Michigan Senate Passes Bill Requiring Pledge Of Allegiance In Schools (POLL)

A bill that requires every Michigan public school student to start the day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance has been approved by the state Senate.

The Republican led Senate passed the bill Thursday 31-5 that carries two provisions: requiring students to recite the pledge and mandating that every public school purchase a flag for each of its classrooms. The school board would also be required to ensure that those flags are displayed.

The bill does note, however, that a student "shall not be compelled" to participate against objections by the student or the student's parents.

Michigan is one of seven states in the country that doesn't have a law requiring the pledge's recitation every day, according to The Grand Rapids Press.

The was introduced by Republican Sen. Roger Kahn, who says that starting the school day with the pledge is an important expression of love for the country.

"Saying the pledge is a reminder of the sacrifices made by so many Americans over the generations," Kahn told The Grand Rapids Press.

Kahn has also introduced a separate measure that would require all U.S. flags and Michigan state flags flown over public buildings to be made in the U.S.

"It's common sense that U.S. flags should be made in America," Kahn said in a statement Thursday. "I firmly believe our nation's symbols should be American-made, and that is why I sponsored this measure."

State Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood was one of the five lawmakers who voted against the bill that requires the pledge, telling Michigan Radio that he doesn't believe patriotism comes from a mandate.

"One of the things I said is that I love my country, not because I say the pledge, but because I say the pledge because I love my country," Hopgood told Michigan Radio.

The bill now advances to the state House.

Nebraska state Sen. Tony Fulton has also expressed intent to introduce a bill in the Nebraska Legislature in January nearly identical to Kahn's bill in Michigan.

Schools in Nebraska are currently required to display flags, and while the pledge is common practice, it's not required. Fulton's bill would make both required by state law, the Lincoln Journal Star reports.

In a separate move, the Brookline Political Action for Peace in Massachusetts has called for a ban on students reciting the pledge in public schools, saying it has no educational value and is reminiscent of totalitarian regimes.

Quick Poll

Should the Pledge of Allegiance in schools be required by law?

Yes, it's an expression of patriotism.

Yes, as long as students can opt out.

No, if students can opt out, a mandate is unnecessary.

No, it infringes on rights to free speech.

Unsure.

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Comments

[CooperPhotograp]

07:17 PM on 01/04/2012

And are they going to fund this requirement for a purchase of a flag for every classroom? Didn't think so. That might get in the way of ACTUAL EDUCATION.

[foresure]

10:30 PM on 11/16/2011

Jeez:

I am a far left of center character who survived having to say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning for at least the eight years of primary school.

Now if you want to complain, note that the original pledge, which is the one that I learned, did not include the phrase "under God" after the phrase "one nation".

When I asked my parents, who were not at all religious. about the change, they sort of told me not to worry about it.

You know what, they were right.

[Norge]

01:50 PM on 11/16/2011

All can find the 30 articles of human rights written into the United Nations charter here:http://www.amnesty.org and all signatures and members of the United Nations has the responsibility to abide by the rules governing and established by the United Nations and its' members. Each member cannot pick and choose which governing regulation they will or will not adhere to.

[ljc]

12:38 PM on 11/16/2011

What next...the Norquist pledge ?

[ljc]

12:36 PM on 11/16/2011

Absolutely Not !

[Norge]

10:33 PM on 11/15/2011

I am curious, which country is the state of michigan in? Is it a province in Iran?
To force others to pledge alliance to others belief systems is a human rights violation under the united nations charter. The 30 articles of human rights clearly defines human rights.

[mrhandyman3105]

10:13 PM on 11/15/2011

This should be a requirement in every single "public" school in America. I may be dating myself here, but I remember that say the pledge of allegiance was the first order of business in every school as soon as the first bell rang.

[ebethgay]

08:27 PM on 11/16/2011

I don't think you're dated at all. I proudly say the Pledge every morning during our morning announcements and my students (mostly foreign-born) at least stand up out of respect. They also know better than to utter a peep during the moment of silence. I can't turn my back for one minute during the rest of the day, but they at least give me that one minute to close my eyes and quietly bless our day.

[Breeezyboy]

04:59 PM on 12/12/2011

I too remember saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in elementary school. I'm old enough to remember when "under God" was inserted, as well. It was just one more thing, in a long list of things to memorize. It didn't mean anything to me then and it doesn't mean anything to me now. As a matter of fact, I haven't recited it since elementary school. And the fact that the Supreme Court ruled against forced recital makes me even prouder to be a citizen of the U.S.A. Freedom is what makes this country so great.

