’t believe in