To me, the Pledge of Allegiance is an honor to recite. I am honored to be a citizen of what I believe to be the greatest nation ever conceived. I choose to honor our nation by standing for the Pledge and the National Anthem. I also understand your choice not to stand if you do not believe as I do. That's what real freedom is all about.

According to the writers of the U.S. Constitution the right to not stand, although not specifically mentioned, is protected under the laws of our nation.

The United States Supreme Court made it very clear back in 1943, that nobody can be compelled to stand for the Pledge.

Those comments were made by ACLU  Executive Director Marjorie Esman and were reported by the Louisiana Radio Network.

The American Civil Liberties Union has recently received reports of some students being forced or mandated to stand for the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Standing for for the Pledge and the National Anthem has become a hot button topic as of late. But it is not a new topic by any means.

This is not new, and any school administrator should know something that is as old as that -- is a fundamental right that everybody has.

The offices of the ACLU have reported complaints that students have been threatened with detention or other disciplinary acts if they do not comply and rise for the Pledge.

What this country stands for is respect for diversity of opinion. And I think it's too bad that sometimes we forget what makes us free. That means free to disagree with one another.

There were no specific school systems or schools that were mentioned in this particular report. The letters sent by the ACLU were simply sent to education officials as a reminder that the rights of all Americans, no matter how young or how old, are still protected under the Constitution.

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