Lodi's Pledge of Allegiance fuss

Let's be calm and let the Joe Serna Jr. school community decide this

Let's be calm and let the Joe Serna Jr. school community decide this any a Lodian's blood is aboil about some parents at Joe Serna Charter School questioning the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

The emotion is understandable. Serna School has a high population of students whose parents recently arrived in the U.S. We all want them and their kids to become good Americans.

Plus, the pledge is becoming an issue to shout about in the church-state debate.

But let's strive to be calm.

We adults are role models and teachers, like it or not. Our example influences all young people, every one of whom is a new American. We should nurture in them pride in democracy and their country. We should not scream at them or at each other.

So, what's the debate all about?

Many Americans see the pledge's declaration that America is "one nation under God" as an important statement of principle, a recognition that even a powerful nation must humble itself before the Almighty. Many Serna parents agree.

Others have mouthed the words of the pledge without reflection, without taking them heart.

Not so for Michael Newdow, who sued the Elk Grove School District. He is part of a movement among atheists to actively resist the requirement by schools that their children say they accept the role of "God" in guiding our nation. They point to the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom as protecting a lack of religious conviction.

Apparently this thinking is shared by a number of parents of Serna School students.

So how do three groups of Americans — the "gotta put God before country" group, the "don't care" group and the "can't make me say it" group — resolve their differences?

We would recommend democracy.

It won't feel right if the answer comes from the Lodi Unified School District board or the administration of Serna School. This is not an issue that will succumb easily to top-down government.

The real stake holders are the parents who chose to send their children to Serna School and, of course, the students. The rest of us should step back.

It may behoove the administration to create the forum for resolution. Perhaps a town hall meeting to create understanding of each sides' feelings, to air the facts and the arguments.

Remember, keep it calm.

Out of this town hall meeting should come sensible options. We were surprised to learn this week that the California Education Code doesn't require school children to recite the pledge. Charter schools don't have to do anything like the pledge, and public schools are only required to do something "patriotic" every day: sing a patriotic song, observe a moment of silence or read a short U.S. history lesson, for example.

These options and others — including the full pledge, nothing and an opt-out rule — could be put on a ballot.

Who should vote?

Of course, the parents are the adults, the guardians of their children and nurturers of their values. They will do just fine.

But why not let the kids vote?

If learning by doing is the best way, why not have them listen to the debate and then decide. That will teach them the most important lesson any American can learn — practical democracy.

Pure leftist hypocrisy

Speaking of democracy in action, how about Berkeley's City Council attempt to expel a Marine Corps recruiting office?

Pure leftist hypocrisy, in our book.

After all, we're sure the council members of Berkeley rabidly support the right to choose.

Shouldn't Marine recruiters have the right to invite the young men and women of Berkeley to sign up?

Shouldn't those young people have the right to consider such an opportunity?

And if every city sought to jettison recruiters, where would we be?

We'd have a draft.

No choice.

Just go.

We hardly think that would please the leaders of the People's Republic of Berkeley, as the late scribe Herb Caen described this bluest-of-the-blue burgs by the bay.

Faced with a fiery backlash, and the threat of losing both state and federal dollars, the Berkeley council reversed course this week — proving that even in Berkeley, common sense may eventually prevail.

— Lodi News-Sentinel