The right to remain silent

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THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT

Some students pledge their allegiance to the flag, while others shun the practice

September 3, 2000

The Pledge of Allegiance holds a different meaning for every person who recites the words. But to some, the pledge has no meaning.

"Just standing and saying the pledge is dumb and holds no significance to me," said Armando Ramos, 13, who was a student at St. Gabriel Catholic School and now lives in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Armando explained that he doesn't say the pledge in protest over the bombing mishaps near the U.S. naval base in his native country of Puerto Rico.

"I just got mad at that, I got mad at the whole entire country. Why should I be pledging allegiance to a country that doesn't care about me?" he said.

Jessica Kerman , 15, Pike High School, doesn't say the pledge because of its wording. "It says you're pledging allegiance to a flag instead of to the republic of the United States," she said.

Another reason for not saying the pledge is religion. Such is the case for Rachel Wigginton , 16, also at Pike High School.

"I'm Mennonite and believe that you shouldn't have to pledge to a nation or a flag," she said.

"I think the flag symbolizes what our country has gone through -- what we have fought for -- and Mennonites are people who keep the peace and don't go to war," she explained.

Although these students do not respect the Pledge of Allegiance, they still respect the flag.

"It's not that I don't respect the flag," said Armando, "It's just that I don't (agree with) the things the flag stands for. In this country, things were fair. But now, they're corrupted by greed and power."

"I respect the flag a lot," Jessica emphasized. "I'm in Girl Scouts, and our troop is usually the one who does the flag ceremony, and I'm usually the one who ties up the flag and makes it all pretty and nice."

For the most part, other students don't seem to mind if some people don't say the pledge.

"At our school, the kids are pretty open-minded because we have a mixture of different cultures," Jessica said.

But there are exceptions.

"It was an issue last year that I didn't say the pledge. People asked me why," said Rachel. "But this year it's not really an issue 'cause people don't really care anymore, unless it's the teachers."

Armando has faced greater opposition.

"Other students seem to have a big problem with it," he said. "I was pursued in class. I just tried to make them understand why I don't say the pledge."

Pike High School now requires all students to stand for the pledge, whether they say it or not, because some students were disruptive last year.

"A lot of the students were sitting down and talking during the pledge. It wasn't really because of their beliefs. It's more because they're too lazy to stand up," Jessica said.

"I stand up for the pledge, not only because we're forced to, but because I am standing in respect for all those who died for the country. I still have respect for the country," she said.

The students don't set out to persuade others not to say the pledge.

"I don't influence my friends," Rachel said. "I think it is a personal decision."

But sometimes it happens.

"My friends have asked me why I don't say the pledge, and I told them. It has changed a couple of people," Jessica said.

She said she would consider saying the pledge if it was worded in a different way.

"I would say something like 'I pledge allegiance to the Republic of the United States of America.' Just take out the flag part," Jessica said.

Although it has no meaning to him, Armando has started saying the pledge at his school to stop the criticism. There are other declarations he'd rather say, he said.

"The Gettysburg Address for one, and 'I Have a Dream' by Martin Luther King Jr.," he said.

Rachel believes the Pledge of Allegiance is too narrow for someone like herself, who has lived in other countries.

"I don't think I should be confined to one thing. Like I've lived in other countries, and I've said their pledges, too," she explained.

"There are lots of countries, and you shouldn't be boastful of your own, even though America is great and everything."

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Michelle Foisy, 14; Colleen Merkel, 15.

REPORTERS: Christine Beyer, 10; Andrea Phillips, 11; Jacob Hollingsworth, 11.

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