On September 8, 1892, the American Pledge of Allegiance was published in the Youth Companion, an American children’s magazine.

At RMHS the first thing we are told to do during second period is to stand up for the pledge. What does it mean when kids stand up for the pledge and repeat what they’ve been saying every day since first grade?  

Jaden Rivera, a junior at Rocky, said that when she is told to stand up for the pledge, she does not say it and keeps her hands at her side. She believes that over time it became more about repeating the pledge and less about showing patriotism. She doesn’t want to be disrespectful, so she stands; but she thinks the words have just become repetitive.

Another junior, Oscar Valdez, was born here, but his parents were born in Mexico. “Saying the pledge is definitely more of something that I do as a routine.” Because he is Mexican he would say he is more into being patriotic towards Mexico. He still stands up for the pledge, but if you asked him he would identify with his family’s country.  

Government and US History teacher Charlie Ross believes that there are very few reasons someone should sit down for the pledge, and if he saw someone do it he would be curious as to why they are sitting.

To Mr. Ross the pledge is “an opportunity to pledge an allegiance to a country that has given me so much.” The pledge is a way to show gratitude to the country for giving him the freedoms that American citizens have today.

If you know anything about Mr.Ross, you know he is a funny and sarcastic teacher. A remark that I heard often when doing the pledge in his second hour was, “only stand if you enjoy having the freedoms that America offers” or “only stand if you gain from our Constitution.”

Mr.Ross made sure to convey the point that by living under the flag, you have the chance to change what you dislike. And when people sit down for the pledge, people are not doing anything productive. There are other things that would be more impactful if they want to make a serious difference. For example, you could start a protest or try to contact someone in charge of what you want to change. Being proactive instead of silently protesting can be more effective.

Ross’ final point was that people who sit down for the pledge “just don’t get it.” They don’t understand by sitting down they are not doing anything, because if you want something changed, sitting down is not the best way to do it.      

My opinion comes pretty close to Mr.Ross’s in that the pledge is a way for someone to show that they have pride in America and everything it stands for. And if you want to change something there are better ways to do so than sitting down. You will never see me sit down for the Pledge of Allegiance.