Comments (1)

1. From: Harold Baran   On: April 11, 2013

   re: Todays hour #2 re: the Pledge of Allegiance. Your question to the guest, about children learning by rote before they fully understand the content of what they are learning, was apt. That this is necessary to the education of children is common knowledge among all good parents. An education in good manners, religion, morals, or patriotism doesn’t begin in late childhood or adolescence; by then it’s too late. Personally, as a lifelong atheist, when the words ‘under God” were inserted into the pledge, I wasn’t pleased (I was in the 4th grade.) I’ve never said those two words and it’s been no big deal. Your guest seemed horrified that unpatriotic or atheistic children are suffering from hearing the pledge of allegiance. In my case, whatever pressure was applied against me, (there was a little from time to time,) constituted a part of my education in standing up for my views under pressure. There is a majority culture in our country, and the various minority cultures should be able to respect that reality without whining and without giving in on their own basic principles. Thanks for a good program.

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