Please refer to the whole text of this document at the following web address located on the www.aclu.org website:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Response from America1st.org (response@america1st.org)
Very interesting piece, and I certainly already read all of this. In fact, your story here taken from the ACLU has the excellent slant that the ACLU always puts on their articles. My point is that we are all different, and have different view points. I respect those, although I am completely opposed to (for the most part) what the ACLU is. The ACLU always seems to stand up for peoples rights, but forgets that there are others that could care less about what they think. I have just as much right to speak my peace, as those who "fight" for their "rights" do. Mr. Newdow, although very eager to get his point across, missed the bigger point of the fact my children have the "right" also of reciting the pledge.
Plus, we are NOT (as a nation) reciting a pledge to a piece of "cloth" but as the cloth represents America, are reciting the pledge to the United States of America. In fact, when we say the pledge it is a testament to this great Nation. However it was started, it has become a symbol like many other to proclaim our allegiance to this great land.
If your goals are consistent with making America a better place for ALL, then great. If you are just there to let the "little" guy get ahead, look at my piece on my website. America should be made better for the masses, not the minorities. The ACLU seems to think that because a "few" people think a certain way, it must be better for everyone. We cannot allow the majority of the nation to be held to the values of a few. This is why I respect local authority decision much more than a federal one. Let the local schools, and local government choose. This way, if a certain school is populated with a majority of a certain type of people they get to make their decisions of what they do.
My son will go to a school around me, and therefore will be subject to the rules where he attends (my hope). Me and all the other parents of the school will vote on what we want our kids taught, and whether it is appropriate for certain subjects and even the pledge. I think parents have the right to be a part of their children's lives at school and should help them learn. The federal government has no right (at least I don't believe so), in mandating nationwide a singular curriculum. It seems arrogant and narrow-minded to assume that ALL children in ALL parts of the country are the same and should be schooled the same. ALL the core subjects are beyond dispute such as HISTORY (which never changes), MATH, SCIENCE, ENGLISH, etc. These subjects are etched in stone, because they are just there. Other topics like, LITERATURE, RELIGION, MUSIC, etc. are subjective and should be a regional or even school by school choice. Each school should have its charter listed (on their website I would hope) and parents could simply see if their values fall in line with that school. Parents would also be given the chance every year to affect change in the curriculum within boundaries. In this manor we get to decide the future of our children.
Once again, we are all different. People will disagree with one another. There always seems to be a majority vote though. There always seems to be enough people to make a decision one way or another. If you decide NOT to participate in your school, then you don't get a choice I guess. I for one, will make my case the best I can. If I get voted down by the majority, then that makes me the minority. I will either have to accept that decision or find another plan for me and my children. There is no reason to belly-ache and make law suits because then I would just be contributing to the highly litigious nature people have become today. We need to get away from the court rooms, and focus more on the classrooms!