The Pledge of Allegiance is something that all children are taught from a young age. It comforts them that they all have something in common when entering a scary new world called school. The inclusivity brought by reciting the pledge, knowing that it connects everyone no matter who they are, has been soiled by opinionated Americans. Politics is a poison that has seeped into aspects of everyday life.

The political climate has become something of a bloodbath. As United States citizens, it is important to acknowledge that America is a relatively safe and successful country compared to other countries around the world. So spending time debating over the topic of protesting the flag is literally a first-world problem and putting our valuable right to protest to waste. When in reality we can use our rights toward important matters and use of voices where other people can’t. 

As a high school student, I see many classmates sit during the Pledge of Allegiance. When I look around at my peers who are sitting I think, “How wronged have they been by America that they feel the need to disrespect the flag?” Maybe it was how I was raised, or my view of America as a middle-class teenage girl living in the safest state in the U.S., but it leads me to wonder,  “What do they believe they are accomplishing from this?”

I surveyed 50 random Oakmont students, and 92% of them thought sitting for the Pledge of Allegiance was disrespectful. 76% of the students stand during the pledge, 16% of students stand and recite, and only 8% of students sit. 

Millions of people, including some in our school community, have been affected by relatives in the military. Taking a minute to acknowledge their sacrifice, whether it is their time in service or their lives, should not be a major dispute. Choosing not to recognize their sacrifice is a huge sign of disrespect. 

Most veterans hate being told the phrase “Thank you for your service,” they fight for their country because they care about it and want to protect it. They deserve all the appreciation in the world even if they don’t want it. Taking a minute out of your day to show some respect to the people who are fighting for this country you get to live in is not the end of the world. 

“I find it somewhat weird that we recite our allegiance to a country and government that is slowly stripping us of our rights,” stated an anonymous Oakmont student. The problem with this statement is not the basis of the ideas of our government, which is another completely different discussion, but the fact that this student thinks that reciting our allegiance to the flag is for our government. Often people actually don’t know what the flag really represents. 

I interviewed AP U.S. History teacher Erin Bergin about what she thinks the flag represents and she had a perfect perspective, she said, “To me, the flag represents sacrifice. I have a lot of friends and family in the military. I personally like to think of their sacrifice–not just of their lives, but also of the many years that they spent away from family on holidays, the painful memories that some of them endure to this day, and some of the physical sacrifices that they’ve made to their bodies.” If you are upset about a new policy being introduced take it up with your representatives, not the people overseas. The people who are sitting for the Pledge of Allegiance are trying to make a statement. However, they don’t know the true statement they are making.

Whenever I see a person sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance it frustrates me. I know that they have their valid reasons to protest something, and I believe they absolutely should, they just need to understand what they are protesting first. The flag represents a symbol of freedom, the red and white stripes represent the original colonies, while the stars represent the 50 states. The colors to me stand for loyalty, freedom, liberty, and equality. We would not have these rights if it were not for the soldiers who fought and are still fighting for our freedom.

I interviewed Science Teacher Daniel Dufour on his opinions on sitting for the Pledge of Allegiance and he said, “Standing for the pledge and saying the pledge are not the same thing.  To me, standing represents respect for the people, alive and dead, who got us to the point where we can choose what we want to do.  Standing says that you respect them and that you respect the fact that you are privileged enough to live in this country where you can choose to disagree with the government.  The pledge is another aspect of that.  The pledge does not say you agree with the government. The pledge says that even if you strongly disagree with the country and government, you still stand for its ideals.”

U.S. citizens have put themselves and their opinions on a pedestal and it has caused a divide amongst our beautiful country. The Pledge of Allegiance was created to help unite us and reassure soldiers that we know and appreciate the work they are doing. But this small act of service in return has fallen victim to the grasp of Americans with a superiority complex. Debates over topics such as these are going to divide this country apart further and further until it recks us. Patriotism prompts people to be kind and unified, so do not take away the small sliver of unification this country has.

Maybe it is my personal military affiliation with my Dad because I have the utmost respect for soldiers. When my Dad was deployed during my freshman year I saw students sitting for the Pledge of Allegiance and I got upset. You have the privilege to attend school in one of the safest states in the country and you are just disregarding that. And for what? You don’t like something the president did? The correlation between the flag and the soldiers has been completely disregarded. 

If you are reading this and choose to sit during the Pledge of Allegiance stop and think for a moment about “Why I really do it?” and “What am I accomplishing from this?” Do not forget that many of your peers have a tie to the military and may find it extremely disrespectful. You never know what someone is going through. 

Make no mistake it is your First Amendment right to protest. But remember you wouldn’t have these rights if it wasn’t for the soldiers who fought for them.