Pledge

[Honduh]

Samy, I think the pledge should be on the radio every morning. Have a class call in and do it on the phone, or however Killin did it yesterday...do it that way. It was a good idea. :thumbup1:

[DougP]

They still do that in school? I thought nobody cared about the flag anymore:(

[TheProsecutor]

Here some of you guys are bitchin about AFN not being as good as States Side radio but then someone wants the radio to take on a more state oriented look to it by having The Pledge on it every morning? C'mon. No need to have The Pledge on.

Don't you get enough of partiotism when you have to stand for the national anthem in base theaters?

[DougP]

I never go to base theaters. But I do "feel" something when I hear the national anthem. Besides I don't know of any state side radio station that plays the pledge or the anthem these days.... do you?

[TheProsecutor]

No, I don't. So let's not start it here.

[DougP]

ha ha fair enough :)

[DoctorP]

I know that some of the stations in San Diego do the pledge in the AM...not sure who they had reciting it though.

I think it is important for the kids to learn the pledge...because public schools do not do it anymore. I can really see how people have changed in the last 15 years, and I'm really afraid how people will be 20 years from now.

[P_chan]

Back home they used to do the pledge once a week on one of our radio stations. It was kids from a different school every week.

No, I don't. So let's not start it here.

What would be so bad about it?

[TheProsecutor]

What would be so bad about it?

Not that it would be so bad, I just don't see a need for it. Not like the military community isn't patriotic enough already, or that they have to be reminded of the pledge,or have more patriotism instilled within them. They are knee deep in patriotism as it is now. Why pile more on?

If more is better, then hey, let's get AFN to play it every hour right after news at the top of the hour.

Why stop there? What would be so bad about creating a play list of nothing but patriotic songs of love and waxing for our country and her patriots who give their life for our freedoms? That is the least we could do to honor their memory and what we have got from their sacrifices.

Sure would put an end to that Umbrella song popping up anymore.

[Honduh]

Come on now. Your being a dipshit about it, it's the pledge of allegiance for gosh sake...

I'm starting to think you are one of those 'Americans' who came to Okinawa and who think America is some huge **** up and never wants to go back.

Military radio, military (DOD) schools, (most) kids whose parents are military...
I can't think of one negative thing about it. Would it be sooo bad for you to take 1min out of your day to listen to kids say the POA? That, IMO is pretty un-American. You probably are also one of those people who HATE stopping for colors twice a day while on base...(if you go on base)

[ryukyuboi]

Fortunately, there is nothing "military" about DoD schools. The entire system is run by civilians. It serves military and civilian dependents.

Featuring kids on the radio in some way each day wouldn't be a bad idea. Having kids only reciting the Pledge daily would be boring.

[P_chan]

Not that it would be so bad, I just don't see a need for it. Not like the military community isn't patriotic enough already, or that they have to be reminded of the pledge,or have more patriotism instilled within them. They are knee deep in patriotism as it is now. Why pile more on?

If more is better, then hey, let's get AFN to play it every hour right after news at the top of the hour.

Why stop there? What would be so bad about creating a play list of nothing but patriotic songs of love and waxing for our country and her patriots who give their life for our freedoms? That is the least we could do to honor their memory and what we have got from their sacrifices.

Sure would put an end to that Umbrella song popping up anymore.

Why not? I don't like the anthem in the base theater before the movie, but I'm not complaining. It's not like it would be something you had to hear everyday. Maybe a different class every week. All you would have to do is turn off the radio if you didn't want to hear it. Hell, I don't even listen to the radio, except at work while driving in the work van, as it is.

Honduh is right, your over exaggerating this.

Just can't waste as single minute of your time to hear the pledge? You already have to hear all the rest of the crappy songs that play on AFN.

[Guyjin]

I'm starting to think you are one of those 'Americans' who came to Okinawa and who think America is some huge **** up and never wants to go back.

Military radio, military (DOD) schools, (most) kids whose parents are military...
I can't think of one negative thing about it. Would it be sooo bad for you to take 1min out of your day to listen to kids say the POA? That, IMO is pretty un-American. You probably are also one of those people who HATE stopping for colors twice a day while on base...(if you go on base)

I came to Okinawa as an american,I don't ever want to go back to the states but thats because I love Okinawa!
Its actually safer walking down the streets at night than It would be if I were back in the states.
Not everyone who is american wears the "patriotism" on their sleeve,and IMO america is such a powerful nation and focal point in the world that sometimes the pride and patriotism displayed might come off as arrogance to some.

