Chris Cullen

Staff Writer

During the PA tribute for the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, many Cal High students were baffled by the school’s decision to have us recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

In my class, at least a quarter of my class forgot the words in the middle of it, and the majority never even finished because  they started feeling awkward saying it.

I ask this question: How could anybody forget or feel uncomfortable saying an oath of loyalty  we learned before we even knew how to tie our shoes?

The Pledge of Allegiance had been part of every child’s daily routine from preschool to middle school, saying it almost every school morning in class.         I understand that for most of us, it’s been a while since we said the Pledge,  but forgetting the very words of our national oath is excessive.

It’s no surprise Cal administrators want us to start saying the pledge more frequently.  Apparently we’ve been away from it so long that we’ve started taking our country for granted.

The pledge not only stands for America but those who defend our country overseas.

These soldiers represent American freedom every day,  risking their lives for people they’ve probably never met.

Since their lives are on the line for us, saying the pledge would be the very least we can do to show respect for the hard work and dedication they put into their jobs.

Another thing the pledge stands for is not only us, but our government that strives to keep the country in check and its people happy.

It would be good to give the politicians some support by saying the pledge because no matter how badly the media bashes them, there’s always at least one group of people trying to do the right thing.

For those students who practice a religion such as Islam or Hinduism and don’t like having to swear loyalty to the country under the Christian God, there’s two options: Either the school can omit the “under God” verse of the Pledge, or the student can just avoid saying that two-word phrase.

In most people’s cynicism  of the government following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the growing national deficit, we forget that being an American means that there is always something or someone there for you no matter the odds.

It only takes less than 30 seconds of our lives on Monday and Thursday mornings  to pay homage to that privilege.