When I came across your blog I began to look at the rights that the first ammendment granted ME as a student. While all of these seem common sense, it just started to make me think. My entire life I have been saying the pledge of allegiance blindly, but the students rights information describes how it has changed over the years. The first thing I noticed was that the first pledge of allegiance did not include the phrase "one nation under god". Even though (as the student information points out) schools can no longer force students to say the pledge of allegiance, every public school still starts their day saying it. Church and state have always been separate, but then why in 1954 did public schools decide to start endorsing the new version of the pledge that recognized god?
~Josh

I find the pledge of allegiance and the newly instated moment of silence offensive. These rituals are reminiscent of George Orwell's 1984. Why do I need to pledge myself to the United States in order to be a loyal citizen? However, the moment of silence is more abusive than the pledge of allegiance. The moment of silence is just one step closer to implementing prayer and later religious doctrine into education. Our country was founded on very specific principles; our fore founders would be dismayed if they knew to what extent our liberties were being violated in the 21st century.

I also feel that the moment of silence is a step closer to prayer in our schools, but god does not have to be present in it. We could do without a moment of silence, but I don't feel so strongly against it that I would go as far as to make a petition against it. When the moment of silence comes, sometimes it is nice to reflect about myself and everything going on around me(in a non-relgious way).
~josh

I dont think that the moment of silence is offensive at all. If you want to interpret it as it being religious than that is your personal opinion. As for the pledge of allegiance, i think that is just respecting america and what it stands for. I dont believe it to be religious, even though say" under god" is religious. Its not like they are teaching us morals, it is just an act of respect.

I realized the right of free speech lets me make fun of other people and lets them have the right to know they are ugly. I love the right of free speech.