Teen protests Pledge said in foreign languages

[Reschke]

Teen protests Pledge said in foreign languages
Student claims school's broadcasts disrespect country

The Associated Press
Updated: 9:05 a.m. ET March 10, 2005

MILLERSVILLE, Md. - A ninth-grader is protesting his school’s decision to broadcast the Pledge of Allegiance in foreign languages as part of National Foreign Language Week.

Patrick Linton said he and other students at Old Mill High School sat down rather than stand Wednesday when the pledge was read over the school’s public address system in Russian. Linton’s teacher told him if he had a problem he should leave the room.

He did, and did not plan to return this week.

“This is America, and we got soldiers at war,” the 15-year-old said. “When you’re saying the Pledge in a different language which nobody understands, that’s not OK.”

Charles Linton, Patrick’s father, said the use of other languages is disrespectful to the country. “It’s like wearing a cross upside down in a church,” he said.

The pledge was to be read in Spanish, French, Latin, Russian and German. School officials said the activity will continue, with the English version of the pledge being read first for the rest of the week.

“This is just a way to connect what’s going on in the classroom and this daily activity where we say the Pledge of Allegiance,” said Jonathan Brice, a spokesman for Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7146982/

[Engine]

Oh dear god! They're saying the pledge in German! This is a total travesty!

Whatever.  Should've just titled the article "Dumb Kid Seeks Attention; We Give It To Him"

[AKS\/\/ulfe]

Doesn't surprise me the ignorance of that child or his father. I lived around that area.

White trash to T.
-SW

[Chairboy]

This reminds me of an old joke:

Q: What do you call someone who can only speak one language?

A: An American.

Point the first: A pledge is a pledge is a pledge.  It doesn't matter if you pledge your allegiance in English, Germany, or even Esperanto.  If you MEAN what you say, then it should be fine.

Point the second: The United States of America has a proud immigrant heritage.  The reason we're so strong as a nation is BECAUSE of all the different places our ancestors came from.  No other country has succeeded as much, and it's because of the relative homogeneity of their cultures.  Pledging allegiance in other languages is an effective reminder of what makes our country successful and our roots.  

The 'upside down cross' analogy was flawed.  A closer analogy would have been 'praying in a language other then Latin'.  When that happened, the same complaints crawled out of the woodwork.

[Mickey1992]

"What language did your ancestors speak when they came to America?"

That is usually my response when some idiot complains about non-English speaking employees they encounter.

[indy007]

Originally posted by Mickey1992
"What language did your ancestors speak when they came to America?"

English.





but I see your point

[Reschke]

Originally posted by Mickey1992
"What language did your ancestors speak when they came to America?"

That is usually my response when some idiot complains about non-English speaking employees they encounter.

It depends on which branch of the family you are talking about. Some were already here and spoke various Native American languages whether it was Creek, Cherokee or whatever. Also the other branches spoke anything from Dutch to English. I get your point also and it is a valid one that I have never used when talking to some of my friends with names like Schneider, Schultz, Ramirez or any last name.

This kids parents need to be taught what it truly means to be a citizen of this nation and then they should teach their children.

[Pei]

Originally posted by Reschke

“This is America, and we got soldiers at war,” the 15-year-old said. “When you’re saying the Pledge in a different language which nobody understands, that’s not OK.”

 

Sounds like English is a foreign language to him...

[Chairboy]

Originally posted by Pei
Sounds like English is a foreign language to him...

Za-ZING!

Nice!

[Sandman]

While I think Linton is an idiot, I also think the teacher is wrong as well.

Patrick Linton said he and other students at Old Mill High School sat down rather than stand Wednesday when the pledge was read over the school’s public address system in Russian. Linton’s teacher told him if he had a problem he should leave the room.

So, the students must participate in the pledge or leave the room?

WTF?

[Chairboy]

Agreed.  If they sat quietly, then they have the right to sit in the room and wait it out.  If, however, they were being disruptive as part of their protest, I can see a case for asking them to leave the room while the rest of the class pledges allegiance.

Comments?

[Storm7]

I think that the teacher used the "leave the room" comment to scare the kid into participating. Unfortunately, the obvious lack of respect for the teacher's authority won out in that duel.

[Sandman]

Okay... how exactly did you read this into what was written in the article?


Oh... oh... I get it... You've assumed that because Linton is a teenager, he must be disrespectful of authority.

Right...

[Storm7]

I've spent some time in High School too.

Instead of participating and lodging concerns later, he threw his chest out in protest and left. As was said earlier, the article should have been titled,

"Dumb Kid Seeks Attention; We Give It To Him"

Like it or not, teachers are authority figures and must be obeyed by students. The teacher's leadership was a bit weak if that was the only option he offered for not participating.

[Sandman]

Oh... I get it now. You were there.


Care to give us the whole story?