College Students Ban Pledge Of Allegiance

Student leaders at California's Orange Coast College banned the Pledge of Allegiance at their meetings, saying they see no reason to publicly swear loyalty to God and the U.S. government.

The ban does not apply to other student groups or campus meetings. I think the school has the right approach here. If the student leaders' personal belief is that they don't want to say the Pledge of Allegiance, the school certainly shouldn't insist that they do. It is troubling that the student leaders don't want to express loyalty to their nation.

Comments

[Shucky]

How typical of leftists, to deny free expression. Keep in mind, they are the ones banning the pledge, that is, trying to stop those who might like to say it their inalienable right to free expression. The leftists are enemies of freedom, period.

[Ray]

The freedom to make an inflamatory statement without any repercussions is granted by the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.
The american flag is a symbol of those rights.
To use that freedom of speech to make a statement of derision regarding freedom, marks the author of the statement as abysmally stupid.
I personally do not care whether the organization opens their meetings with the pledge of allegiance, but the stated reason for not doing so is just idiotic.
To gain some perspective these folks should spend some time in a country where political dissention is met with government violence and genocide is truly practiced daily.

[jay hariton]

What ever happened to the First Amendment. Is loyalty forced really patriotism? Saying the words mean nothing. Living by the words mean everything.

[dick]

Maybe the US should stop all payments and benefits to the college since the college apparently does not want to be part of the US. Grant their wish. Then they won't need to support any form of genocide. Win-win situation.

[Old Glory]

OCC STUDENT TRUSTEE SAYS:

"THE FLAG REPRESENTS GENOCIDE"

The issue is not the pledge.

There is room for discussion on whether or not a student government meeting needs to begin with a recital of the pledge.

The issue is that the Student Trustees hate America and they are trying to use their position as elected student government leaders to spread this hatred.

How do we know?

because at a meeting of Student Government, one of the Student Trustees explained the reason for opposing the flag.

He said:

"The Flag Represents Genocide"

[Stars N. Stripes]

Orange Coast Student says Am. Flag = Genocide

NOTE STUDENT LEADER'S COMMENT ON THE MEANING OF THE AMERICAN FLAG

www.dailypilot.com/articles/2006/11/21/education/dpt-pledge21.prt