Further Proof I Need to Leave Texas

[Avalux]

This state is so freakin' messed up. Starting this school year (which is Monday) - all students must recite the Pledge of Allegiance in front of the Texas flag as well as the United States flag. It's a LAW - it's REQUIRED. I have no idea how that one snuck under the radar up in Austin. In our school district alone, it will cost $50K to purchase flags for all of the classrooms - an amount not worked into the budget of an already strapped district.
Do other states do this?? How on earth can this be justified - I have no problem with my kids pledging allegiance to this country - but the state of Texas?? Repug assholes.

[Loonman]

1. Seig, Heil

Natch.

[bearfan454]

2. How long you been in Tx ?

.

[kathee]

3. Is there a link I can read?

I hadnt heard this one.

[curlyred]

4. same here in Colorado

The ACLU has a lawsuit pending, so we are hopeful that jingoism and forced patriotism will not be forced on our children.

[JHB]

5. They can't go to Kinko's?

Make color print-outs of the flags to comply with the law until such purchases can be budgeted and/or the flags be donated to the school.
Why should this item get priority over other, more basic items?

If anyone complains, contact the papers about spending the money on kids rather than on flags that are probably made in China.

It doesn't solve the root problem of the jingo law, but it does let you fight it without riling the blind flag-wavers against you.

[VermontDem2004]

6. The school I went too

we were required to say the pledge(I don't know if it was the law) unless a parent wrote us a letter explaining why he/she cannot say the pledge(usually religous reasons)

[Loonman]

9. Funny

In school, I used to mouth the "under God" part. The pledge would get to that part and only about a third of the class would say those two words.

There were always ways to follow the letter, but not the spirit.

[zoidberg]

7. I pledged to the Texas flag in middle school

Probably wasn't the law, but something we all did anyway.

[CBGLuthier]

8. I didn't say pledge my last years of school

This was in the late 70's and no one freaked about it.

In Oklahoma, while reciting it is encouraged the law requires all school districts to inform students that they are not compelled.

The Texas law should be declared unconstitutional as soon as possible.

[fob]

10. Can you clarify? Do they say the pledge twice?

Once with the words "...to the flag, of the USA..." and once with "...to the flag, of the Republic of Texas..."?

If so, pack up right now and run!

[Avalux]

12. A pledge all it's own

"Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one and indivisible."


Scary.

[Avalux]

11. Here's the Link

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/78R/billtext/SB00083F.HTM

While I can write a note asking for my child to refrain; it should not be required that schools must buy new state flags. Photocopies are not adequate (that was discussed on the local news).

My problem is not with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States.

My problem is with the Pledge of Allegiance to the state of Texas, as if it's a country in and of itself.

I've lived in this god-forsaken state for over 10 years and I will never be a Texan.

[pop goes the weasel]

13. That's right, you're not from Texas

I am a life-long Texan, and can see that the Texas pledge is a way to weed out you furriners, just the way the current US pledge is a way to root out religious heretics and Communists. I wonder how many of the Republican-voting non-Texan residents of this state will be howling over this alongside you? It could be an opportunity for the Democratic party.

As for me, I'm offended. The proper traditional way to begin a school day is with a rousing chorus of "Texas, Our Texas." What is the world coming to? :)

[never cry wolf]

14. Perchance

does the BFEE have investments in a flag making company???

[LEFTofLEFT]

15. I left in March

Colorado is still way right but, the views are wonderful.

There just are not many places to go. Stay and fight.

We must all fight the monsters like the future is at stake. IT IS!

[msmcghee]

16. I seldom am asked to recite the pledge.

But whenever I am - I simply say "under NO God" when I get to that part- with the accent on the NO. IMO I have just as much right to edit as I do to be silent at that time.

Once I have done it - some turn and look at me disprovingly - which I take as an opportunity to smile back at them (in an in-your-face kind of way).

I figure at least it may make a few if them think about what they are doing.

[pretzel4gore]

17. the goose-stepper state!

to paraphrase something HL Mencklen once said about ole texas :-)