[hankypanky]

Dido!! I go to the movies to watch a movie and relax. That's probably why i'll go to town and pay 1500 yen for a flick than pay whatever on base and have to stand for the anthem.

When i was in uniform, of course I stood tall for colors. Now that i'm a civ, i don't bother with that. Call me un-american, but if those Red Bastards from China or N. Korea ever physically attacked Oki, I'd be the first to pick up a rifle and fight em, of course after my family was safe in a cave somewhere!:scared:

As for the pledge on the radio, I think the schools ( if they are doing it) are enough with a morning pledge over the loudspeakers.

[Asshat]

That, IMO is pretty un-American. You probably are also one of those people who HATE stopping for colors twice a day while on base...(if you go on base)

Yeah, I don't like stopping for colors, because it's a PITA and makes me even later for work. :)

Seriously, the POA is a farce. "With liberty and justice for all" should be changed to "with liberty to all who except those who fit the profile, and justice for all who can afford it."

Also, I don't know why America is stated as being one nation under God, when our founding fathers stated God had no place in our government. That statement only works for those who worship God. So really, it is exclusive in it's phrasing.

[Guyjin]

Seriously, the POA is a farce. "With liberty and justice for all" should be changed to "with liberty to all who except those who fit the profile, and justice for all who can afford it."

Also, I don't know why America is stated as being one nation under God, when our founding fathers stated God had no place in our government. That statement only works for those who worship God. So really, it is exclusive in it's phrasing.

Good points!!!

[DougP]

Yeah, I don't like stopping for colors, because it's a PITA and makes me even later for work. :)

Seriously, the POA is a farce. "With liberty and justice for all" should be changed to "with liberty to all who except those who fit the profile, and justice for all who can afford it."

Also, I don't know why America is stated as being one nation under God, when our founding fathers stated God had no place in our government. That statement only works for those who worship God. So really, it is exclusive in it's phrasing.

You must not have heard the Pledge lately... They took the "one nation under god" part out a while ago:thumbup1:

Also if stopping for colors is making you late to work then you should try leaving for work a little earlier. No excuses:)

[coldnoodles]

I don't even know the Pledge, so I have no problem hearing it!

[TheProsecutor]

You must not have heard the Pledge lately... They took the "one nation under god" part out a while ago:thumbup1:

I am guilty of not having heard it in a while. Been a while since grade school.

Anyway, a quick search on Wiki got this:

In its present form, the words of the Pledge are codified in Title 4 of the United States Code §4:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Now, did they take out the "under God part," or are you or is Wiki wrong? Which is it?

[ryukyuboi]

Who is the "they" that took out the "one nation under god" part as you say? To my knowledge, offically, that part of the Pledge remains intact.

[TheProsecutor]

Yes, Ryukyboi. Like you, I am not sure what DougP means or is referring to. Perhaps he will post with more information to clear this matter up for us.

[DougP]

SAN FRANCISCO, California (CNN) -- "Political correctness run amok" is how one senator is describing a court's ruling that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional.
In a 2002 case brought by atheist Michael Newdow, whose daughter was being taught the Pledge in school, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the phrase (1954 insertion) "under God" an unconstitutional endorsement of monotheism when the Pledge was promoted in public school. In 2004, the Supreme Court heard Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, an appeal of the ruling, and rejected Newdow's claim on the grounds that he was not the custodial parent, and therefore lacked standing, thus avoiding ruling on the merits of whether the phrase was constitutional in a school-sponsored recitation. On January 3, 2005, a new suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California on behalf of three unnamed families. On September 14, 2005, District Court Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled in favor of Newdow. Citing the precedent of the 2002 ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Karlton issued an Order stating that, upon proper motion, he will enjoin the school district defendants from continuing their practices of leading children in pledging allegiance to "one Nation under God"

I might have jumped the gun. I figured when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor Newdow the original ruling would apply to schools in the nine states covered by the 9th Circuit. That was that the Pledge was considered unconstitutional because of the addition of the phrase "under God" in 1954 by Congress. I thought it was supposed to have been removed. Much like the other historic religious artifics such as in Philadelphia when a federal judge ordered the removal of an 82-year-old Ten Commandments plaque from the Chester County Courthouse, calling it an unconstitutional display of the biblical text.

I must have misinterpereted the outcome when I heard it on the news a couple of years back. my bad :)

[TheProsecutor]

I would suggest, that instead of having AFN do the pledge every morning, that those who want to hear it or read the words, either just visit this thread every morning to read them where they have already been posted, or find a Youtube posting of some reciting it. View those every morning and those who need that fix can get their dose filled.

I mean, would it kill you every morning to take a few seconds to do that for yourself, rather than making it so that AFN djs and programmers have to get it out to all of us?

