Reuters reports: “Student leaders at a California college have touched off a furor by banning the Pledge of Allegiance at their meetings, saying they see no reason to publicly swear loyalty to God and the U.S. government.”

They must have too much free time on their hands.

“The move was led by three recently elected student trustees, who ran for office wearing revolutionary-style berets and said they do not believe in publicly swearing an oath to the American flag and government at their school. One student trustee voted against the measure, which does not apply to other student groups or campus meetings.”

Wonder what their parents dress like.

Berets? Like Che Guevara? Viva la revolution?

The move by Orange Coast College student trustees, the latest clash over patriotism and religion in American schools, has infuriated some of their classmates — prompting one young woman to loudly recite the pledge in front of the board on Wednesday night in defiance of the rule.

“America is the one thing I’m passionate about and I can’t let them take that away from me,” 18-year-old political science major Christine Zoldos told Reuters.

“The fact that they have enough power to ban one of the most valued traditions in America is just horrible,” Zoldos said, adding she would attend every board meeting to salute the flag.

Well, at least there’s one person with some proper sense of respect and belonging.

OC Register further reports:

Three of five Associated Students trustees took the action Monday, with board member Jason Ball calling the flag salute “irrelevant to the business of student government.”

“While it’s great to be an American, and I’m proud to be an American, yadda-yadda-yadda, and I appreciate all the rituals, I’m done” saluting the flag, Ball said Wednesday.

. . .

The three trustees who voted not to acknowledge the salute – Ball, Regis Jues and Coyotl Tezcatlipoca – remained seated while about two dozen attendees recited verses. Trustee Chairman Brent Bettes, who didn’t participate in Monday’s vote, also remained silent. Board member Michelle Schneider, the sole dissenting vote, took part.

. . .

While religious overtones were one element of the trustees’ motivation, other concerns existed. “Nationalism is something that divides people,” said Ball, wearing black boots, a beret and a hammer-and-sickle pin.

By definition, nationalism unites. Muliculturalism, otherwise known as diversity, divides.

But what can you expect from someone talking PC-rhetoric while wearing a hammer-and-sickle?

Perhaps he’s too busy being a fearless campus activist and missed class about Soviet-style communism.

Yes, they were against organized religion. But they were also against individuality. While fiercely nationalist, communism demands conformity by all — except the leadership, of course. Is that what he’s thinking?

While this punk is woefully in need of education, here’s a quick lesson: the pledge is about patriotism. And had he been born into a communist nation and propose not singing the national anthem, they would probably jail him — after beating him. If only we could find out.

But who cares? He’s safe to suck his thumb under the cover of freedom in the U.S. And evidently, it’s hip to dress like a subversive, combat boots and Columbine-chic, while trying to tear down establishment and that which gives young people the rights and privileges to be educated at taxpayers’ expense.

In this case, we clearly need a refund.

UPDATE: More “San Francisco values”…
Michelle Malkin: “Waging war on JROTC”

1. More California Anti-American Stuff….

   From CC:

   California Conservative
   Speaking Out For The Silent Majority (TM) Last: Monday, November……

   Trackback by From the Mind of Splittfinger — November 13, 2006 @ 10:36 am

1. I attend graduate school at a fairly liberal institution. I went into this venture having come out of a mixed political upbringing. These multiple experiences have brought me to believe strongly in the people of the United States. Contrary to popular belief the U.S. Government is representative of these very same people, of US! When I pledge allegiance to the U.S. Flag I pledge allegiance to my fellow brothers and sisters who make up this country, not some abstract government.

   While I believe that academic freedom is necessary there is a point. That point is respect. Respect for the people of the country who believe in the freedom that young man is exercising enough to fight and defend it. I can understand his reasons for not wanting to pledge allegiance to the flag, however I do not condone the disrespect, his inability to look beyond himself, with which he goes about his dissent.

   Comment by Jon — November 11, 2006 @ 1:17 pm

2. It’s a “Pledge of Allegiance” The lefties and wakobats do not want ” Allegiance ” - they want anarchy.

   Comment by wiretapping — November 15, 2006 @ 2:42 am

3. Jason Ball is an arrogant little punk who would no doubt feel more comfortable and at home in Cuba. Castro is probably one of Ball’s idols, along with Karl Marx, Lenin and Joe Stalin.

   The Pledge of Allegiance is about patriotism, and Ball obviously has no conception of what it entails. Frankly, as far as I am concerned, Comrade Ball has nothing but contempt for our nation and knows absolutely nothing about our history. Nationalism unites, it does not divide.

   Comment by Rich — November 18, 2006 @ 10:12 pm

4. Orange Coast STUDENT TRUSTEE SAYS: “THE FLAG REPRESENTS GENOCIDE”

   The issue is not the pledge. There is room for discussion on whether or not a student government meeting needs to begin with a recital of the pledge.

   The issue is that the Student Trustees hate America and they are trying to use their position as elected student government leaders to spread this hatred.

   How do we know? Because at a meeting of Student Government, one of the Student Trustees explained the reason for opposing the flag.

   He said: “The Flag Represents Genocide”

   Comment by Star Spangle — November 23, 2006 @ 5:40 pm

5. As a tour guide for over twenty five years, I have been astonished at the lack of national pride and patriotism displayed by the Northern Californian, Oregonian, and Washingtonian students I conduct throughout the East Coast.

   They don’t know America’s national songs and I was enbarrassed recently at the Tomb of George Washington at Mount Vernon when three quarters of the students at a wreath-laying ceremony neither participated nor knew how to salute during the Pledge of Allegiance.

   Our flag is portrayed by many of these students as a, ‘rag of shame’.

   George Washington has been catagorized as an uncaring slave owner. Thomas Jefferson has been reduced to a rapist!

   As an educational travel program planner, I no longer market to the Bay Area or Pacific Northwest since they seem to dwell on the warts rather than the wonders of our history. There is so much I can take! The students are becoming ruder and more cynical each year. They initially get this from their parents but it is reinforced in the schools.

   And now the trend is to cut out homework! (See my post for February 28th.)

   What’s going on, here?

   I shall be moving to California at the end of the year to be closer to my SoCal clients, who seem to be more in line with my sentiments.

   Comment by The Tour Marm — February 28, 2007 @ 2:55 pm