This is in response to the article by Todd Nuttman entitled “Pledge of Allegiance or blind obedience?”
Mr. Nuttman,
In your article you asked people not to jump to conclusions, and that is exactly what you did. I am sure that the school district in no way considered the suspended students “future terrorists.” Those are your words used to grab the attention and hopefully support of your readers.
You are also making an assumption that they are “perfectly good students.”
Most young people are perfectly good students and great kids.
However, my husband was a junior high and high school principal for 27 years, and I taught for 25 years. Every now and then, there are students who are looking for a way to be disrespectful and disruptive.
My husband and I visited a school in King County three years ago where 80 percent of the kids did not stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
They talked – listened to their headsets – talked on cell phones and slept during the pledge.
Not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance had nothing to do with exercising their rights – it had to do with following the crowd.
Interestingly enough, the students in the ESL classes all stood up during the pledge.
I think it is important as citizens of the United States to show respect for the flag and our country.
It is not “blind obedience;” it is a choice to do one small thing for our country while there are brave young men and women in the military risking their lives for us every day.
They are risking their lives for all of us – including you, Mr. Nuttman – so you are able to write what you please in the newspaper.
Bonnie Sawyer
Retired Kent school teacher
Kent
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