This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Dec. 31, 2012 - After an election or after a national crisis, such as Newtown, it is natural for people to reflect on what it means to be an American. For many, those values are symbolized by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Still, the pledge has frequently been the source of some controversy, ranging from issues of free speech to freedom of religion.
In 2002, Missouri passed state statute 171.021, mandating an American flag on school grounds and the students' recitation of the pledge:
"Every school in this state which is supported in whole or in part by public moneys shall ensure that the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America is recited in at least one scheduled class of every pupil enrolled in that school no less often than once per week. No student shall be required to recite the pledge of allegiance."
To some, the pledge is an opportunity to honor our country’s freedom and democracy. Others question why a free country needs to make such an imposition.
According to Susan Goldammer, a staff attorney with the Missouri School Board Association, most schools and teachers agree that the pledge is good for all students to know — by heart -- and to practice it. She hasn’t heard of any issues, and said that once in a while a student may stay silent.
"It’s the very reason we have public schools, to help support our democracy. Understanding and appreciating our country are a huge part of schools," Goldammer said.
Private and parochial schools aren’t required to have students recite the pledge under the 2002 law. For instance, the Seventh-Day Adventist elementary schools don’t require it because they feel they cannot pledge allegiance to anyone but God, according to Goldammer.
Nancy Rathjen, assistant superintendent of the Lindbergh school district, agreed. Reciting the pledge is part of learning what it means to be a good citizen, she said. Rathjen hasn’t heard of any complaints and she said it’s at each principal’s discretion whether the frequency would be more than once a week.
The Beacon asked sources in the Public Insight Network for their perspectives on the pledge of allegiance.
John Hartfield, 57, of Florissant, thought reciting the pledge was a civic thing to do when he was a kid, but now he sees it in a negative light, "It’s all about jingoism, flag waving shallow ideas."
He believes in a broader educational approach.
"I would prefer they teach civics and responsibility we all have in creating a just society. It's a fool’s logic that making kids recite will make them better citizens."
But Gary Arbesman, 69, of Chesterfield, was inspired reciting it a child and still feels the same way. The pledge made him feel like he was part of his country — a country that cared about what citizenship meant.
To Arbesman, it comes down to identity and unity.
The pledge "means that whether you were born here or you came from another country, you are now a citizen of the United States. It means that your true 'allegiance' is to your current country — not where you came from or what you ancestry happened to be. We are not British Americans or African Americans or German Americans... We are simply 'Americans' and every one of us should be proud of that fact."
Stephen Comfort-Mason, 66, of Des Peres, sees the pledge in terms of symbolism.
"There are many symbols in our world today. Some positive, many negative. Our flag is a symbol of both the positive and negative characteristics of America and being an American. I believe it is good for children to be taught what America and our flag stand for."
Comfort-Mason has an issue with the "under God" part of the pledge.
"The imposition of religion is not one of the things America stands for. The pledge does not need to include God to be a positive symbol for America."
The inclusion of "under God" had an effect on Nathan Kwarta, 30, of University City, when he was growing up.
"As a child in school, it made me feel uncomfortable. It feels like forced patriotism. I always thought it compared to forcing people to vote. As an atheist, the God part always makes me feel excluded."
He raises issues of indoctrination and group pressures.
"Like religion, kids are too young to truly understand what it is and what it means. Considering it was put in place in a post-WWII era and grew in usage to combat the perceived communist threat, I have a large discomfort with it."
Brock Lodde, 43, of Kirkwood, said reciting the pledge makes him feel "proud and happy that we have our freedom."
"I feel that we have earned the right to recite the pledge, as well as feel honored" to be able to do so.
Jason Schwartzman is a Beacon intern.