What, legally speaking, is a pledge of allegiance? Is it an act of faith, like the recitation of the Lord's Prayer or Hail Mary, expressed in reverence to the nation-state? Is it a contract between a "person" or "individual" and the government? Is it really to be considered valid in any way if such a pledge is done under coercion, or without full informed consent? Why should we "thank the government" for our freedom? That sounds a bit backwards to me. As to the case cited in the original post, I have no knowledge of it, but it would not surprise me. It is quite possible we're not being told the entire story either.
Say Pledge of Allegiance or Go To Jail
by cameo-d 16 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
-
-
PrimateDave
That's a good video trueblue. Funny though, I don't see it as a triumph for JWs (who in reality aren't about freedom at all as can be seen from their own literature) but as a testament to the reasonableness of judge Robert H. Jackson and how lucky the United States was to have a man like him serve on the Supreme Court. Governments exist to oppress, and were it not for people of character to resist that oppression we would not enjoy the freedoms we have today. The fight never ends. Where are the women and men of character today?
-
cameo-d
UPDATE: Law prof says judge lucky he can't be sued in Pledge jailing "The judge is lucky he's immune from being sued," said George Cochran, the iconic constitutional law professor at the University of Mississippi. Read more: NEMS360.com - UPDATE Law prof says judge lucky he can t be sued in Pledge jailing Read more: NEMS360.com - UPDATE Law prof says judge lucky he can t be sued in Pledge jailing
-
serenitynow!
It seems very un-American to be jailed for not saying the pledge. I don't think it matters what the man's motives were, he shouldn't have to say it if he doesn't want to.
-
cameo-d
Well, of course you all know they will get around to giving the Jehovah's Witnesses some good publicity.
quote:
“This man has a constitutional right not be forced to repeat the pledge.”
First Amendment scholars point to the 1943 U.S. Supreme Court decision in West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette, a case in which Jehovah’s Witness students refused to salute the flag.
The Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment protected students from the salute or the pledge, saying that the state did not have the power to compel speech in that manner for anyone.
While Littlejohn could not be reached for comment Thursday, the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance is believed to have received at least one complaint about Lampley’s treatment.
Bloggers and attorneys also have criticized Littlejohn, a former district attorney who was admitted to the Bar in 1960 and lives in New Albany.
Phillip Thomas, a Jackson attorney who also blogs, termed Littlejohn’s conduct “ignorant and inexcusable.”
Said Rob McDuff, a well-known civil liberties lawyer in Jackson: “Judge are supposed to enforce the Bill of Rights, not violate it in their own courtrooms,”
McDuff and First Amendment Center scholar David Hudson Jr. in Nashville said they’d never heard of a similar situation.
Lampley’s exercise of his rights had “no bearing” on the judicial proceedings scheduled in Littlejohn’s courtroom, Professor Cochran said.
Read more: NEMS360.com - Lampley’s ‘no pledge’ jailing brings out strong reactions -
Farkel
No one (and that includes dubs like "debator") should be required to say a pledge of allegience in the United States of America. Requiring such a thing is an insult to the very liberties our Founders fought and died for.
Farkel
-
believingxjw
Good point, Farkel.
Verbally pledging allegiance means nothing as evidenced by the many politicians who freely say the Pledge but who in practice put their political party above their country. The same goes for the heads of corporations who also say the Pledge while stabbing the U.S. in the back for the sake of money.
It's actions not words that prove our allegiance to the principles set forth in the Constitution and the writings of the Founding Fathers.