Where do we get such children?

Three small-town eighth-graders in Minnesota were suspended by their principal for not standing Thursday morning for the Pledge of Allegiance, violating a district policy that the principal now says may soon be reworded to protect free speech rights.

Could it be from reading that Hussein won't wear a flag lapel pin?

Where do we get such children?

"My son wasn't being defiant against America," said Kim Dahl, mother of one of the students, Brandt, who attends Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Junior High School in northwestern Minnesota.

Brandt told the Forum newspaper in Fargo that Thursday's one-day in-school suspension, "was kind of dumb because I didn't do anything wrong. It should be the people's choice."

Could it be that he never saw his parents stand? Could it be that he has never been taught about the sacrifices made by America? Did anyone ever tell him about the 405,000 who died to destroy a malignant Germany and Japan?

Where do we get such children?

The head of the Minnesota American Civil Liberties Union said that the school's actions against the students are unconstitutional, and his office informed the district of that today in a strongly worded letter.

"The school can't do that; that's illegal," said Chuck Samuelson, the civil liberties group's executive director. "Wow."

Has anyone explained to these children that with rights come responsibilities? Or have they been told repeatedly they they can do anything they want to do, and that they owe nothing to the country of their birth.

Where do we get such children?

Kim Dahl asked Brandt why he has been remained seated all school year, but "he didn't have an answer ... he doesn't get in trouble; he's just a normal 13-year-old."

As for today, she told Brandt to take his cell phone with him to school and text her should he run into trouble again. "I said you should probably just stand if you're not protesting something."

Does the last sentence tell us? Why should a 13 year old be protesting anything?
And if they are, why would a parent not just tell them to knock it off?

How can a 13 year old possibly be mature enough to protest against his country? What have they been taught?

Perhaps the answer to the last question tells us where we get such children.

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