I used to feel that when I was younger, but that ended up changing. It is a pledge that is said every single school day. We get it, the school system wants you to be patriotic. I don't think it is needed though. Either you're patriotic or you're not. The school I went to made you stand up, but you didn't have to put your hand over your heart. If it wasn't for that small fact, I wouldn't have stood up either in high school. Nothing against the flag, soldiers, or country, but I have said it and stood through it enough. I feel slightly different if it is the Nation Anthem though. It is only on occasion and usually in a place that isn't mandatory to go to. Even then, that is why soldiers give their life to this country. The freedom to do as you please as long as it doesn't endangers or harms anyone else. All in all, I don't really care either way.

I agree with the moment of silence, they should be quite for that amount of time. With the pledge I believe people have their own views, we've been saying it for years and I see why some people don't do it.

my school stopped it once we hit high school. i think they got tired of it , every morning

When I was in highschool I never had a problem with this. Everyone stood during the national anthem and remained in a standing silence for the following minute or so after.

It may be because I took all academic/university level classes so there wasn't as many people in those classes who just didn't give a damn.

It is rude though, I agree with you on that. Three minutes out of your day to do something for your country, shouldn't be too hard.

Doing it to act cool? No. God, no. Just, no. If you do it because you are against something within it, by all means, go ahead and be a grump. It's not required, but you will be frowned upon by other students. 'Under God...' is being taken out in a lot of pledges simply because that is the main conflict. Come to think of it, what other conflict is there? You being too lazy to get up basically? And to me the 'moment of silence is showing little significance. It's only done as tradition. If you want an actual moment of silence, a one minute interval during your school announcements is the worst one possible.

It is pretty disrespectful, but I find that students as you are talking about, might not understand the full meaning behind it if you know what I mean.

We are all human and we live on earth, nationalism to me is superficial. Having to take a pledge is a pretty egotistical thing to me also, in the UK we don't have it and in most of the countries it is not institutionalised. People who get annoyed at someone else's opinions and lawful actions should focus on more personal matters.

I wish that my school would show some pride in being scottish but the wee brit lovers make sure that it won't happen.

We didn't have to take a pledge or listen to our National Anthem in our school but when we had a minute silence, there was always people giggling and talking which really annoyed me, I don't understand what is so hard about keeping quiet for one minute

Activated wrote We didn't have to take a pledge or listen to our National Anthem in our school but when we had a minute silence, there was always people giggling and talking which really annoyed me, I don't understand what is so hard about keeping quiet for one minute

I don't stand for the minutes silence in my school because I refuse to show respect for murderers. I don't make noise because I respect other people's rights to show their respect but I don't stand for them. Though I then get looks like I'm greatly in the wrong. It just goes to show that if your not in agreement with the majority then you are considered to be wrong.