On the day that our homeroom T.V. was finally fixed and the sound revitalized, I stood up to recite the pledge of allegiance with the T.V. and noticed that I was one of three others who did this, including the teacher. My homeroom has eighteen students, yet only a sixth of them stood. Half of the ones that were seated were plugged into their Crackberries, oblivious to their surroundings. I thought to myself, this is pathetic. And sad. And wrong. I completely understand why some people choose not to say the pledge. Several Americans don't like what's going on in their country today or they don't support current governmental policies, so they refuse to say the pledge as a form of protest. But at least have some respect for this country and stand for the pledge! You don't have to recite it, but at least stand.
I have a feeling that a majority of Americans take our freedoms for granted. I am proud to say that the United States of America is the most prosperous nation known to man, and I am proud to say that I am an American citizen. It was almost a miracle how this country came about. When this country was born, a lot of politicians called it "The Great Experiment." For the first time in the history of man, a system was set up so that no one person could have too much political power. Men like Thomas Jefferson were aware that political power was addicting, and men that acquire it take severe advantage of it. Not only that, the citizens of this system were granted freedoms that no other country during that time had permitted. Therefore, I believe every American citizen should at least stand to honor those principles. So when I stand to recite the pledge while five-sixths of my class is sitting, I can't help but think about how ignorant they might be.
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