[Vision2020] The pledge Controversy

[Sunil Ramalingam]

Donovan,

Perhaps I missed your reply to my question; do you have any evidence derived 
in your studies as a political science major showing a positive relationship 
between saying the pledge and improving governance?  I look forward to your 
answer.

I had to read this twice to assure myself you actually wrote it:

"The reasons it is more important to  compel people to say the Pledge then 
it is to prevent them are to  numerous to list. However, I still state that 
one of the most important  of reasons is that we remind people that this 
country is about freedom,  justice and liberty for all so that they know 
when their legislatures  and policy makers are violating the purpose for 
which this nation was  founded."

Boy, there's no better way to identify free people than by their compelled 
chanting.

Sunil


>From: Donovan Arnold <donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com>
>To: joekc at adelphia.net, Chris Storhok <cstorhok at co.fairbanks.ak.us>
>CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] The pledge Controversy
>Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 21:33:17 -0800 (PST)
>
>"Any council member is free to enter the chamber  BEFORE the council 
>meeting begins and say the Pledge. (I am not talking  about the situation, 
>that Donovan noted, of saying the Pledge AFTER the  meeting has begun.) Why 
>is this not enough? Why is it important to  compel others to follow your 
>example of patriotism, or to publicly  embarrass those who choose not to do 
>it? Again, you have a hard time  convincing me that all this talk isn't 
>hooked up with some further  political agenda."
>
>   Joe,
>
>  The Pledge is meant to be  said with other people. A pledge or oath taken 
>alone loses its meaning,  intention, value, and overall effect. The pledge 
>is a social function,  not an independent function. It is a simple action 
>taken to show  respect for the country and to acknowledge its authority as 
>the  legitimate one for this community.  If others are embarrassed for  not 
>showing respect to those that give them their freedom and wealth,  maybe 
>they ought to be.
>
>  The reasons it is more important to  compel people to say the Pledge then 
>it is to prevent them are to  numerous to list. However, I still state that 
>one of the most important  of reasons is that we remind people that this 
>country is about freedom,  justice and liberty for all so that they know 
>when their legislatures  and policy makers are violating the purpose for 
>which this nation was  founded.
>
>   Take Care,
>
>   _DJA
>