Pledge was misused at campaign debate

It was with sadness that I read the Oct. 28 article titled “Pledge controversy leads to death threat claims.” I wasn't at the Bean-Walsh debate in Grayslake, but I've been to a number of political debates in my life, and never once have I seen the pledge recited at such an event.

Had the organizers of the event built this into the debate as part of the format, it would have been one thing; but to have a group of partisans essentially hijack the event for what appears to be their agenda is downright cynical.

And to have death threats death threats! brought against someone who speaks their mind against this cynicism is absolutely despicable.

The American flag and pledge, and the ideals for which they stand, are too important to allow them to be sullied by those who would use them as pawns in a political crusade.

Ironically, one of those ideals which the flag represents is freedom of speech and conscience. That means that no one can be required to recite the pledge not even schoolchildren. This has been emphasized by a 1943 Supreme Court ruling that public school students have the right, under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, to refuse to recite the pledge.

How far gone is our political discourse in this country when this kind of thuggish behavior is seen as acceptable by self-styled “patriots?” Merely reciting the pledge is not proof of one's patriotism or love of country. After all, if Osama bin Laden stood and recited the pledge to our flag, would that make him a good, patriotic American? Upon reading this story, I am reminded of the words of Sinclair Lewis: “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.”

Matthew Lowry

Vernon Hills