I am not a citizen, yet live in the US for 21 years (I married a citizen). Our HOA board, and a conference board I belonged to, recited the pledge before every meeting.
I have no allegiance to any piece of fabric, and don't see how it has anything to do with our discussion about how to paint the house etc. I am also an atheist, so "under god" doesn't belong here either. I feel very alienated, and I wonder how US citizens act when they are in my home country and would have to pledge allegiance to my country's flag and pray say to Allah before every meeting??
For the two+ years I've been at our school, we have not done the pledge. Our meetings, even though following Robert's Rules, are fairly informal. I'm PTO pres. and will not start it. However, if someone asks, I'm not opposed to it. Right now it's hard enough getting business taken care of in one hour without adding something else to do. I know this makes me sound unpatriotic (I'm really not!) but I just don't feel it's necessary.
Our elementary PTA does this but our MS Parents Group does not. I think it's good to do and reminds us of our connection and responsiblity to our country. Also, for any students that happen to walk by the meeting and see the adults saying the pledge, it reinforces the meaning behind the action. i.e. that it's not just a something you say before you start class.
We do not do this in our local meetings but we do open our State board meetings with the Pledge of a Allegiance. I heard this once somewhere before and it makes sense. It is a reminder to us of our responsibilities and that we are proud of our country, especially to be able to hold a meeting such as this in a free country.
I don't know if that is why we do it, but it's why I participate when we do.
This may sound weird, but I always considered this something that was done at the begining of the day. We do not say it at our meeting, which is held in the afternoon, but it is said every morning at our school.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
We don't. I would not be adverse to doing so though if it were already in place. I just do not think it was something that was ever done before a meeting.
