This is the second news article I've seen about students being offended by the pledge of allegiance in a foreign language. Both incidents took place in Maryland where legislators are considering making English the official language.
The pledge is being broadcast in foreign languages (Spanish, French, Latin, Russian and German) to celebrate National Foreign Languages Week. But parents are upset with the practice because they feel it violates the sacredness of the pledge:
"This is a SACRED oath," Tepper wrote. "It is written in English. Our language is English. I am offended to hear it any other way. I am angry that my child is having to hear this in another language."
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.
I will never understand this feeling towards things like the flag and the pledge. To me they are so antithetical to democracy. Everyday, I try to read, speak or write some Swedish for the sheer joy of knowing another language. How is that disrespectful to America?
1 comment:
if english was good enough for jesus, it's good enough for us.
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