So exactly how haywire has the movement to insert P.C. into every facet of American life gone? This far:
Wheat Ridge, Colo. (AP) — A school counselor leading the Pledge of Allegiance over the public address system substituted “one nation under your belief system” for “one nation under God.” The school apologized for the impromptu switch after students and parents complained.
Note to readers: this is NOT a satire written by Andy Borowitz:
Everitt Middle School counselor Margo Lucero said her change of words was “a spur-of-the-moment choice” meant to be more inclusive on the sixth anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings on Wednesday.
Oh. Well, then, why stop there? Why not redesign the American flag so that the stars have many different colors, to provide more diversity?
Principal Kathleen Norton, who was out of the building at the time, apologized to students Thursday and planned to send letters of apology to parents. Jefferson County School District Superintendent Cindy Stevenson called the change completely inappropriate.
This AP reporter needs to be FIRED. You do NOT call them “letters of apology.” That will hurt counselor’s fragile self esteem and not be nurturing enough. They are sending out “letters of enhanced knowledge expansion and conscience transformational change.” MORE:
“We completely believe any teacher or student has the right to follow their individual conscience,” Stevenson said. “However, when leading children, you adhere to the Pledge of Allegiance.”
It should not be called a “PLEDGE” of “ALLEGIANCE.” It is a “free choice affirmative empowerment decision” of “voluntary solidarity.”
Stevenson wouldn’t say if Lucero faces any discipline.
Disclipine has been proven to be counterproductive.
She needs a time-out.
–Joe Gandelperson
Some other voices pondering the hurtfulness of the Pledge include:
Tyler Cowen
Blogfodder
Michelle Malkin
Capital Region People
Respublica
Ann Althouse A MUST READ!
James Joyner
Norbizness
Orrin Judd
Queen of All Evil
Pajama Pundits (which not only comments on it but offers us an American flag that has more diversity). A must see.
The Debate Link
Kevin Drum
Half Sigma
The Uncooperative Blogger
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.