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Pledging Your Allegiance: One Morning at a Time

Each morning, Mary Vlamis, Student Body President, takes to the intercom and addresses the students and staff, politely asking them to rise from their seats and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Students of Woodland Regional High School rise, and proceed to lip-synch the words that should be spoken aloud with gusto each and every day.

Most students, however, do not say the Pledge of Allegiance anymore. Those who still do, say it quietly under their breath. Is this because of a lack of nationalism and American spirit? Is it because students are too afraid to show their patriotic vigor? Is it simply because students are too exhausted to speak in the morning? Americans are supposed to be the epitome of national pride; however, the millennial generation is slipping in morale.

“Social Loafing” is a psychological term used to describe the human tendency to exert less effort when one is in a group of multiple people. When students are supposed to be saying the pledge, they might not take individual responsibility to speak up and proudly proclaim their patriotism. This leads to a pitiful mumbling of the words that are supposed to define America.

Another reason why students may not recite the pledge is because of religious beliefs. The Pledge of Allegiance has a theological reference; it describes “one nation, under God…” Although Christianity is the most popular religion in America, not everyone believes in monotheism or even a god at all. This may cause students to refrain from saying the pledge simply because it goes against what they believe in. Junior, Joe Witkowski, believes that people have the right to choose not to say the pledge.

“Although I have differing religious beliefs from other people,” said Witkowski, “I think that people shouldn’t be forced to say the pledge. People don’t take pledging their allegiance to something as important as it actually is, but it really is a serious vow that shouldn’t be taken lightly.”

The book Nothing But the Truth written by Avi describes the story of a boy who hummed the Star-Spangled Banner in the morning. When he was told to stay quiet by his teacher, a national uproar ensued and the point was made that today’s generation is becoming less and less patriotic, and this boy should be a role model for all students. Although he wasn’t really as patriotic as people believed, he displayed the jingoism that was needed to re-spark the nation’s interest in American values.

Although it isn’t necessary to be the flag-waving, red-white-and blue painted patriot at the Fourth of July parade, there is nothing wrong with loving your country. If you believe in what the Pledge of Allegiance stands for, tomorrow morning when Ms. Vlamis asks you to recite the pledge, vocalize your patriotism for the entire world to hear.

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Alyssa is the Executive Online Editor and has spent two full semesters at Hawk Headlines. She loves U.S. History and her pet fish, Benjamin.

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