Who Even Cares About the Pledge?

Earlier this week I experienced something very awkward. While I was in the math office Thursday taking a quiz, the announcements came on.

"May you please stand for the pledge of allegiance..." I slowly looked around and got up. I was the only one who stood up. I was right in the middle of taking my quiz, but I could take twenty seconds to stand up and pledge my loyalty to my country. Because that's what the pledge is, "allegiance", "one nation", "justice for all". These are basic principles that I believe every American should believe in. 

My heart was racing, and everyone was staring at me. The teacher sitting at the table adjacent to me actually turned his back to me. He took a double take at the flag, as if he was debating whether or not to stand up. The same thing happens every day at the beginning of advisory, I stand up and people will give me weird looks. Part of me is glad that we live in a a country where you are not forced to say the pledge. But, I feel it is your duty as an American to stand up and repeat the pledge, or at the very least just to stand up. But I also strongly believe no one can force you to do or say anything you don't want to. That is the beauty of living in a democratic republic country with basic human rights. Therefore, if you do not want to stand for the pledge, you have the right not to. Right?

Morton Grove Park District Commissioner, Dan Ashta, argues that by not standing up for the pledge at park board meetings, he is just expressing his freedom of speech. I completely agree, but when local vetern groups caught wind of Ashta choosing not to stand for the pledge, they decided to cease all donations to the park district until he stood up. Joseph Lampert, a vetern commander, says, "nowhere did we say that he has to recite the pledge or put his hand over his heart. We would just like to see him stand out of respect" (Lampert).  To which Ashta simply responds, "by having the pledge on the agenda, the park board is potentially infringing upon the freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution" (Ashta). Does it seem logical to halt all donations to a community organized government, just because one board member chose not to stand up during the pledge? Not really, and therefore I think the veterans groups took the situation too far. But I know there are plenty of people who would disagree with me.

Do you think it should be an american value to stand up during the pledge? Or do you think it is your right to not stand for the pledge?

Comment with your thoughts below!

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America: Home of Disagreement

Picture Link: V for Vendetta

Our so called 'Government' just may be shutting down in less than two weeks. CNN's, Jeanne Sahadi reports, "The House on Friday will vote on a short-term government funding bill that will include a provision to defund Obamacare. That provision is a no-go for Senate Democrats and President Obama -- If they can't work out a compromise, many functions of the federal government will be shut down indefinitely on Oct. 1..." (Sahadi).  Folks, I don't think you understand the gravity behind what might happen next, next Tuesday. The last "two shutdowns in the mid-1990s cost an estimated $1.4 billion" (Sahadi). She goes on to explain how "many, if not most, government offices, programs, museums and parks would be shuttered" (Sahadi). How are you supposed to travel if you can't get a visa or passport? What if you planned a vacation to Yosemite or some other national park? Moreover, why should you pay taxes to an incomplete and widespread Government that doesn't provide us with services they promised to uphold?

Do you think I'm over-reacting when I say I am scared for my generation? Surely, I cannot be alone. We are screwed if we don't pull our acts together and actually move this Country forward. But the only way we can do this is by compromising and listening to what other people have to say. In our case, it will be over Obamacare. I know there are a lot of people suffering because they do not have health care. And I believe it's your right to health care. But, there are also a lot of people and small businesses that will suffer. The premium to have all of your employees on Obamacare will be through the roof. Therefore, people who own small businesses will have to pay a penalty for not choosing Obamacare. However, the larger cooperate companies will be just fine because they can afford it. I believe Obamacare will only increase the gap between the lower and upper class, instead of trying to unite everyone as equal. By making small businesses suffer, the middle class workers who are employed by those businesses will be laid off and forced under the poverty line. 

Our judiciary system would only last "roughly 10 working days" (Sahadi/Congressional Research Service) before the emergency funds run out. The shutdown would also force Federal court staff and officers to work for free, while still giving Federal judges and Supreme Court justices their pay. Looks like Judge Judy will be missing a few employees in her next episode. Why would anyone work for free, while the people 'above them' (physically and metaphorically) are getting paid. Also, citizens called for jury duty will not receive their checks until after the shutdown. Once again, why would someone take time away from THEIR own work to be a juror without getting paid.

This is a classic example of our Government failing us. And I will not stand for it. What are your thoughts on the potential shutdown? Do you think this will blow over? How are you going to better our generation? Don't ever forget...

"People shouldn't be afraid of their government.

 Governments should be afraid of their people" 

(Alan Moore, V for Vendetta). 

Cannabis: It's as Responsible as You Make It

Now that Governor Quinn has officially signed off bill HB 1, which will allow qualified Illinois citizens to receive medical cannabis as early as January 2014, the push for federal legalization is growing at an exponential rate. In a recent Gallup study, a record high of 50 percent of Americans would favor legalization. In 1969, only twelve percent of Americans thought the drug should be legal (Gallup). CNN correspondent, David Nathan, wrote an interesting opinion article about how to properly end the prohibition. In it he brings up the valid concern of how to keep minors away from the drug once legalized. He says the politicians should "limit advertising, sales and public consumption of cannabis products the way we do with alcohol and/or tobacco, fund preventive youth education about the dangers of underage cannabis use and ban cannabis packaging and advertising that targets or attracts underage users" (Nathan).

 These are all great ideas, but what it comes down to is how the parent(s) inform their children about the dangers of under age use of cannabis. Parents need to be strict with their kids, especially when cannabis becomes recreationally legal. I know that if I was ten years old and I saw my parents sparking up on the front porch, I would have thought it was an okay thing for me to do as well. But if they explained to me that the use of cannabis should only be for adults because of the negative affects it has on children, I would have happily waited until I was an adult to responsibly enjoy cannabis. But this attitude will only come from future generations who can experience their parents legally, responsibly and safely using pot. I hope that I am be the pioneer generation of parents that can enjoy cannabis, just as my parents did with alcohol, while teaching my kids the very real and prevalent health risks that cannabis has on the young mind. 

What are your thoughts on cannabis legalization? Do you think as a parent you could responsibly enjoy cannabis while explaining the negative effects on a young mind to your kid. Or would you feel like a hypocrite? Please leave your thoughts and comments in the below comment section. Don't say something you wouldn't want the whole world to know, so please be smart with your words. 

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