My post on the pledge decision.
Jun. 18th, 2004 04:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
conuly
I said I'd post it, and I meant it.
I don't like this ruling. Not because I disagree with it (I think the actual decision was correct, he does NOT have the right to bring a case for his daughter when she is not the one with the grievance), but because they completely avoided answering the question at hand. And, of course, some people are going nuts over this:
In a written statement, Attorney General John Ashcroft praised the ruling, saying it "ensures that school children in every corner of America can start their day by voluntarily reciting the Pledge of Allegiance."
1. Sorry, Jonny, but it doesn't do that. It just put off the case for another few years. Despite what some people ignorantly believe, this case not only has come by before, but it will come by again. And again. And again.
2. *cracks up* Why the fuck can't these school children voluntarily recite the PoA at home, then? If it's so important to their parents, wouldn't their parents make them pledge every day before leaving the house? Why don't you expect adults to do this? I'm not even bringing up the question of voluntarily, because that's a lie. Even when people know they're allowed not to say it, the pressure is from all angles to fit in. That's not voluntary.
I don't like this ruling. Not because I disagree with it (I think the actual decision was correct, he does NOT have the right to bring a case for his daughter when she is not the one with the grievance), but because they completely avoided answering the question at hand. And, of course, some people are going nuts over this:
In a written statement, Attorney General John Ashcroft praised the ruling, saying it "ensures that school children in every corner of America can start their day by voluntarily reciting the Pledge of Allegiance."
1. Sorry, Jonny, but it doesn't do that. It just put off the case for another few years. Despite what some people ignorantly believe, this case not only has come by before, but it will come by again. And again. And again.
2. *cracks up* Why the fuck can't these school children voluntarily recite the PoA at home, then? If it's so important to their parents, wouldn't their parents make them pledge every day before leaving the house? Why don't you expect adults to do this? I'm not even bringing up the question of voluntarily, because that's a lie. Even when people know they're allowed not to say it, the pressure is from all angles to fit in. That's not voluntary.
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no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 02:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 02:59 pm (UTC)Yeah, I was a bad kid. :)
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Date: 2004-06-18 03:50 pm (UTC)I do completely agree with you on your second point. If it's that important, the children can recite the pledge at home. If the parents aren't willing to take their child/children aside for a minute in the morning to recite the pledge, then I can't see where they have the right to complain.
On an aside note, I remember being given a miniature flag at school on Flag Day and being told to bring it home so my parents could also recite the pledge. I did, and we did. Of course, this was also a school that treated Flag Day as a major holiday and spent a month preparing the students to dance around the flagpole and sing songs. So.. yeah. *grins*
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 04:25 pm (UTC)That's been illegal since the Second World War, just about.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 02:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 02:59 pm (UTC)Yeah, I was a bad kid. :)
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 03:50 pm (UTC)I do completely agree with you on your second point. If it's that important, the children can recite the pledge at home. If the parents aren't willing to take their child/children aside for a minute in the morning to recite the pledge, then I can't see where they have the right to complain.
On an aside note, I remember being given a miniature flag at school on Flag Day and being told to bring it home so my parents could also recite the pledge. I did, and we did. Of course, this was also a school that treated Flag Day as a major holiday and spent a month preparing the students to dance around the flagpole and sing songs. So.. yeah. *grins*
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 04:25 pm (UTC)That's been illegal since the Second World War, just about.