To stand or Not to stand

Recently I got involved in a discussion on Standing for the Pledge of Alligiance. The discussion took me places I hadn't given much thought about. When my generation stands is it because we truly know why we are standing or was it just ingrained that we should? In recent years people's right to stand or not stand has come into play. Heck in school we couldn't force a student to say the pledge but he/she had to stand. Most students said the pledge but was it out of fear, following the crowd, or because they really understood what they were saying & why? A recent cartoon showing a student sitting with his feet up on his desk during the pledge and his teacher standing next to a wounded vet sitting in a wheel chair led to the discussion I mentioned earlier. The teacher pointed out to the student that the vet couldn't stand because of wounds he inflicted protecting the student's right to not stand.

Very Interesting. Do students today really understand where their rights were earned? Do they understand why George Washington led an army of colonists fighting for their freedom to be a new nation "under God" and not under British Rule? Do they understand the Declaration of Independence & what it says & means? Do they understand the Constitution & Bill of Rights, where those rights came from, & what was lost to gain those rights? Do they understand that all the wars & fights our country has been in since has been fought to protect those rights . Not only our rights but the rights of all people to be free?

So Why stand during the pledge? Why recite the pledge? Why stand during the Star Spangled Banner? Why sing it?

I believe it all started out of Respect for the Flag and what it stood for. Under that flag, many men & women fought for those rights & to protect & keep those rights we hold so true. Over the years many have given their lives to keep us free & protect our rights.

Now there are some that say that one of those rights we fought for is the right we have to not stand. Well I suppose they are right. We don't have to stand during the pledge or our country's national anthem or when our flag goes by. But so many of the morals that made our country the greatest country in the world are gone. Gone due to apathy or the lack of good foundation for our children due to so many "advances". Ah..there's my wit & sarcasm shining through. Advances in many areas have allowed us to forget to raise respectable and moral children to carry on the respect and honor we should afford our country, it's flag, & all those who have given to protect our right to stand or not. Sad but true.

So for what it's worth, No one should stand because they are just following the leader or out of fear. But Hopefully after they've been taught where those rights they hold dear came from, they will WANT to stand up for America & for all those who died to give us our freedom,to keep us free, & who gave us our rights.
It's the least we can do.