Every school has its traditions. Over the past few years it has become a tradition in a high school in southern Wisconsin to one day a year to allow the Spanish classes recite the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish.
However this year when the Pledge, on March 11th, was recited in Spanish, parents become outraged. So outraged that the parents demanded the school fire the Spanish teacher, the principal, and the superintendent. The superintendent says he was even physically threatened.
I can understand Americans being frustrated when immigrants do not learn the English language, but going as far as threatening someone because one day a year the school allows the Pledge of Allegiance to be said in another language is ridiculous and shows only ignorance. I almost want to laugh at their objection, but it again shows how racism is still an issue in this country. The people objecting to this feel it is unpatriotic, but the excuse does not hold any water. Say the Pledge in whatever language you choose; the meaning of the words does not change.
In the article in The Progressive, one parent is quoted saying,
"I don't want any of my three boys coming home saying, ‘Dad, we did the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish.' "
The same man's son says he feels it is disrespectful to the troops.
I've stated above why I believe this is untrue. And the superintendent, Fjelstad, responded eloquently with this:
I know there are 400 Hispanic speaking soldiers that won't disagree with them. They can't disagree because they gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, there are 110,000 Spanish-speaking Hispanics serving in the military that I believe would agree with me that speaking Spanish does not dishonor the military.