of Allegiance, the American Civil Lib- erties Union was quick to jump in and issue a statement reminding students they need not participate, noting that while “the First Amendment protects a student’s right to say what he or she wants, it also protects his or her right not to say something.” After the Bladen County, North
Carolina, elections board voted not to begin each meeting with the pledge, several audience members spontane- ously rose and began reciting it. One board member, Louella Thompson, threatened to call the police over the pledge. “If that happens again,” she announced, “law enforce- ment will be called because it’s against the law to disrupt a meeting that is going on, and that is what happened today with the reciting of the pledge.” Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., said Thompson’s threat of arrest and imprisonment “shows a twisted moral code to oppress the right to honor a flag that stands for freedom from oppression.” He added, “I stand with the board
members who continue to revere and respect our flag, and those who lost their lives defending it.” As that suggests, those committed
to defending the pledge and the flag it honors aren’t backing down — far from it. And they have a powerful institution in their corner, the U.S. Supreme Court.
The high court has ruled the pledge is constitutional because its reference to “under God” is more of a cultural expression than a religious one. But the Supreme Court also states no one can be forced to recite it.
The high court has ruled the pledge
is constitutional because its reference to “under God” is more of a cultural expression than a religious one. But the Supreme Court also states no one can be forced to recite it. And indeed, most of the 47 states
that require reciting the pledge in school simply ask parents to send in a note authorizing their child’s non- participation in the pledge — because parents, not school officials, should be the ultimate arbiters of their children’s values and conduct. The American Legion, which boasts
nearly 2 million veteran members, offers educational outreach programs explaining the pledge. Over 4,700 American Legion posts host Flag Day observances each year nationwide. The Legion even publishes a series
of comic book-style pamphlets to reach school kids. The comics articu- late the meaning of the pledge and promote a deeper understanding of its role in American life. Ann Byars, the Legion’s manager of
Most Support Reciting the Pledge A
YouGov poll last year found 52% of Americans think public schools should require the pledge to be recited by students each day. That number was higher among seniors (66%) and lower among 18– to 29-year- olds (36%). Republicans were almost
twice as likely to support saying the pledge as were Democrats.
All Adults Yes No
Not Sure
Source: YouGov poll with 9659 U.S. adults conducted on June 2, 2022
52% 33% 15%
Dem. Yes No
Not Sure
39% 47% 15%
youth education and civics, oversees those programs. “When we pledge allegiance to the
flag,” she tells Newsmax, “we promise to be loyal to our country. “The flag is a symbol. It’s a most
powerful symbol because it represents our country and the freedoms that we have in our country. “These are freedoms,” Byars
adds, “that we have because our vet- erans have fought for those free- doms, they have become disabled for those freedoms, they have died for those freedoms. “When the flags fly,” she continues,
“we remember the sacrifices that have been made for this great country and the freedoms that we have been given.” So, no matter which way the cultural
winds of change blow, says Byars, vet- erans’ support for reciting the Pledge of Allegiance will remain “unyielding.” “Those are very powerful words,”
she says. “And I think the more you reflect on them, the more powerful they become.”
Do you think public schools should require the Pledge of Allegiance be recited by students each day?
Politics Rep. 77%
Ind. 51% 13% 10% 35% 14% Race Other 44% 43% 13%
Not Sure
33% 32% 35%
Yes No
Not Sure
White 58% 31% 12% Black Hispanic Other 40% 41% 20% 48% 31% 21% 53% 31% 16%
DECEMBER 2023 | NEWSMAX 23
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