When the children in a family of Jehovah’s Witnesses refused to salute the flag, they were sent home for their lack of compliance. Later, in 1943, the Supreme Court ruled that the first amendment protects students from being required to salute the American flag or recite the Pledge of Allegiance in what is known as West Virginia State Board of Education vs Barnette. To most, saying the Pledge is a simple routine they practice every school day; To others, refusing to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance is a way of executing their constitutional rights.
Some might see a student not standing when the usual morning announcements come on and see it as disrespectful or as an act of disdain towards the United States. However, a reason students might not recite the pledge is for religious reasons. Jehovah Witnesses, Amish, Quakers, and Mennonites are some religious groups that tend to see the pledge as idolatry. These religions, in most cases, see saluting the flag or reciting the Pledge as a form of worship that is only meant for God. Other cases may relate to the 1954 addition of the words ‘under god’ to separate America from the more atheistic Soviet Union during the cold war. Nontheistic religions or secular atheists may refrain from traditions with theistic qualities, including this section of the Pledge.
Even without religious motives, some may not stand for the flag for reasons such as personal morals or physical health. Although, even if someone’s reason for not saluting the flag or saying the pledge was simply because they don’t want to, they should have the right to choose that for themself. Rachel Henry, a student from Wilde Lake High school wrote Why I Don’t Stand For the Pledge. Within their article it’s stated, “As students, acceptable forms of protest are limited. But, being silent is both an acceptable and a powerful form of protest. It’s both a choice and an effective way to make the statement that I don’t support the words in the pledge” (Henry, 8).
While sitting, standing silently, and even leaving the room during the pledge are alright, there are ways to not participate in the Pledge of Allegiance that could be disrespectful. Actions such as talking or making a lot of noise could be disruptive and eligible for punishment. When this is the case, it is not the act of choosing not to participate being punished, but rather the behavior.
To some, the act of refusing to stand for the flag may be seen as unpatriotic in all cases. The Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter, who served during Barnette’s case, wrote a dissenting opinion on the court’s ruling. Frankfurter said, “I cannot bring my mind to believe that the “liberty” secured by the due process clause gives this Court authority to deny to the state of West Virginia the attainment of that which we all recognize as a legitimate legislative end, namely, the promotion of good citizenship, by employment of the means here chosen. . . .” (Frankfurter, 1). Justice Frankfurter believed that overruling would invalidate the state’s authority and that allowing West Virginia to keep this law would promote patriotism. However, would saying a few words really make someone more patriotic? And for undermining the state’s power, the Supreme Court’s job is to decide if the rulings in lesser courts are following the rules of the constitution.
On the other hand, some may claim that saying the Pledge or saluting the flag is disrespectful toward those who serve the country in the armed forces. In Does not standing for the national anthem make one unpatriotic?, Jared Swansboro wrote, “Millions of American soldiers have died defending the freedom and integrity of their nation, a true form of patriotism and sacrifice. However, what they defended is every citizen’s right to try and better their country, whatever way they deem suitable” (Swansboro, 3). As Jared says here, people within the military fight for the rights the constitution gives every American citizen, even the right to disagree with the masses.
Overall, refusing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or stand for the flag may seem like an ill-mannered act by some, but the reasons people have to not participate may not be ill-intentioned. While it can be a form of protest, it’s not inherently wrong. To have a free country also means a country where people are free to express themselves in ways that others may disagree with. As long as these forms of expression do not impede on others rights, it can be practiced.
