Apparently, some Muslims in Oregon don’t like the US Pledge of Allegiance. As a result, at one Oregon elementary school, the kids won’t be allowed to recite it at an end of the year assembly. Principal Pam Wilson of Capitol Hill Elementary sent this email to parents explaining her decision to remove the pledge:

“The Pledge contains the words, ‘under God’ and we have many Muslim families here. So out of respect for the diversity of religious faiths practiced by our school community (parents and families) we decided that this year the students would memorize and sing the Preamble to the Constitution.”

Think again.

Since when is engaging in a classic civic duty going to bring about chaos in the diversity of faiths? I realize this may be a news flash for many people - Islam was around at the time of the founding of the Republic. Islam was around in the 1940’s when people said the pledge - and in the 1950’s, when they added ‘under God’ (a phrase which in and of itself drove this country crazy and inspired a Supreme Court battle over it).

In response to this, one parent had this to say:

“I was sad,” said parent Briana Reese. “The flag was sitting up there, you know. Two of the kids went up and they said ‘Everybody rise,’ and we rose, and I thought for just a second ‘Oh yeah, we’re going to put our hands on our hearts and we’re going to salute the flag’ - but no.”

Reese had heard that the principal planned to take the pledge out of the ceremony.

“I think that’s what they should be doing - telling kids you should be pledging your allegiance to this country,” Reese said. “This is a great country. You’re here for a reason.”

This country was founded on a principle of religious tolerance. People fearing religious persecution of their homelands came to this country to found a government where all the people can practice their religion freely. This is a religious country,  but it is not a theocracy.

It is not an unreasonable action to ask children to learn and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The act of the Pledge is not a religious act. If the Muslim children want to say “Under Allah” with the rest of the kids - I doubt many would complain. However, to ban the pledge out of “fear of offending” Muslims is idiotic.

I find it amusing that in Fairfax County kids learn to say the Pledge in Spanish so that the illiterate illegals who are enrolled in Fairfax County can recite the Pledge. That’s an issue that’s been litigated (and lost) by several Republican groups and firms. Nevertheless, I guess I feel I’d rather even see kids recite it in other languages than not to recite it at all.

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), a Baptist minister (hence perhaps the reasons why Muslims in Oregon are offended?). Bellamy said that the purpose of the pledge was to teach obedience to the state as a virtue and that the United States supports the flag.

CIVIC DUTY. Recognizing you have one. Recognizing our government. Any of this ring the bell for the Principal at Capitol Hill Elementary?

Granted this principal is not the US government, and I suspect she now realizes she screwed up. But enough is enough of this stupidity. Liberals have twisted this nonsense all around the axle. The idea is we become ONE NATION through affirmation of that fact - through practicing it in our shared rituals. We salute the flag. We say the Pledge. We go to Fourth of July Parades. We feel a sense of pride in being American. Being American doesn’t mean you have to give up your faith, or your heritage. It does mean, however, you adopt the practices of what it means to be an American. Part of that practice is saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

A good friend of mine has two very popular blogs based on the concept of being “offended.” They are humor blogs, in large part designed to make fun of idiots and their easily offended sensibilities. The Constitution does not protect people from being offended. Freedom of Speech and Religion are very likely to result in some faction or another being offended.

In fact, verbal controversy, and being offended without having it degenerate down into violence, is something uniquely American. There are fierce divisions in this country that are played out in politics and life. Turn on cable news and you can see offended viewpoint after another. Being offended is part of being AMERICAN.

Put simply - if people are offended by saying the pledge of allegiance to this country - then get out. That’s a red line. If you can’t adopt the practices of being an American - then go elsewhere. Schools have a civic duty to teach children to be good citizens. That means saying the Pledge, honoring your country, teaching them about our Government and its principles. MacArthur simplified it for all of us - DUTY * HONOR * COUNTRY.

If Muslims are offended - I’m sure there is a Islamic country somewhere that will fit your desires, where infidels get their hands chopped off for reading Bibles, Jews are persecuted, and non-believers are discriminated against in every conceivable way. Go to Saudi Arabia - where they will destroy the books of other religions other than Islam right in front of you at the airport. Where you MUST be Muslim to be a citizen. If that’s what you want - it’s out there… and only a plane ride away. Please, immigrate immediately! Let the Pledge not trouble you a minute longer! Let America’s offenses trouble you no longer!

Otherwise, if you’re going to stay here, then join your fellow American citizens and say it, (or not say it - that’s you’re right too), and enjoy religious freedom…

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.“