The Kansas Senate, unlike the House, has not had a tradition of beginning each day with the Pledge of Allegiance along with a prayer. But the pledge was added to the Senate’s morning routine as of Tuesday. “Such a simple act of patriotism is required of our Kansas youth,†said state Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler. “We should expect the same of our elected officials.â€
In turn, Kansans ought to expect their lawmakers to epitomize the principles delineated in the pledge.
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“”"Such a simple act of patriotism is required of our Kansas youth,” said state Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler.”"”
Oh really? Since when? When I was in school the Pledge was done each day but it was totally optional whether or not you participated in it. Nobody should ever be forced to recite the Pledge of Allegiance if they do not wish to do so.
Yeah, no need to recite the pledge of allegiance. This will be the same people who when asked on a street survey “What state is Kansas in?”, will answer Florida or some mind numbing answer.
“What state is Kansas in?”, will answer “Florida” or some mind numbing answer.
Is that wishful thinking there Regular? Hee
Maybe you would be willing to sign my petition, every winter I have a petition drive to move Kansas to Florida for the winter. Maybe everyone in one of those condo on the beach! But a word of advise Kansans, Florida is number one in the world for shark attacks!
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.
I’ve always thought it a little strange to say a pledge every day, or at least as part of a routine.
A pledge is a promise. If I pledge my allegiance to you today you won’t wake up next week and have to have me pledge again. I will formally and with cause break allegiance with you. Until then, count on me.
Nothing makes a promise irrelevant faster than repetition. Politicians in this state take an oath of office. They take it once after being elected and prior to service. That’s enough. A pledge to our county’s flag is not necessary.
School children should have the Pledge of Allegiance explained to them once a year. They should know the traditions and history of the pledge. It should be explained to them the seriousness of and oath and the real meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.
If and when they say it as a class, they should say it only once each year.
I would like all our elected officials and public employees to take the honor pledge or oath required of all military personnel when they attend service schools. Elected officials need to recite it at every public meeting they hold ….
“I will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those that do”
I’m guessing 99% of our military personnel live up to that —- would be nice if we could get 50% of our elected officials to do so ….. hell our treasury would be flush and we could afford health care, social security and what ….. a chicken in every pot or oi that pot in every kitchen
Is there a particular reason the this “pledge” needs to be said at all?
“Is there a particular reason the this “pledge” needs to be said at all?”
Yup Apophis.
It makes SOME folks think they are more “American” than others if they say it often.
I’ve always found it odd that while minor children cannot engage in a legal contract they ARE expected to swear an oath.
I remember so well when I had to relearn the pledge to add new words. I still wonder if God is very happy about that decision.
I never thought anything about saying the Pledge of Allegence every morning as a child, no one ever explained what it really meant and we never thought to ask. Hank’s right, repetion makes it less meaningful.
The same with repeating the same Catholic prayers over and over, now I look back and it seemed more like a mantra one would repeat during meditaion. Father McBride took us to task if we didn’t parrot our prayers exactly like they were written in the books. Like him, many Christians I know miss the whole point.
The Pledge is a prayer. I wonder why the legislature needs two prayers each day. Is it because the Christian politicians need to feel self-righteous when they screw the public?
And in the “pledge” prayer their allegiance is pledged to?? Still wondering how God feels about that.
The Pledge of Allegiance should NOT be said by school children unless they understand what they are saying. School children of USD 259 are required in many classes to recite the pledge every day. I’ve known some kids who have been sent to the princpal’s office for refusing to recite the pledge. This is not right. No one should be forced to pledge something that they do not agree with. I as a teacher, have a problem with being forced to require the children to recite the pledge because I myself do not believe in it. I will not pledge my allegiance to a country which is as corrupt as the United States. It was once a wonderful country but it has fallen because the laws have been manipulated so that they now favor the illegal practices. It’s time to end the mandaotry repetition of the Pledge of Allegiance in the public schools.
Do you really pleadge allegiance to an object?
It sounds quite barbaric and pagan to me.
But hey, if Christians hold the flag above God then that’s their bad.
As a teacher, I agree with you Brook. If a student doesn’t want to recite the pledge, power to them. I’m not fighting that battle. I think it’s a BOE policy (reciting the pledgwe), but it would be idiotic to “send the kid to the principal” for refusal.
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, not to a flag.
Hey knasa,
I posted the Pledge of Allegiance earlier. You must have missed the “. . .and to the Republic for which it stands.” The flag is just a part of the pledge.
As a Christian pledging allegiance to one’s country is not placing “. . .the flag above God . . . “. It’s serious, but the ‘Pledge’ does not make me choose between my God and my country. I would not pledge allegiance to a country that did not allow my religious freedom.
Find another way to bash Christians, this one doesn’t fly.
To the teachers –
Do you teach the meaning and the word to word understanding of that pledge to your students?
I love the way conservatives love to make a big show of reciting this loyalty oath.
Of course, they conveniently forget that it was written by an avowed socialist.
“Of course, they conveniently forget that it was written by an avowed socialist.”
And stolen and edited by a fascist.
“”"Maybe you would be willing to sign my petition, every winter I have a petition drive to move Kansas to Florida for the winter. Maybe everyone in one of those condo on the beach! But a word of advise Kansans, Florida is number one in the world for shark attacks!”"”
Since you are paying their homeowners insurance cost, you might as well move Kansas there for the winter! Maybe you know about the Florida Citizens Insurance Company or you don’t but it is a scheme set up by the Bush brothers where the state now insures homes in Florida with cheap premiums and, if a major hurricane hits the state and the state cannot pay the claims, the Federal Government (you and me) pay them. And you thought the Republicans didn’t believe in “socialism”??? So since you are paying for their insurance, you might as well enjoy the weather and the beaches!