Thanking God in our National Anthem

quote:

---

It is my understanding that, at least in some states, students are required to recite the pledge of allegiance.

---

This may be true; however, it is my understanding that if it is, then those states are violating the law since it is unconstitutional to force student to recite the pledge.The relevant question for the state that have "voluntary" recitations for the pledge is whether having state sanctioned recitation of the pledge creates an evironment where the student feels coerced into reciting the pledge with the others despite it being "voluntary".There have also been incidents where a student exercises her right to "sit out" and ends up being verbally criticized by the teacher in front of the class.

---

"Intellectually, scientifically, even artistically, fundamentalism -- biblical literalism -- is a road to nowhere, because it insists on fidelity to revealed truths that are not true." -- Katha Pollitt

I completely agree. Believing in God is a choice. Being forced into anything is wrong IMO.

i remember back in grade school/high school when we did this, most of the time i would stand and do nothing, the teacher would see me and give me dirty looks.. i just find it really terrible that anyone would be ridicualed for not doing it

I believe that varies from place to place. When I was a student I was ordered to say the pledge. In fact I got in a lot of trouble for deliberately mocking the pledge during delivery because I thought it was wrong. I was just kiddig around. It is sort of abrasive, but has an interesting, hypnotic quality. If YOU like it then keep it. Screw me for suggesting otherwise.

---

holmes
"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." (M.Ivins)

When I was in grade school (early '70s) we also had to say the pledge. No one informed me whether or not it was voluntary at that time. At any rate, at some point it stopped, although I didn't notice that it had stopped until high school, when in American Government class we learned about the controversy.In kindergarten we would start the day singing My Country 'Tis of Thee. I'm not much into displays of patriotism, but I still have a warm spot in my heart for that song. (And imagine: if that one were our national anthem, they would only have to play it once when the British head of state visits the US, or vice versa!)

---

"Intellectually, scientifically, even artistically, fundamentalism -- biblical literalism -- is a road to nowhere, because it insists on fidelity to revealed truths that are not true." -- Katha Pollitt

It's also one that the average person can sing, unlike our Anthem.

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

If you look up the full lyrics of My Country Tis of Thee, you will find it has the same, if not more, references and reverences to God.I don't think any of this should be surprising. Songs written back then for vast and easy emotional appeal are going to contain references to God. Those appealing to song lyrics to create divisive arguments suggesting the nature of this nation's GOV'T is somehow based on Xianity, are just fishing for material because they can't find it where it counts most... our gov't documents.And in this case the portions discussing God are not routinely sung at all, so its really fishing for redherring.

---

holmes
"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." (M.Ivins)

jar writes:

quote:

---

It's also one that the average person can sing, unlike our Anthem.

---

Actually, the average person can sing the National Anthem. The problem is that you won't be able to find a key that most people can sing it in. The National Anthem has a tessitura of a twelfth, which is pretty much what the average voice is capable of. The problem is that not everybody's twelfth covers the same range.And don't forget, the tune is an old English drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven." And like all drinking songs, it has too many verses.This message has been edited by Rrhain, 02-12-2006 08:44 AM

---

Rrhain

---

Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time.