Reuters reports: “Student leaders at a California college have touched off a furor by banning the Pledge of Allegiance at their meetings, saying they see no reason to publicly swear loyalty to God and the U.S. government.”
They must have too much free time on their hands.
“The move was led by three recently elected student trustees, who ran for office wearing revolutionary-style berets and said they do not believe in publicly swearing an oath to the American flag and government at their school. One student trustee voted against the measure, which does not apply to other student groups or campus meetings.”
Wonder what their parents dress like.
Berets? Like Che Guevara? Viva la revolution?
The move by Orange Coast College student trustees, the latest clash over patriotism and religion in American schools, has infuriated some of their classmates — prompting one young woman to loudly recite the pledge in front of the board on Wednesday night in defiance of the rule.
“America is the one thing I’m passionate about and I can’t let them take that away from me,” 18-year-old political science major Christine Zoldos told Reuters.
“The fact that they have enough power to ban one of the most valued traditions in America is just horrible,” Zoldos said, adding she would attend every board meeting to salute the flag.
Well, at least there’s one person with some proper sense of respect and belonging.
OC Register further reports:
Three of five Associated Students trustees took the action Monday, with board member Jason Ball calling the flag salute “irrelevant to the business of student government.”
“While it’s great to be an American, and I’m proud to be an American, yadda-yadda-yadda, and I appreciate all the rituals, I’m done” saluting the flag, Ball said Wednesday.
. . .
The three trustees who voted not to acknowledge the salute – Ball, Regis Jues and Coyotl Tezcatlipoca – remained seated while about two dozen attendees recited verses. Trustee Chairman Brent Bettes, who didn’t participate in Monday’s vote, also remained silent. Board member Michelle Schneider, the sole dissenting vote, took part.
. . .
While religious overtones were one element of the trustees’ motivation, other concerns existed. “Nationalism is something that divides people,” said Ball, wearing black boots, a beret and a hammer-and-sickle pin.
By definition, nationalism unites. Muliculturalism, otherwise known as diversity, divides.
But what can you expect from someone talking PC-rhetoric while wearing a hammer-and-sickle?
Perhaps he’s too busy being a fearless campus activist and missed class about Soviet-style communism.
Yes, they were against organized religion. But they were also against individuality. While fiercely nationalist, communism demands conformity by all — except the leadership, of course. Is that what he’s thinking?
While this punk is woefully in need of education, here’s a quick lesson: the pledge is about patriotism. And had he been born into a communist nation and propose not singing the national anthem, they would probably jail him — after beating him. If only we could find out.
But who cares? He’s safe to suck his thumb under the cover of freedom in the U.S. And evidently, it’s hip to dress like a subversive, combat boots and Columbine-chic, while trying to tear down establishment and that which gives young people the rights and privileges to be educated at taxpayers’ expense.
In this case, we clearly need a refund.