http://blog.oup.com/2011/09/the-people/ Academic insights for the thinking world. Sun, 19 May 2013 05:35:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://blog.oup.com/2011/09/the-people/#comment-242251 Murray Shapiro Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:29:35 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/?p=18612#comment-242251 It was my unfortunate experience to have my best class [AP U.S.History seated at the front of the auditorium during the presentation of the American Citizenship award medal. The class did not stand or salute for the flag pledge. I was embarassed; and when we go back to class I asked WHY? "Because", they all agreed, "the pledge does not describe actual fact." I responded that they misunderstood what pledge meant. It is our hope for the future, not a description of the present. Even the Nazis with the"seig Heil" hoped they would conquer all, but did not believe that the had the prize yet. I told them I will recite the flag every day with the hope that we will come ever closer to the ideal; but knowing, like "infinity" that one never reaches the goal itself. However, I told the class, no one should be compelled to take an oath -- that should always be a voluntary act. I am going to turn my back on this class and pledge my allegiance in this vein. No one will ever be discriminated against in my classes for not following suit. All I ask is a moment of respectful silence for my heartfelt feelings. As I began I heard a silent suffle as the class stood, then slowly a volume of increasing voices joining me. What you have written is abundantly true; but it does point to a future we have come close to reaching [excluding a few bumps along the road]. Murray It was my unfortunate experience to have my best class [AP U.S.History seated at the front of the auditorium during the presentation of the American Citizenship award medal. The class did not stand or salute for the flag pledge. I was embarassed; and when we go back to class I asked WHY? "Because", they all agreed, "the pledge does not describe actual fact." I responded that they misunderstood what pledge meant. It is our hope for the future, not a description of the present. Even the Nazis with the"seig Heil" hoped they would conquer all, but did not believe that the had the prize yet. I told them I will recite the flag every day with the hope that we will come ever closer to the ideal; but knowing, like "infinity" that one never reaches the goal itself. However, I told the class, no one should be compelled to take an oath -- that should always be a voluntary act. I am going to turn my back on this class and pledge my allegiance in this vein. No one will ever be discriminated against in my classes for not following suit. All I ask is a moment of respectful silence for my heartfelt feelings. As I began I heard a silent suffle as the class stood, then slowly a volume of increasing voices joining me. What you have written is abundantly true; but it does point to a future we have come close to reaching [excluding a few bumps along the road].
Murray

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