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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 1988)
Page 2/The Battalion/Friday, September 16, 1988 Pledge issue taints Dukakis’ patriotism The House of Representatives r ej e c t e d a b i d Sept. 9 to begin House meet i ngs with the Pledge of Allegiance. The bid was rejected o n p r o c e d u r a 1 g ro u nd s , but Speaker J i m Wright said the oath would be said Lydia Berzsenyi by the House this week anyway. I was pleased to see that the House handled the pledge issue better than Michael Du kakis. It all began when George Bush crit icized Michael Dukakis for vetoing a 1977 Massachusetts bill which would have required teachers to lead children in the pledge. Dukakis said he vetoed the bill based on a 1943 U.S. Supreme Court decision which declared it uncon stitutional to force children of Jehovah’s Witnesses to perform patriotic rites, such as saluting the flag, which their sect perceived as idolatrous. Critics are chiding both candidates for arguing on such a petty issue, and I agree to an extent. It’s true that both candidates should express their plans for dealing with nuclear disarmament, the wav on drugs, the st/Ale of the econ omy and the future of social security, hut 1 also think the pledge issue war rants attention by both candidates. Since Dukakis’ vetoing of the bill, he has repeatedly appeared in “patriotic” settings, with flags waving in the back ground. And although Dukakis gave what he saw as valid reasons for vetoing the bill, one must still question his ac tions. One of the first things I remember learning in nursery school was the Pledge of Allegiance. In fact, that was how 1 learned my left hand from my right: the right hand was the one near est the window and the one I placed over my heart. But more than that, I learned patriotism. My teacher ex plained why the pledge was written, what it meant and how it involved me. And it made me feel important. I was an American. That was special. Dukakis’ veto of the bill worries me. It makes me wonder about the future of this country. What harm could possibly come from teaching children the Pledge of Allegiance? If children are not taught the pledge, they will miss a vital part of their educa tion. They will miss an important lesson in patriotism and American history. It all boils down to a saying I've been hearing my entire life: “The children of today will be the leaders of tomorrow.” Ike always taken that phrase to heart and have tried to contribute to the na tion’s future in whatever way I can. I think being informed about national is sues, national history and national poli cies is one of the biggest ways citizens of all ages can participate in planning their nation’s f uture. And what about the children of to day? Just because I am no longer one of them (by most standards) I am still con cerned for their education. On their be half I argue that they should be taught the pledge along with the rest of their American history. Furthermore, I see nothing wrong with requiring teachers to lead the chil dren in reciting the pledge. These chil dren, who will be the leaders of tomor row, pay great attention to their teachers on both the conscious and sub conscious level. While they are listening to the teacher explaining the pledge, they are mentally noticing the teacher’s national pride. If teachers do not teach their students this piece of their American heritage, they are missing out on an opportunity to instill patriotism in the minds of their young charges. But the issue is not really up to the teachers. The charge rests with Dukakis. I doubt that I will ever live in Massachu setts, so Dukakis’ 1977 veto will proba bly never af fect me personally. But if he is elected President, neither I nor my children will escape his influence. Dukakis’ veto makes me wonder about his patriotism. And no amount of flag waving and fiery speeches will change my opinion about his sense of national pride. Mail Call Graduating seniors getting raw deal EDITOR. During the first two days of classes this semester I kept waiting to hear the infamous question, “Who is a graduating senior?” But it was never asked. The reason is simple — Our grades will not be due early and we will not get our diplomas in December. I also recently learned that the last final ends a few hours before commencement exercises begin. We, as students, are clueless about what will happen. On each syllabus from three classes I have seen three different finals schedules. Heaton Hall could not tell me when our grades will be due. Without a “dot day,” students with discrepancies in graduation requirements will have to try to clear up matters long distance, adding more confusion. I read about the hearings in the spring semester concerning senior finals, and thank student and faculty representatives who worked to keep this unique aspect of Aggie graduation intact. The main issue was whether or not we could take seperate finals and the faculty refused. I don’t recall the exact reasons, but the term “inconvenient” was used. I invite faculty members to f urther elaborate on reasons for this collective decision. I would like to know two things: First, some organization or adminstrator needs to make a formal written explanation of what the procedure will be and keep us informed of any changes throughout (he semester. Students are the ones being inconvenienced. Second, it you or any organization you belong to feels strongly about this, please write the president’s office. It can’t hurt and it might help future graduates. Lisa Crawford ’88 Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial stuff reserves the right to edit letters for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author's