Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.
The Pledge of Allegiance has, of recent times, become a sensitive subject. We are reminded of its political connotations everyday as it echoes in our second period classes. The fact of the matter is most people are caught in a limbo when it comes to sitting or standing. Now in our modern society even that has a greater meaning and message, whether or not we intend it to. We’ve all found ourselves confronted with the question: should I sit or should I stand?
Though there are several reasons to why people decide to sit or stand, the most pressing one in today’s political climate involves the accuracy of what the pledge entails. Colin Kaepernick, a free agent for the NFL, was known for rejecting to stand during the customary pledge before every game. On behalf of the Black Lives Matters movement against police brutality, Colin failed to see the “liberty and justice” for all. This quickly inflamed the right wing; conservatives found Kaepernick’s peaceful protest as “disrespectful” to the flag and to those who have served in the name of our country. Even our president has made loaded comments pertaining to Kaepernick’s suspension from his NFL career.
The Pledge of Allegiance has, of recent times, become a sensitive subject. We are reminded of its political connotations everyday as it echoes in our second period classes. The fact of the matter is most people are caught in a limbo when it comes to sitting or standing. Now in our modern society even that has a greater meaning and message, whether or not we intend it to. We’ve all found ourselves confronted with the question: should I sit or should I stand?
Though there are several reasons to why people decide to sit or stand, the most pressing one in today’s political climate involves the accuracy of what the pledge entails. Colin Kaepernick, a free agent for the NFL, was known for rejecting to stand during the customary pledge before every game. On behalf of the Black Lives Matters movement against police brutality, Colin failed to see the “liberty and justice” for all. This quickly inflamed the right wing; conservatives found Kaepernick’s peaceful protest as “disrespectful” to the flag and to those who have served in the name of our country. Even our president has made loaded comments pertaining to Kaepernick’s suspension from his NFL career.
Another reason that is not recognized for a student’s choice of refraining from the pledge is religious affiliation. “One nation under God.” Though these words are usually a second thought when reciting to the majority, for some it’s the opposite. People fail to recognize the non-Christian population when it comes to this dispute. Some people believe in other gods, while others don’t believe in God at all. This also presents the issues of schools enforcing the pledge and how that conflicts students with their own personal beliefs. Though students as individuals have the right to be steadfast within their beliefs, the education system itself is no place for political alignment-- its bias directly oppresses those who are a part of the system.
This country was made with the premise of freedom. Freedom doesn’t just encompass social status or economics as it once did in the 1700s. We are so quick to exude a persona of liberty to the rest of the world, but when it comes to our internal issues, this persona staggers. As people have the right to stand, people have the right to sit. Neither side makes you more or less American. The United States is changing rapidly. This isn’t anything new. There are people who are willing to adapt, to upturn what it means to “be an American;” people who understand that just because this is how things have been for hundreds of years does not mean that it is automatically correct. There are also those who are comfortable--afraid of change. There are people who are content--people who have never been in a disposition where racial bigotry applies to them. There are some people who have never been afraid to walk down a street, to drive themselves to work, go to school, to be in their own backyards without the fear of being a target of ignorant violence. To acknowledge one’s privilege can be uncomfortable, and therefore something to defend. This peaceful protest is a catalyst that will, in time, be a fundamental aspect of America’s journey to true egalitarianism. |