READERS RESPOND

Oh my. Dumping the Pledge of Allegiance because a “few” of the students at Orange Coast College were “upset” to recite the pledge. Give me a break. It sounds like situational ethics run amok, which is nothing new on college campuses nationwide as they pursue there curriculum forward to the “Great Secular Socialist Utopian Nightmare.”

Thomas Jefferson had it right when he said, “If a nation expects to be both ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never will be.”

Or maybe more to the point is this: “If we ever forget we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” That is courtesy of President Ronald Reagan.

OAKLEY JORDAN

Costa Mesa

It is a sad, sad day. The decision to discontinue the Pledge of Allegiance is just to keep some students from feeling “uncomfortable?” What about those who now feel uncomfortable about the words “under God” being removed from the beginning of the meeting? How will you react to them — me — and what will you change?

We are a nation that was founded to respect others and allow for them to practice and voice personal opinions and beliefs. It is called free speech. Enjoy the freedoms that you have as I do, but do not be offended when I disagree with you and get offended by your actions. People come to the United States in hopes of a better life filled with opportunity and challenges; embrace the challenge and celebrate the diversity that these people bring with them. But assimilate into the culture, participate in the process and become leaders to future generations with the knowledge and experience that our Founding Fathers left us with.

God was a large part of the process that founded this country: Read the literature from the time, study the architecture of every federal building, review the history of our currency, and look at the pictures from Arlington cemetery — those individuals gave their lives to protect our way of life and our culture.

You tell me if we should remove God and where would we be. Re-instate the Pledge of Allegiance

JOHN MCLUCKEY

Costa Mesa

Being a Navy Junior (son of an Annapolis graduate and a career Naval officer) and myself a World War II veteran and retired military man, my opinion of the OCC student leaders’ action is more than just that I am affected! I am also disturbed that the OCC administration felt no need to at least state disapproval of the student action, even admitting that “a few of the students based on their own personal beliefs are choosing to do this.”

I am sorry that trustee Brent Bettis felt “that particular ceremony was making some people uncomfortable.” I am more than uncomfortable by this decision and that Jason Ball, a political theory major, felt the idea of nationality is divisive.

I thank God that enough young men and women have felt strongly about nationality and patriotism to serve in our military to enable him to express his misguided opinion. Heaven help this country if this an example of what we can expect of future leadership — where has our system failed in educating about loyalty to country?

ED BAUME

Costa Mesa

I think the students need to spend time in some foreign countries to realize just what we have here in America.

Possibly they would enjoy this fall and winter in Pyongyang, North Korea. I’m sure they wouldn’t have to say the Pledge of Allegiance to America there.

KEN THOMPSON

Newport Beach

These few students have forgotten or never understood the real values of the American Constitution. Perhaps if they could stand in a battleground to defend America and what we stand for, they might find God, but surely they would become respectful for the rights of others and realize that the majority of Americans still do believe in God.

The basic right of all Americans is the freedom to live life according to their beliefs. But that doesn’t mean denying these basic rights to everyone else. How arrogant, misguided and un-American. We should remember English Prime Minister Tony Blair’s words during a recent interview, when asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America. He said: “A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in, and how many want out. Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you. One, Jesus Christ; two, the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.”

ELIZABETH BROEDLOW

Newport Beach

Congratulations to the OCC student leaders in their position that recitation of a divisive formula that reflects the religions preferences of only one part of the population serves no useful purpose as they conduct their business.

OCC is a public institution with a diverse student body, and as such should not be advocating a religious position. The recitation of a formula such as the pledge does nothing to advance democratic or ethical principles but only to attempt to enforce a very un-American conformity of thought.

ROBERTA FOX

Costa Mesa

As a devout pantheist for 33 years, I place myself within rather than “under” God.

People who see God floating in the sky somewhere are mistaken. God is with us, everywhere, and we are part of God. It is our moral duty to recognize the divinity within us and act upon it.

I have never understood why the government involves itself in the personal religious views of its citizens. The U.S. government is wrong about God.

LANCE JENCKS

Costa Mesa

Considering the fact that the words “Creator,” “God” and “Divine Providence” occur successively in the first, second and last paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, I find it odd that a student would find the words “under God” a violation of separation of church and state. And to think the person is a political theory major at that.

ILA JOHNSON

Costa Mesa

We can all learn from the courage of the Orange Coast College student board in that pledges and symbolism should not be use to divide Americans. God; overzealous, knee-jerk, xenophobic patriotism; and the American flag have become nationally divisive mantras of the Republican party. Actually, the flag belongs to all Americans regardless of their opinions. When pledges, the flag and other symbolism is used to divide Americans, then these symbols become symbols of tyranny as used by the Nazis with their swastika and nationalist bunting, and salutes and pledges to the “homeland.”

Andy Rooney summed the situation, quite well, last weekend, on TV’s “60 Minutes” with a diatribe questioning the sincerity of those who persuade with a display of lapel pin American flags. The altered Pledge of Allegiance has become similarly questionable and divisive.

PAUL FITZ-GIBBON

Newport Beach

I believe that they should say the Pledge of Allegiance because this is to the American flag, and if you live in America, I believe that that should be a common thing across the United States of America. And in the quote where they said “under God,” I think that should also be kept in the Pledge of Allegiance.

MYRLA SESLER

Costa Mesa