Philly teacher to student: Romney shirt must come off; it's like a KKK shirt.

[Vosem]

There are extreme idiots on both sides. This isn't news.

there are more than two sides my man!

This is America. There are two (2) sides.

[Paul Kemp]

There are extreme idiots on both sides. This isn't news.

there are more than two sides my man!

Sorry, all sides*.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

This is seriously one of the worst threads ever

[Paul Kemp]

This is seriously one of the worst threads ever

Ever read anything from MyPalFish?

[Grumpier Than Thou]

This is seriously one of the worst threads ever

Ever read anything from MyPalFish?

No but I'm assuming I don't want to

[fezzyfestoon]

God, are we pussies. And what obnoxious parents to obviously have put their child in this position.

[Spanish Moss]

would the outcry be as vociferous in the case of a teacher who demanded a student recite the Pledge of Allegiance?

Which they do all the time, which is so overtly nationalistic it's creepy.

[Vosem]

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. Said that every school day since August of 2002. Except when I have a doctor's appointment or some s**t and come in late.

[Spanish Moss]

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. Said that every school day since August of 2002. Except when I have a doctor's appointment or some s**t and come in late.

I sat for it.  And, referring to a Supreme Court Case, got my stuffy, right wing principal to send a note to all homeroom teachers that it is unconstitutional for them to force kids to stand.

My only allegiance is to peace and justice.

[courts]

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. Said that every school day since August of 2002. Except when I have a doctor's appointment or some s**t and come in late.

I sat for it.  And, referring to a Supreme Court Case, got my stuffy, right wing principal to send a note to all homeroom teachers that it is unconstitutional for them to force kids to stand.

My only allegiance is to peace and justice.

to play devil's advocate here, what makes forced participation in the pledge different from something like taxation or anything else people justify as part of the 'social contract'? at least with the pledge you're not actually doing anything substantive. i didn't actually help kill any iraqis when i saluted the flag in high school. or subsidize goldman sachs or halliburton.

[© tweed]

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. Said that every school day since August of 2002. Except when I have a doctor's appointment or some s**t and come in late.

I sat for it.  And, referring to a Supreme Court Case, got my stuffy, right wing principal to send a note to all homeroom teachers that it is unconstitutional for them to force kids to stand.

My only allegiance is to peace and justice.

to play devil's advocate here, what makes forced participation in the pledge different from something like taxation or anything else people justify as part of the 'social contract'? at least with the pledge you're not actually doing anything substantive. i didn't actually help kill any iraqis when i saluted the flag in high school. or subsidize goldman sachs or halliburton.

it's not a very important matter in-itself, but in the US we have these trump cards which proscribe certain conduct by the state, good, bad, or meaningless.  and recitation of the Pledge quite clearly falls within the purview of one of the trump cards.

[J. J.]

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. Said that every school day since August of 2002. Except when I have a doctor's appointment or some s**t and come in late.

"...for all."  It is not required.  You may decline to participate, as many Jehovah's Witnesses do.