Standing or Sitting for the Pledge?

Reece Bunning, Videographer

Should you really be sitting for the Pledge of Allegiance or stand for the country you live in? 

When you start school, you are taught to say the pledge of allegiance from preschool to senior year in high school and beyond. But, people now have been sitting and not saying the pledge at the start of the school day. 

The words of the Pledge of Allegiance were adopted by Congress on June 22, 1942. Since then, reciting the words has been a way to show allegiance at school and at other events. Congress changed the official manner of delivery to placing the right hand over the heart on December 22, 1942. The previous stance — one hand extended from the body — was too close to the Nazi salute. The “Bellamy Salute” stated that “the right hand is extended gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag.”

The reason why we say the pledge is so that we can show our love and pledge ourselves to our country. Some people won’t stand and put their hand over their heart for this. One reason they don’t participate in it is because they connect our country with injustices that have happened, and they won’t pledge their allegiance publicly until the U.S. does something about the injustices in the world. But to me the point of the pledge is confirming where you find your heritage and what country you give it to.

I was born and raised in America and I love this country no matter what, so I stand for the pledge. But some people, including some students at Manhattan High, won’t give their allegiance to a country they’re just living in. I can see where they are coming from that standpoint, but again the question I’m asking is where do you find your allegiance to and what country do you love that you want to live in forever.

I am an American and always will be. What that means to me is that I believe in freedom of speech. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says the government won’t restrict you from talking about what you want, that you have this democracy and can say what you want

I’m proud to be an American, so I pledge myself to this country and I will fight against injustice as well, because I believe that is American way.

What I think students and teachers should do is find what it is that they love about this country and pledge themselves to the flag that represents that, as it’s part of this country. Find out for yourselves what makes you an American. Then stand for it, and pledge yourselves to it.