This kind of blind, forced patriotism reminds me of the schools down south that try to get around the USSC ban on prayer in schools by saying that all religions can take turns praying at the schools' events. What they really mean is all CHRISTIAN religions--Jews, Muslims, Pagans, Wiccans, etc. need not apply. At one school in Mississippi, a near riot broke out when a Muslim cleric was invited to deliver the prayer before a football game.
What I just don't understand is this need some people seem to have to force their beliefs down everyone else's collective throat. And why this legislature would waste one precious moment of time on a bill like this (even though it was ultimately defeated) when we have a massive deficit and other huge problems to deal with. Maybe it's a form of legislative escapism.
Michelle Gross Bryn Mawr
At 06:22 PM 5/31/03 -0500, you wrote:
JM:I agree with Mark Anderson's post regarding the Pledge of Allegiance in Minneapolis schools. Making childrem recite loyalty oaths by rote is absurd and serves no purpose.
Mark Anderson also wrote: If the School Board needs a substitute to protect themselves from accusations of being unpatriotic, then they could have a song every morning like "America the Beautiful" or "This Land is Your Land." Anyway, a song is more effective at instilling a sense of belonging than an incomprehensible oath. And unlike an oath, a song doesn't need to make sense -- it just needs to have a nice melody.
JM: I'll second "This Land is Your Land" as long as it includes one of Woody's original verses:
As I went walking, I saw a sign there On the sign it said NO TRESPASSING But on the other side it didn't say nothing That side was made for you and me!
Jim McGuire Como
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