“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you — ask what can you do for your country.” – JFK
Whatever happened to the concepts of loyalty, selflessness and sacrifice? Why, they’ve been replaced with the far less troublesome concepts of guile, self-interest and expediency, at least at one college in California.
The student trustees at Orange Coast College in southern California have voted to eliminate the Pledge of Allegiance from their proceedings. It’s not so much that they have a problem with the American flag – it’s more a problem with God. The move was initiated by three newly elected members who campaigned wearing military style berets. Said Jason Bell, one of the “revolutionary” trustees, “That (’under God’) part is sort of offensive to me. I am an atheist and a socialist, and if you know your history, you know that ‘under God’ was inserted during the McCarthy era and was directly designed to destroy my ideology.”
Bell should have used the word “theology.” It would have been more honest, because that’s exactly what Atheism is, and it would have allowed us to get a clearer picture of what’s happening. Bell and his “revolutionary” pals are actually just dumping the traditional notion theology and imposing their own tired brand of theology on the rest of the students, like it or not.
But the true underlying philosophical motivations at work here have little to do with religion. They are, instead, a manifestation of a shift that has occured within American society away from responsibilty to community and country and towards naked self-interest. That’s why Bell and people like him can make statements such as the following without even a hint of shame, “Loyalty ought to be something the government earns through performance, not through reciting a pledge.”
I believe in separation of church and state. I believe that since Jesus said “My Kingdom is not of this world”, that there is no government establishment of religion that is truthful.
I also believe that the state and church should be separated. However, I don’t see how the Pledge of Allegiance, even with the Under God part can offend an atheist. No one is pressuring that person to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. As i remember during my earlier school years, you weren’t forced to recite it, or even at times, you could’ve participate in it and if the Under God part offended you, then you could’ve left that part blank. However, to show respect, as in any culture, maybe standing up to show some courtesy was due but that was it.
Orange Coast Student says Am. Flag = Genocide
NOTE STUDENT LEADER’S COMMENT ON THE MEANING OF THE AMERICAN FLAG
http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2006/11/21/education/dpt-pledge21.prt
At their meeting Monday, the leader of the Student Trustees said they’re opposing the flag because,
“The American Flag Represents Genocide”
The student Trustee announced at a Student Government meeting the reason they are against the Flag. He said it is because the flag “represents genocide.”
It has nothing to do with Church and State or the 1950’s.
It’s not about the pledge at all.
They hate America. And they are using the forum of student government to try to spread that hate.
Orange Coast STUDENT TRUSTEE SAYS:
“THE FLAG REPRESENTS GENOCIDE”
The issue is not the pledge.
There is room for discussion on whether or not a student government meeting needs to begin with a recital of the pledge.
The issue is that the Student Trustees hate America and they are trying to use their position as elected student government leaders to spread this hatred.
How do we know?
because at a meeting of Student Government, one of the Student Trustees explained the reason for opposing the flag.
He said:
“The Flag Represents Genocide”
It’s not about The Pledge, it’s The Flag and The Nation.
A student trustee said at a meeting that the reason they are against The Flag is because “The Flag represents Genocide”
Orange Coast STUDENT TRUSTEE SAYS: “THE FLAG REPRESENTS GENOCIDE†The issue is not the pledge. There is room for discussion on whether or not a student government meeting needs to begin with a recital of the pledge.
The issue is that the majority of the Student Trustees hate America and they are trying to use their position as elected student government leaders to spread this hatred. How do we know? Because at a meeting of Student Government, one of the Student Trustees explained the reason for opposing The Flag.
He said: “The Flag Represents Genocideâ€Â