Teacher forces students to learn the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish

[Solace]

A teach at a middle school in Oklahoma is failing students who act morally and rationally, by not the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish, which the teacher tried to force them to do against their will (and the will of their parents). This is America, English is the language we use and is the only official language in most states. To say the Pledge in Spanish would be the equivalent of the singing God Bless America at an American baseball in the German language during World War II. This is disturbing on so many levels. We cannot allow the Mexicans to defile American culture, we should not accommodate the illegal immigrants (the legal ones are okay though). You should learn the country's language before you come to that country, not learn it when you get there or not learn it at all. All official American documents are in English and pretty much English only. What next? Are they going to write the Constitution in Chinese? This is ridiculous. If anything the Mexicans should learn the Pledge of Allegiance in English. Even if it was a Spanish class, it would still not be acceptable, this is heresy and un-American.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/world/story.aspx?storyid=224254&catid=28

[Amnesiac]

I hate the Pledge of Allegiance in general. It's disgusting, almost like an indoctrination of children into "loving" their country. This isn't North Korea. You don't force patriotism on people, either they're patriotic or not, and it's not the job of government to make every one of our children a America-loving conservative.

I don't care if you translate the Constitution or God Bless America into other languages. Why give a fuck? They're just documents and songs. Translating things isn't going to destroy your cultural heritage.

[Sage]

To say the Pledge in Spanish would be the equivalent of the singing God Bless America at an American baseball in the German language during World War II.

I was unaware that the current illegal immigration problem was comparable to World War II.

[Jess]

I hate the Pledge of Allegiance in general. It's disgusting, almost like an indoctrination of children into "loving" their country. This isn't North Korea. You don't force patriotism on people, either they're patriotic or not, and it's not the job of government to make every one of our children a America-loving conservative.

I don't care if you translate the Constitution or God Bless America into other languages. Why give a fuck? They're just documents and songs. Translating things isn't going to destroy your cultural heritage.


I agree with this.

[Kahn]

I was unaware that the current illegal immigration problem was comparable to World War II.

Because, apparently, the illegals are about to commit genocide on us.

[Peace God]

OP: What does this have to do with Mexicans or illegal immigration?

[The Dark Lord]

I hate the Pledge of Allegiance in general. It's disgusting, almost like an indoctrination of children into "loving" their country. This isn't North Korea. You don't force patriotism on people, either they're patriotic or not, and it's not the job of government to make every one of our children a America-loving conservative.

I don't care if you translate the Constitution or God Bless America into other languages. Why give a fuck? They're just documents and songs. Translating things isn't going to destroy your cultural heritage.

Is patriotism a bad thing?

[Art_dude]

Is patriotism a bad thing?

depends on your definition of patriotism. If you (like myself) define patriotism in the words of Mark Twain as "supporting your country all the time, and the government when it deserves it." then yes, patriotism can be defined as a healthy reverence for what your country stands for. But most people equate patriotism as some sort of a blind faithed nationalism, in which case it is a very bad and dangerous thing.

[The Dark Lord]

depends on your definition of patriotism. If you (like myself) define patriotism in the words of Mark Twain as "supporting your country all the time, and the government when it deserves it." then yes, patriotism can be defined as a healthy reverence for what your country stands for. But most people equate patriotism as some sort of a blind faithed nationalism, in which case it is a very bad and dangerous thing.

I define patriotism as the former, which you articulately summarised for me.

[Amnesiac]

Is patriotism a bad thing?

When you force people to be patriotic, it's not patriotism. Instead, it likens to fascism and communism. I have no problem with people being patriotic. Hell, I hate it when people bitch about others having flags on their cars, or in their office cubicles. "Oh, the flag of the country I reside in offends me!" Fuck off.

If the Pledge of Allegiance were 100% optional and not read over the speakers (instead, students could opt to say it during the "moment of silence" that follows the Pledge), I wouldn't have a problem with it.