[Hifi]

06:52 PM on 11/14/2011

Enough reasons here for anyone, liberal or conservative, religious or atheist to have the Pledge of Allegiance removed from public schools:

1. Meaning lost in endless repetition, no explanation given, no history provided.

2. Comprises an ideological viewpoint that is forced on little kids by authorities to whom they are dependent.

3. The two above, taken together, is the definition of brainwashing.

4. The absurdity of having to repeat a pledge daily that apparently is only good for 24 hours.

5. The routine of it, which makes you feel like a brain-dead, robot sheep as opposed to a citizen of a free country who enjoys individual liberty.

6. Subordinates the people to the government, which we are told on good authority was created by us, with allegiance to us, not us to it.

7. Concocted by a company that sold flags as part of a plan to compel schools to buy more flags while instilling socialist-style nationalism in American children.

8. Exalts nationalism over federalism contrary to the basic principles of our Republic. Subsuming states and individual rights to central government is a necessary pre-requisite for a centralized, socialist government to gain traction. This was an explicit goal of Francis Bellamy, the socialist author of the PofA.

[Hifi]

06:52 PM on 11/14/2011

9. Encourages jingoism. Antagonistic tribalism. No other countries have their citizens swear a loyalty oath to their government (except Mexico and the Philippines, mimicking the U.S).

10. Unsavory connection with Nazis. The Pledge originally featured the Nazi-style salute. In fact, Hitler got it from the Italian fascists who much admired, that's right, kids in America doing it while saying the Pledge. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellamy_salute (Man, if that doesn't give you chills)

11. Is patriotic lip-service in place of, even at the expense of, actual civic engagement and action. (Symbolic patriotism)

12. Is uncritical patriotism at the expense of maintaining oversight over government. "My country right or wrong", is just plain wrong. (Blind patriotism)

13. Considered by many Christians idolatry, taking the name of God in vain, swearing oaths, serving two masters.

14. Divides the nation (and the classroom) along religious lines. Only those represented by the Judeo-Christian "God" need apply as patriots (Ironic that "under God", comes right before "indivisible.")

15. Is hypocritical on the part of adults, bullying kids into doing something that adults themselves don't do. (You say the Pledge every day, do you, and on a government mandated schedule?)

16. And last, but not least, pledging allegiance to a flag is just stupid.

[Ben Dixon]

06:46 PM on 11/15/2011

I consider reason number 9 to be reason enough in my book of why we should have children recite the pledge everyday.

Besides the pledge is not a pledge to the government, but rather to the nation and our republican form of representative government.

[Hifi]

06:50 PM on 11/14/2011

"Saying the pledge is a reminder of the sacrifices made by so many Americans over the generations," Kahn. Huh? Where do you get that? The Pledge has never had anything to do with honoring soldiers or wars.

[GhandiChange]

04:00 PM on 11/14/2011

All public schools begin each day with the pledge to the American flag; we didn't need a bill to be told to do so.

Certainly Michigan's Senate should be focusing on the economy of Michigan. This is not news folks..

[blue rylie]

07:43 PM on 11/14/2011

I would argue that this is news because it's an example of time wasted in the Senate on frivolous **** when they could be doing something about the economy. I'm amazed that more people aren't outraged by their elected officials who ran on *jobs and economy* and then got to the floor and instead focused on nationalism, regulating morality, etc.
How about instead of mandating a flag in every classroom and a recitation of the Pledge, maybe they do something to actually FIX education in the state/nation. I don't think putting a flag in the classroom and teaching 5 year olds the pledge of allegiance is going to in any way help them get a quality education, prepare them for life, or assist in future jobs.
So I agree with you, except that I do think this is news and I hope people are paying attention

[ChasG]

12:29 AM on 11/21/2011

Wait !  Wait !  Isn't the requirement to pledge allegiance to the flag a GOP/TP jobs program?

[carnivaluv]

03:36 PM on 11/14/2011

The pledge is a waste of time. "One nation under God", not really. "With liberty and justice for all", thats what the poor mom/dad is saying every night their family has to eat ramen noodles, again. The pledge, phooey!!

[rrofteppsh]

02:27 PM on 11/14/2011

Does anyone who supports the Pledge really believe that we have "liberty and justice for all" in this country?

[jewelrings]

01:45 PM on 11/14/2011

Good for Michigan!

[drew1014]

12:29 PM on 11/14/2011

The Pledge was written by Francis Bellamy - "Bellamy was a Christian Socialist[2] who "championed 'the rights of working people and the equal distribution of economic resources, which he believed was inherent in the teachings of Jesus.'"[5] but he was forced to leave his Boston church the previous year because of the socialist bent of his sermons.


Inronic, huh?

[BlakKat]

03:54 PM on 11/14/2011

They should insist people use the Bellamy salute when reciting the pledge as well. That would go over really well.