Wisconsin School Board Member Questions ‘Under God’ In Pledge
Jeremy Ratliff of the Merrill Area Public Schools Board wants to have “a conversation” about whether “under God” should be in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ratliff was speaking on behalf of parents who took issue with a certain phrase in the Pledge.
“He just indicated that he had parents that were concerned about that statement ‘under God’”, said Merrill superintendent Wally Leipart to WAOW. “It was brought up that there may be an interest in having a conversation.”
In a phone conversation, Ratliff only said he was addressing the concerns of his constituents.
Students are not required to take part in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in Wisconsin. School officials have taken heed to these requests.
“We’ve had students both say, ‘Yeah, no problem, I’ll go ahead and stand, but I don’t want to recite the Pledge,’ and we’ve had others that have said, ‘No, I don’t want to stand either,’ and we always give them the opportunity to express themselves in the way they see fit,” said Leipart.
Copyright 2015 Liberaland
14 responses to Wisconsin School Board Member Questions ‘Under God’ In Pledge
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Larry Schmitt June 16th, 2015 at 09:31
Why don’t they just do away with the pledge altogether? I have never understood the purpose of it to begin with. Kids recite it without thinking of the meaning of the words. Every recitation uses exactly the same inflection. If you could play the sound without the words, people would recognize it from the rhythm. It doesn’t instill patriotism, because no one is thinking of the meaning before, during or after the recitation. It has outlived its usefulness, if it ever had any.
Foundryman June 16th, 2015 at 11:55
To hear a roomful of people reciting it, It’s like a cult driven chant. It’s surprising everyone isn’t required to wrap a flag around themselves whenever they say it.
Larry Schmitt June 16th, 2015 at 12:11
It’s exactly like a chant. Reminds me of the Simpsons, The Joy of Sect.
http://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D7fnmhj58o0k&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ved=0CBsQtwIwAWoVChMI8Ii–cyUxgIVBp5yCh3yNgOo&sig2=UsNArvi8sKzm4dLosSMiew&usg=AFQjCNGhk4HT4_gDc5zX3gexTHfMazDU3g
Dwendt44 June 16th, 2015 at 13:01
The original ‘pledge salute’.
Larry Schmitt June 16th, 2015 at 13:05
I’ve seen that before. I’m sure the reason it didn’t become a thing is that it too closely resembles the Hitler Youth. Amazing that they didn’t see that right off.
CandideThirtythree June 17th, 2015 at 07:46
McCarthy was a republican so he had all the same platform, that is why he was forcing the issue of make people take the oath…just like the diminutive mustached one.
Bunya June 16th, 2015 at 13:54
I agree we should do away with the pledge. It’s useless and really, IMO, serves no purpose.
Buford2k11 June 16th, 2015 at 12:01
It seems most of the gop has forgotten or ignore the pledge, whether God is invoked or not….
tracey marie June 16th, 2015 at 14:19
the fact that “under god” was added after the fact in a push against “communism” and for a theocracy is what makes me annoyed.
bpollen June 16th, 2015 at 16:14
From 1954, a legacy of the Cold War, during McCarthy’s reign of terror.
tracey marie June 16th, 2015 at 16:37
Still makes me sick when I see the right bringing that garbage back, with west, cruz and santorum mouthing the same garbage.
bpollen June 17th, 2015 at 04:24
Beware! We are under constant attack from [insert enemy name here] who hate us for our freedoms!
Larry Schmitt June 17th, 2015 at 08:01
And of course the mindless repetition of a pledge will provide relief from the attack. Makes perfect sense.
bpollen June 17th, 2015 at 15:22
First thing that came to mind when I read your reply was a line from “Give My Compliments To The Chef” by Alex Harvey – Mother dear, did you hear? Oh, they’re teaching me to do the goose step!