What allegiance?

Punishment for not saying the pledge may be unconstitutional these days, and Lord knows, no one wants a law suit in a public school.

Fourteen-year-old Bishop Edens was suspended from school Friday because he wouldn't stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, but he was quickly invited back once his principal learned that rule might be unconstitutional.

The back-and-forth came on the second day of controversy at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Junior High over the school's policy of requiring students to stand — but not necessarily recite — during the pledge.

Edens saw three of his classmates get disciplined by Principal Colleen Houglum on Thursday, so he decided to break the rule on Friday in protest.

Why, what better way to express the values of this free nation than to allow peaceful protest of that nation's practices?

Should we force them to stand? I think Yes. Should we force them to say it? Even more so, I think Yes. What harm is it to them if we do? If they are forced to speak the words or refuse to, either way, they can use that experience to "build character" and hey, maybe even use it as a testament to their patriotism in a future run for public office.

Barack Obama refuses to put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem, and he's running for President after all. And people think it's patriotic.

I will not apologize for making children pledge allegiance to the nation that promises them all that America does. I will not apologize for asking them to stand and observe the practice in traditional form. I will not apologize for asking Americans to put their hands over their hearts.