I got punished at school for being atheist?
at our school, every morning we have to stand and recite the pledge of allegiance. i didnt because i said i didnt believe everything it said mostly the "one nation under god" part and got suspended for disrupting class and not following directions.
any ideas on what i should do?
Answers:
Sad to say, but people who stand up for themselves and what they believe in are not appreciated by either the leaders, which is quite natural, or their peers, which seems a bit weird before you start thinking about it.
Most people are not even thinking about these rituals, they just follow them because everybody else does, and if the absurdity is pointed out to them they mostly shrug their shoulders and get on with it.
People like you are dangerous to the system, not because of the nature of your beliefs, but of the fact that you had the guts to get yourself into trouble for them.
I'm sorry that I can't give you any advise on what to do, except to concentrate on your studies. I myself would write a letter of apology to the school, stating your regrets that you disturbed their ritual, and go for a compromise: That you will stand up with the others, but not say the words that, to you, are lies.
But that's me, I've grown old and (hopefully) a bit wise, and you might feel that you can't do it.
Whatever you decide, the best of luck.
Deal with it. You did disrupt your class, and you didn't follow directions. Stop being a prick and making everyone elses life miserable because you want everything your way.
Stop lying? Maybe if you weren't spending your time getting wasted at the ICP concert in Louisville http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;... and emulating Johnny Knoxville with your JackAss rip off troupe, http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;... you wouldn't have to worry so much about whether or not you said the pledge of allegiance in school. I think saying the word "God" in school should be the very least of your worries.
Oh, and school systems aren't "corporate america" unless it's a private school...and if that is the case you are REALLY going to have to buck up. Stop spouting the platitudes and grow up a bit. I think most thinking people know exactly what you did (if anything DID occur at all) to get punished.you were disruptive and are probably the class clown...a future Darwin Award winner.
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Alternative schools aren't for students who won't "adapt"...alternative schools are EXTREMELY difficult to get into...they are for students who have had a full expulsion. These are the "children" who assault others or who are caught dealing drugs at school. I'm extremely surprised that anyone is falling for your act. Apparently, the school system has deemed you dangerous to the safety of other children. These "alternative" schools are for the future felons of society. What a prize. It's good to know that at least your parents aren't snowed. I don't think even the ACLU will take your case. They are looking for a certain type of student to support that looks good on tv...an honor student who is on a campaign for attention to get into college.
The only other type of "alternative" school is for the mentally challenged.
Fight it, that's completely ridiculous. Good for you
No, you got punished for disrupting the class and just used your ignorant stand on "God" as the excuse.
If you choose to not Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the country you reside, you should consider moving to another country when you are able to do so. Go find yourself a country that you are willing to pledge allegiance to.
did you tell your parents? do they believe the same way? you have a right to believe what you want. and your school does not have the right to make you say anything. what i did when i was in school, was stand with everyone else but i did'nt say anything. they did'nt see it as a disruption so they left me alone.
see what happens when you piss GOD off. never learn do ya
HOW did you refuse to do this? I support your right to not do so (I am a Believer, by the way) as an American. If you were rude or disruptive in any way, then you probably deserve some form of discipline. Most of the time it's not what we do, but how we do it. I would have told the teacher or whoever ahead of time how you felt, and not made a scene as it was happening. I am presupposing what happened, but I bet I'm close to the truth.
Also, you can pledge allegiance to our nation and not believe in God.
that's got to be a good school this nation is under god and when your living in eternal damnation you will know the truth i will pray for your soul
Well as far as I know, from what weve been told, the suprememe court ruling states that we still have to say the pledge of allegiance but we can reserve the right to not say the phrase " under God". Hope this was helpful.
If you have the time, energy and money, you probably have a legal case. Maybe someone like the ACLU will help you out.
For a free country, forcing students to recite a pledge of allegiance is astonishing. When I first found out that this happened in America, I was really amazed. It was the kind of thing I expected to be going on in China or Russia, not a country that claims to be a model of personal freedom.
Then to make matters worse, they added the God stuff to it. So now in a country that claims to provide a separation of church and State, you are being forced to talk about God in a state run school. Nice!
So take a stand. Demand some real freedom, not this superficial crap that people try to shove down your throat.
UPDATE: It's amazing how many negative responses are being posted, and how I am getting a thumbs down rating. Are some people so brainwashed that they don't realize that the government is forcing children to recite a pledge that includes religious content? Are people genuinely so unimaginative that they cannot think outside of their tiny little box? If America were truly a free country, they would not demand that children place their hand on their heart and promise their undying loyalty, essentially to the government. Just remember this is what the Hitler Youth used to do.
But clearly this kind of brainwashing crap works, because so many Americans seem to think this is perfectly normal. Well visit a free country some time, and you might learn something.
People should not be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.
You were punished for disrupting the class and not following directions, not for being an atheist. Do you obey speed limits or do you ignore them because you dont believe in a higher power, then gripe when the higher power write you a ticket?? If you cant follow the directions, why not go to another school, or better yet, have your atheist parents home school you.
You did not have to recite the Pledge but refusing to stand could be considered a disruption.
In Oklahoma you would have been shunned maybe attacked by your fellow students for refusing to say the Pledge. There is no constitutional guarantee again peer pressure.
What you did was right; you shouldn't have to say something you dont believe. Now at the same time and you are going to think I am nuts, but the school was also right. Ever since all the school shootings happened school districts have tightened their belt nation wide on the amount of disruption that the school and teacher will allow. I worked as a substitute last year and I saw kids taken out of the class and brought up on charges for "Disruption of the learning environment" I know it sounds silly but a suspension is the least of what could have happened.
