Teen protests Pledge said in foreign languages

**Kyobanim** · 03-10-2005, 09:57

What are your thoughts on this?

Article

Student claims school's broadcasts disrespect country
The Associated Press
Updated: 9:05 a.m. ET March 10, 2005MILLERSVILLE, 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.

tyrsnbdr · 03-10-2005, 10:02

He should be happy he can still say the pledge of Allegiance at his school. Also, learning other languages is an important skill to have.

**Roguish Lawyer** · 03-10-2005, 10:37

I don't understand why anyone cares. They are still pledging allegiance.

vsvo · 03-10-2005, 11:08

Yeah, I don't see why it's an issue, they're still pledging allegiance to the U.S.

(from a graduate of an Anne Arundel County public high school, Class of '87)

brewmonkey · 03-10-2005, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer

I don't understand why anyone cares. They are still pledging allegiance.

I am with RL. While I would prefer it to be like the Poker room, English Only, they are still pledging their allegience. It is a start and when they do learn English they will understand even more the importance of the pledge they have been making.

lrd · 03-10-2005, 16:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewmonkey

I am with RL. While I would prefer it to be like the Poker room, English Only, they are still pledging their allegience. It is a start and when they do learn English they will understand even more the importance of the pledge they have been making.

Are they saying it in other languages because there are students in the class that speak those languages, or are they saying it as part of the study of those languages?

aricbcool · 03-10-2005, 19:13

Ird,

Quote:

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.

All,

I think it's kind of a fun idea actually. Saying the pledge in different languages would help people identify the similarities and differences in each language pertaining to a string of words that everyone is familiar with.

Besides, it's not like they're permanently requiring the pledge in other languages out of Political Correctness or anything.

In short, no harm done.
--Aric