Pledgeless In Calfornia

The student government at one California community college have decided to ban the Pledge of Alligiance to the Flag because, they say, it is "irrelevant" and "inspires nationalism and violates the separation between church and state:"

COSTA MESA, California (AP) -- Student leaders at a community college voted to drop the Pledge of Allegiance after a tense meeting in which one flag-waving pledge supporter berated them as anti-American radicals.

Orange Coast College's student trustees voted Wednesday not to recognize the pledge, with three of the five board members saying it should be dropped from their meetings.

Board member Jason Ball argued that the pledge inspires nationalism, violates the separation between church and state with the phrase "under God," and is irrelevant to the business of student government. He cited a 2002 San Francisco federal appeals court ruling -- later dismissed by the Supreme Court on a technicality -- that the pledge is unconstitutional when recited in public schools.

Sophomore Chris Belanger, one of several students who attended the meeting to support keeping the pledge, waved an American flag and accused the board of "radical views and anti-Americanism."

Coast Community College District spokeswoman Martha Parham said the decision was up to the students.

"They run their own show, so to speak," she said.

Heh. Since these student "leaders" have taken it upon themselves to make a "statement" by rejecting the United States Flag, I wonder if these same student "leaders" would be willing to make an even bigger "statement" by rejecting all government-supplied financial aid as well. ------------------------------See our latest EduPosts here and this date's Extra Credit Reading there.