Well, I can't really give an answer that can be seriously adhered to, because I'm not American, but I know that the American flag is highly respected. So, I suppose, if you got in trouble, it's not my place to say that you were right or wrong, but if you wanted to avoid it in the future, maybe you could mouth it, and if you get in trouble, use the card that is, "America is a free country, thus all American citizens have the right to say (or not say) whatever they like".
Again, not American, so don't take my answer too seriously. (Like, don't say I'm being mean, 'cause I actually have no idea of what respect the flag demands, let alone exactly what the pledge of allegiance is... so anyway) Hope this helps and good luck!
All levels of government are out of control.
If your parents have money, fight it. Otherwise, just say those silly meaningless words.
People use the word God alot but act as though they hate God more than anything else. God does not care if you do not believe God exists. God is much bigger than that.
Stay true to your beliefs.
It is not your fault that adults are behaving so badly. Do better when you are an adult.
There's not an "ambulance chaser" out there who wouldn't take this case.probably pro bono.
You say you can't fight it, so...
...Become a politician, win the Presidency, and ban schools from forcing students to speak the pledge...
...A country that has to speak a pledge?
THAT'S NOT AMERICA, THAT'S NOT EVEN CANADA!
As an aside, the "under god" phrase was inserted into the pledge during the Eisenhower administration 1952-1960. It was prompted by Joe McCarthy's (Republican-Wisconsin) brutal and completely illegal search for "godless communists" (anybody he didn't like). So the phrase "under god" was stuck in to differentiate freedom loving America in which one is compelled to recite the pledge, from other countries in which religion may or may not be important.
The US supreme court held that a school or other publicly funded institution can not force a person to recite the pledge.
But wait, there's more.
Turns out the pledge of allegiance is incompatible with the so called "lords prayer" for those of you who believe in that sort of thing.
The lords prayer, right after it praises god, says "thy kingdom come" a kingdom is a form of government. In the pledged of allegiance one promises to be loyal to "the republic," of the United Sates, another form of government.
So which one do you want, God's kingdom which you pray to be established in the lords prayer, or the republic of the United States to which you pledge your loyalty? you can't have it both ways.
Don't feel too bad! Christians got punished for religion in schools back in the 1960's when that miserable Madelyn O'Hara decided to throw a fit and have prayer removed from school. She too was an atheist. When you kick God out of a place, don't expect too much good to come from it later.
Technically, you did disrupt your class, but suspending you is way overboard.
Tell your parents that they shouldnt have suspended you and that suspension is too harsh. Tell your parents to complain to the principal.
Oh, here is a suggestion. Next time when the class has to recite the pledge of allegiance, just put your hand over your heart and dont say a word. Try to stand behind some people too. You might be able to fool the teacher and still not get in trouble. Give my suggestion a try.
So much for the " American Freedom " that so many Americans on here insist that the rest of us are jealous of.
Its shocked me to find out that schools actually force their
students to stand up and swear allegiance every morning .
this sort of thing was practised in Nazi Germany and would never happen in England or i think in any European country
I dont know what you can do about it as i`m not American .
i thought only oppressed countries behave this way .
wow unbelievable poor you
I admire your stand, and your persistence. It's time for the ACLU again. You might like the alternative school. Sometimes they are pretty cool. That doesn't make what the school did right. Call the ACLU.
I totally agree with your sentiments, Garrett , but there are times when you have to lean a little, and this appears to be one of them. All you need to do when everyone is mouthing this allegiance thing, remain silent during the "under God" bit, and you'll be true to yourself without upsetting others. We don't have this outward expression of allegiance in Australia, but don't think it isn't there, just see what happens when we're pushed!
So be yourself, and keep your own counsel. Make it up with the school, and become transparent to all those who would criticize you.
As Shakespeare said through one of his characters -
"Be true to your own self, my son, and it shall follow as the night the day, that you can be false to to other man".
As an agnostic, I say "Under Canada" instead of "under god" when I recite the pledge. My teenage daughter has started to do the same thing.
I did this even when I was a teacher in a public school. I just made sure that I didn't say it so loud as to be disruptive.
When I had students that did not say the pledge, such as those who are Jehovah's Witnesses, I asked that they simply sit quietly in their seats while the others said the pledge as a show of respect for their fellow classmates. If they got harassed by their fellow students, we had lessons on Civil Rights so that everyone would understand why we couldn't force the pledge, or the "under god" phrase on everyone.
If I were you, I'd contact the ACLU. If they take the case, it won't cost you anything.
Yeah, when I was in high school we were expected to recite the pledge. I just kept my mouth shut for the "under God" part. The fact that the pledge mentions a deity I don't believe in doesn't mean I support, like, or am proud of America any less.
it is pretty stupid. did you know the "under god" phrase was added to the pledge in 1954?
Sometimes, we can't fight the system. I learned that valuable lesson when I was a teen.
From what you posted, I agree with you 100%. But, it sounds like you don't have the resources to back you up. Fights like that are long, drawn out, and expensive, unfortunately.
Sometimes, you just have to suck it up until you graduate at 18, and then you will probably never have to stand for the Pledge again.
When I was in school, I stood out of respect for the flag (as it is meant to be), but I simply didn't recite the part I didn't believe in. I felt like I was being true to myself, and I didn't cause a disruption, or get myself into trouble.
Only you can decide what's right in your particular situation, though.
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