>>><<sarcasm>Why send kids to school at all? All they'll end up doing is repeating verses and learning nothing.</sarcasm>

Memorizing knowledge is not equivalent to pledging alegiance.

>>>There are ways in which students learn the Pledge of Allegiance -- inside and out, forward and backward -- through proper instruction, which includes an interpretation of each word, and each phrase, which inspire open discussions in the classroom. Perhaps even with the parental involvement in answering their children's questions at home.

I applaud these efforts to the extent that they are done (it was omitted, in my case). Regardless, I don't think that a 6 year old is going to get what the words pledging and alegiance mean. Nor that they are swearing an oath that should last them their entire life. People need to be able to decide to do things like this (I'll answer Tom's post on this topic, above). Not be ordered to do them.

>>>The Pledge is not exactly a brain-washing procedure.

Dunno if it is or isn't. Has anyone ever done a study of its effects? I did not intend to claim that it was, and I apologize if I miscommunicated that point.

I just feel that if I want to make an oath, it's my right. If someone forces me to, then: a) they are a jerk for doing so, and b) the oath will mean very little - forced oaths deserve to be broken. It reminds me of the conversions to Islam/Christianity at swordpoint that occurred during the crusades.

The Constitution, Declaration, the Gettysburg Address, the Bill of Rights, etc. are wonderful parts of our heritage and should be taught and learned. Memorization and recitation would be cruel and unusual punishment (except the Address which is short and to-the-point). Even so, *none of these words represent an oath on the part of the reader*.

>>>The above merely scratch the surface of our heritage, but all is lost if we simply decide to do away with American History as a required class. i wonder how it would fair as a elective liberal-arts course...

You are going off, here. Nothing to do with what I said.

>>>If you have a problem with empty-headed children, why not see to it they're properly taught?

>>>School involvement and voting on relevant issues, petitioning for changes... It does work.

You lost me completely. I think school is great. American government and history taught in school is great. You are responding as if I made the statement that education is bad.

I personally pledge my alegiance to the Constitution and the Amendments. But I'm an adult, and no one coerces me.