Letters: Pledge view shows inferior standards

The State of Texas has no business mandating that public school students pledge their allegiance to the United States or the Lone Star State:

“If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.”– Justice Robert Jackson, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 US 624, 1943.

This case dealt with a requirement that students salute the American flag. The law passed by the Texas legislature and signed by Rick Perry requiring students to pledge allegiance apparently is unconstitutional.

There is no law that is going to cause an arrest of anyone choosing not to pledge allegiance. If a parent decides that he has no allegiance to this nation, he undoubtedly will teach and encourage his children to remain mute and seated during the pledge. It is a matter of conviction. However, no party or parties have an assurance that all citizens feel the same. Many of those opposed cite an assumption that all feel the same. However, many, if not the majority in my opinion, of parents encourage their children to participate in the expression of allegiance to the country in which they live. It is quite obvious to them that this country is like no other and provides all the means to live a long and fruitful life. Those that disagree with pledging allegiance should be respectful enough to remain convicted but mute. Let everyone else participate in that which they consider offensive and odious. Be tolerant.

The point is that the State of Texas has NO authority to REQUIRE public school students (whose attendance is mandatory) to recite a pledge of allegiance to anything.

As stated previously, the statute requiring recitation of the pledge at the beginning of each school day violates the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

To repeat Justice Jackson's dictum in West Virginia State Board of Education vs. Barnette:

"If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein."

In my school I do not pledge to the Texas flag.
My flag is the flag of this nation.
It is the American flag that I will pledge to, not to one state or another.
Governor Perry is a foolish and dangerous man when he says that he wants Texas to secede from the U.S.
I thought George W. Bush was dangerous.
Make room for Rick Perry.