Here's that essay i was talking about (read my previous entry)
Dear Mr. Foust,
I did think about what you said. And I thought I’d write out my response in this letter, so I can be more articulate and explain myself well.
Pledging Allegiance is a big thing. It’s showing support for our country, through thick and thin, war or peace. And you’re right, it’s not Bush’s policies I’m granting my alliance to, it’s the country, the ideals, the people. The very things that America relies on to remain a prominent world power. But, unfortunately these are some of the things I don’t agree with. For me it goes beyond Bush’s war and his policies. There are things wrong with the USA that are culture based and intrinsic. Rampant consumerism, the use of sweatshop labor, homophobia,
militarism, and the deception we now expect from our politicians and leaders to name a few.
Furthermore, I am NOT a nationalist. Nationalism has caused a number of wars and millions of deaths. And to me the Pledge seems to be simply a show of nationalism. I have been to other countries, I’ve traveled across Europe and been to Canada a couple of times, and I must disagree, America is not better then all of them. We have money, a high standard of living, fairly safe streets and a good military. But at what cost? We burn more oil then any other country, as a whole we’re fatter then any other country, we contribute somewhere around 10 times the amount of Co2 we should by population, we have corporate croneyism, our capitalist bosses are practically encouraged to sell the jobs to the lowest bidder overseas, at the cost of the American worker and the conditions of the foreign workplace.
And so I will not say the Pledge. As for standing when everyone else does, this is something that is not actually terribly important. But it seems to be where to conflict is. You asked me to go through the motions, as in stand up and maybe even put my hand over my heart. Isn’t that just an empty gesture? Why do you want me to do it? You said it doesn’t look good, but isn’t that my call? My image I’m protecting? I haven’t stood up since sometime in the 8th grade, and I’ve never had a problem with it before, noone has said anything, and frankly if someone thinks less of me because of it, that’s their problem and good riddance to them.
I know it’s my right not to say the pledge, and as far as I know there’s no law saying I have to stand. I’m aware of what I’m doing means, I know the ramifications. So I ask you to please respect my right to remain seated every Monday morning when the Pledge is said. I won’t make a big deal out of it, I won’t draw attention to myself, I’ll just quietly sit there and wait for it to finish and for class to begin. This is freedom we’re talking about here, and isn’t that what America was founded upon?
Thanks for reading this.
-Nate Overholser
I did think about what you said. And I thought I’d write out my response in this letter, so I can be more articulate and explain myself well.
Pledging Allegiance is a big thing. It’s showing support for our country, through thick and thin, war or peace. And you’re right, it’s not Bush’s policies I’m granting my alliance to, it’s the country, the ideals, the people. The very things that America relies on to remain a prominent world power. But, unfortunately these are some of the things I don’t agree with. For me it goes beyond Bush’s war and his policies. There are things wrong with the USA that are culture based and intrinsic. Rampant consumerism, the use of sweatshop labor, homophobia,
militarism, and the deception we now expect from our politicians and leaders to name a few.
Furthermore, I am NOT a nationalist. Nationalism has caused a number of wars and millions of deaths. And to me the Pledge seems to be simply a show of nationalism. I have been to other countries, I’ve traveled across Europe and been to Canada a couple of times, and I must disagree, America is not better then all of them. We have money, a high standard of living, fairly safe streets and a good military. But at what cost? We burn more oil then any other country, as a whole we’re fatter then any other country, we contribute somewhere around 10 times the amount of Co2 we should by population, we have corporate croneyism, our capitalist bosses are practically encouraged to sell the jobs to the lowest bidder overseas, at the cost of the American worker and the conditions of the foreign workplace.
And so I will not say the Pledge. As for standing when everyone else does, this is something that is not actually terribly important. But it seems to be where to conflict is. You asked me to go through the motions, as in stand up and maybe even put my hand over my heart. Isn’t that just an empty gesture? Why do you want me to do it? You said it doesn’t look good, but isn’t that my call? My image I’m protecting? I haven’t stood up since sometime in the 8th grade, and I’ve never had a problem with it before, noone has said anything, and frankly if someone thinks less of me because of it, that’s their problem and good riddance to them.
I know it’s my right not to say the pledge, and as far as I know there’s no law saying I have to stand. I’m aware of what I’m doing means, I know the ramifications. So I ask you to please respect my right to remain seated every Monday morning when the Pledge is said. I won’t make a big deal out of it, I won’t draw attention to myself, I’ll just quietly sit there and wait for it to finish and for class to begin. This is freedom we’re talking about here, and isn’t that what America was founded upon?
Thanks for reading this.
-Nate Overholser