intent. Each letter must be signed and must include the classification, address and telephone number of the writer. The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference The Battalion Editorial Board Lydia Berzsenyi, Editor Becky Weisenfels, Managing Editor Anthony Wilson, Opinion Page Editor Richard Williams, City Editor D AJensen, Denise Thompson, News Editors Hal Hammons, Sports Editor Jay Janner. Art Director Leslie Guy, Entertainment Editor Opinion ^■ssociatc pn gjl^M Model |Htent and a i ^Benale. oliei pBcnaio Mond jlpon of fat ult ration is adi lies. Richards j: to the Faculn the Whole ai o vote was londay. Richards er dismissal, used Richar mpetence, [ubstantial r esponsibilitii tsablement i idversely a fit lubstantial di if duties or ii bilities to the associates, an luct adverse! |nd substant Adults and politicians shoul pledge to be ‘invisible’, too For a long time, I've advocated a law that would re quire all A mer i - cans to recite the Pledge of Alle giance when they go to their jobs and begin work. And before they pick up their pay- checks. Besides, most kids don i even know what the pledge means.Most of them sav “invisible instead of indivisible.’ Who knows ho"' many kids grew up confused about why a teacher would want us to be one invisible nation? 1 hat might inpre some of his political him in the pit publican conv on television. i nti< ,s the audit ippearancts , he did an \nd it hd lance of du esponsibilitii ^Hents or assoi I Richards s ( Academic Fn ■xmsibility li |1 unexplain ersonnel f ill lent on v jhanged info I The follov text of Richar U cl Mike Royko But to get back to Bush and his lack of a strong stance on the pledge. 1 have looked over all of his position papers and news stories going back years and years. But H is sit tion. It toncea Bush’s part. public ci king omi I have disco nior staff doe? Allegiance wht red that Bush’s( mt recite the Pit it meets withhin pe protect to er’s rights r lies. I do not effect in < Jolleges, but Hes are folio ■iberal Arts modern and Khich would Hi know whal ■laced in his Irom such fill Lydia Berzsenyi is a senior math ma jor and editor of The Battalion. And I’ve sup- ported proposals that require the pledge to be recited at any and all public gath erings. Not once have 1 seen anything that indicates he supports anyone hut chil dren being required to recite the pledge. Actually, it i has meetings, cited the pled) u set ban thatA senior staff nt'i , ith or without I For example, why isn’t the pledge re quired of movie audiences before a film is shown? Or at a play or sporting event? And why aren’t restaurant diners asked to stand and recite the pledge when they are given their table? In other words, it seems that Bush doesn’t even care if adult Americans are ever asked to do what he asks of chil dren to stand up and he counted, even if they think they are in favor of being in visible. Nor does is in-betw'e Bush's junior staff,( •n staff. And the this lack o Bush’s pre> pledge, she i don t even try toe I patriotism. When s aides was asked abo maHer-of-fai tlv said: My position known. on this issue well- Isn’t that rather off? Consider for a moment. I lave you ever heard of Amer ican children selling secrets to the com munists? Of course not. At their meetings? No.” Well, do they at least say a prate “N< I was the first journalist to urge laws that prohibit a bartender from serving a drink to anyone who hasn’t stood at the bar and given the pledge. But there has been many a secret sold by military personnel and other govern ment employees. I low about tin they sing it? National Anthei No. Why are you asking this" And I was also the first to demand a law making it mandatory for passengers on airplaines to recite the pledge before the plane takes off. Or lands. And to ex pand this law to cover subway trains, buses, cabs, amusement park rides and other forms of public transportation. Yet Bush has not uttered one peep about the pledge being given every morning in all military mess halls, or derly rooms, barracks and latrines and on all ships at sea. Or even those docked. I he fait that she had to ask A was being asked makes me askk!k ihe\ realize how grave this situati 11 t hev don't. t hes should ask. Secrets have been sold by traitorous CIA men. Someone might wonder whv 1: put these same questions to Michati kakis and his staff. But I’ve noticed something troubling about this presidential campaign. Vice President George Bush has not said one word about this issue. Yet Bush, who once ran the CIA, has failed to issue an order that the pledge he recited by his many agents. Why bother? He’s a Democrat pected of being a “liberal", and know w hat they're like. Oh, sure, he’s gone on and on about wanting children to recite the pledge in school. My sources also say that Bush him self, as head of the CIA, was never once seen standing with his right hand over his heart, except when he had indiges tion. But I would expect more of Bai Republican and a dose and dear ft of Bob I lope. I uc idem all v, I asked Bush's < Fngland prep shool if thestudenii 1 - recite the pledge. 1 hey do not. But that’s an easy copout. Everybody knows that kids enjoy the pledge. Any thing to delay the moment the teacher says, “Hand in your homework.” Lately , Bush has started asking audi ences at some of his political appear ances to join him in the pledge, as he did at (he Republican convention. 1 just don’t know what to belie anvmore. Copyright 198H, 'Tribune MediaScnitt- Editorial Policy The Bntl.ilion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspa per operated as a communin service to Texas AX.-M and Brvan-College Station. 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