[DoctorP]

TP, if it bothers you so, then just turn off the radio or change the station...kinda like not clicking on a thread that offends you!

[TheProsecutor]

The decision hasn't been made yet. Once it is, and it is on the air, then I would do as you say. Until then, though, I would suggest my idea. Hope I win.

[DoctorP]

I agree the decision hasn't been made, yet they do it everyday. So, maybe there isn't a decision to be made?

[TheProsecutor]

According to the OP, it sounds like it is not on every day, hence the "I think the pledge should be on the radio every morning." I am basing my thought on the matter according to the OP, or is the OP wrong? Is it on AFN every morning? Or was Honduh just ONLY talking about the style?

In any event, the thread quickly turned into a debate about wheather or not it should be played, and Honduh or anyone else didn't come back to correct the reality of the situation.

It could be that I am still sleeping or just don't have the radio on at the time you seem to be inferring that it is on.

[DoctorP]

The OP posted on the 2nd day of school. It seems to me that it was on everyday after that. (I could be wrong, but I am probably not!) It sounded new to the OP because it had not happened all summer since the kids were on vacation!

[DoctorP]

In any event, the thread quickly turned into a debate about wheather or not it should be played, and Honduh or anyone else didn't come back to correct the reality of the situation.

It could be that I am still sleeping or just don't have the radio on at the time you seem to be inferring that it is on.

This paragraph infers that you were replying in a thread, when you have no 1st hand knowledge.

[TheProsecutor]

Since when is first hand knowledge of something that wasn't posted clearly in the first place a requirement to develope the discussion?

[Writer Sterling]

Alright, I need to end this speculation. I just got back from watching 2 movies-- One at Futenma, then I hopped on the Expressway and headed to Courtney for "Evan Almighty" Great movie I might add. Hope I am writing this while everyone is having a great Labor day weekend!!!

While I was back in the states, I heard a radio station have some kids do the pledge. I figured I would try it out one day, and it so happened to be the first day of school. My wife is a teacher, so it isn't really hard to get a classroom to call up, and the parents hear their kids on the way to work. Honduh liked it, and since the feedback was so immediate, It was within minutes, I figured I would roll with it,

Samy

[DoctorP]

So does that mean it was on everyday? I'm pretty sure that I heard it 3 days this week.

[Writer Sterling]

Yeah, it was on a few times,

Samy

[TheProsecutor]

Is it going to be every day from here on?

[Writer Sterling]

Could be,

Samy

[Honduh]

Fortunately, there is nothing "military" about DoD schools. The entire system is run by civilians. It serves military and civilian dependents.

Featuring kids on the radio in some way each day wouldn't be a bad idea. Having kids only reciting the Pledge daily would be boring.

Yes, im VERY well aware of this. Trust me. ;)

Nothing military about the DoD schools? LoL. Considering there wouldnt be such a thing without the military ... eh, nevermind.

I came to Okinawa as an american,I don't ever want to go back to the states but thats because I love Okinawa!
Its actually safer walking down the streets at night than It would be if I were back in the states.
Not everyone who is american wears the "patriotism" on their sleeve,and IMO america is such a powerful nation and focal point in the world that sometimes the pride and patriotism displayed might come off as arrogance to some.

I love America, just as much as I love Okinawa. You catorgize America with everything negative on the T.V. Whats the difference between Okinawa and my home town, we have more corn. :) You cant judge America by what you see on the news...its obvious you do though.

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Samy, Still after reading everyones thoughts, I can see nothing negative about having a class on the radio. It seems as if the only issue people have with it, is the fact its an inconvinence for em.

[ryukyuboi]

You take the meaning of "military" within DoDDS out of context from the post. The real point I was stressing was in the next sentence - the entire system is run by civilians. Please note the quotation marks around the word military, too.

If DoDDS were not available to the military, maybe your family would not be overseas.

[Honduh]

you make no sense.

WTF are you trying to get at?

[ryukyuboi]

There was a period long ago when the US military wanted to actually...LOL...eh, nevermind!

[Honduh]

if dodds and the military have nothing in common, why is there a military chain of command posted on the wall?

[ryukyuboi]

No one stated that DoDDS and the military have nothing in common. The military provides much support for the DoDDS system. But DoDDS operates very independently from the military as a Federal civilian organization. Therein lies the difference.

The military chain of command may be posted on the wall in some schools for the benefit of the military members who visit the schools? I really don't know the reason, do you? I do know the civilian chain of command for the employees in DoDDS is not the military chain of command. I have noticed more student work displayed on the walls in schools myself.