MAILBAG - Nov. 24, 2006

Constitution is on

students’ side

I was saddened by the nasty tone of the letters bashing the student government at OCC for not reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at their meetings. It seems that if some people disagree with conservatives, they must be unpatriotic — or worse, “liberals.”

Since 1954, when the phrase “under God” was inserted in the pledge, I ceased to recite it because it is insulting, superficial theology and blatantly not true. The only document that a citizen is pledged to uphold is the Constitution, and it has no mention of God. This is not a “nation under God!”

The Supreme Court has held that no one must be made to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and these students are exercising their freedoms under The Constitution. It can’t be assumed that they don’t love their country and are unpatriotic. Dissent is not unpatriotic, but a Congress and administration that sets aside the Bill of Rights and usurps the freedom of the citizens is un-American.

JAMES E. YOUNG

Newport Beach

Glad that pledge was

reinstated at college

I am a 12-year Navy veteran. I am 40% disabled with a service-connected disability.

I am thrilled that the Pledge of Allegiance has been re-instated at Orange Coast College.

I was thoroughly insulted when I read it was banned. First of all, I do not feel our Pledge of Allegiance has anything to do with religion. The pledge and our national anthem get me very emotional and full of pride every time I hear them or participate in the recital of them.

Everybody has the right not to say it, just as millions of us have the right to hear it and say it. We don’t force it down anyone’s throat. So why do those students feel the need to force their beliefs down mine?

If they are so offended by it, they can either be silent when it is recited aloud or (my personal preference) they can leave this great nation of ours!

Mike Vignapiano

Levittown, PA

Be grateful you

live in this country

Putting the pledge back on the agenda was the correct thing to do. The problem in the first place would appear to be that a few radical students had the power to impact the entire student body without their participation in the decision.

Perhaps the governance process needs to be reviewed to provide a check and balance that does not allow a few members of the board to make critical decisions for the entire student body.

Many have made extreme sacrifices for this great nation of ours, and it is a shame that those in question have no sense of history or commitment to the very country that provides them the obvious opportunities they enjoy.

Perhaps they should open their eyes to what goes on in this world and thank God they live in the United States of America.

Tom Carter

New Jersey

Take a closer look

at the flag

Meghan Onsrud makes some good points (“One OCC student isn’t giving up on pledge,” Mailbag, Nov. 19). In essence, I agree with all that she says. But it must be a misprint when she states that “we take pride in the 50 white stars, the 13 red stripes and the 13 blue stripes which make up our flag.” If it isn’t a misprint or a misquote, Meghan needs to take a second look at the flag.

For the record, there are no blue stripes, only 7 red and 6 white, for a total of 13, and those white stars are on a brilliant field of blue.

Hence, the red, white and blue. And “the republic for which it stands” is indeed worthy of allegiance.

As for Ryan Lean, “Pledge wasn’t always taken under God,” (same citation as above), how Lean arrives at the conclusion that the phrase, “under God” is an infringement on anyone’s religious freedom is a great mystery. I could understand if the words were “under Christ” or some other deity, but they are not. How do the words “under God” require anyone to “recognize the God the majority worships”?

They don’t. The fact remains, in this country one is free to call and worship (or not worship) God by the name of his own choosing, and that right is not infringed upon by the simple addition of the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. Please do not confuse the issue by asserting that it is.

For all those out there who find the public flag salute uncomfortable for any reason, simply refrain from participating in it.

This is America, you can do that. Yes, the “protection of the individual from the majority via civil liberties” is a worthy principle, and, I would add, what defines the United States as a republic, not a democracy.

On the other hand, don’t force your minority position on those who do wish to participate in the long-standing and widely practiced Pledge of Allegiance at public events.

Ila Johnson

Costa Mesa