Why I won't say 'The Pledge of Allegiance'

Someone recently posted a cartoon on Facebook in which there are kids in a classroom standing for "The Pledge of Allegiance"--all but one, who has his feet propped up on the desk in front of him and a look of boredom on his face. The teacher is saying, "Kevin, it's your right not to stand for the pledge . . . but let me introduce you to someone who can't stand because he was defending that right." And, of course, she's standing behind a military vet in a wheelchair. The person who posted this replied with something like, "If one of my kids did this they'd get hit upside the head."

I thought about replying to this but thought better of it. I have more than once irritated people in my FB by saying things they didn't like. Most of my friends, family and acquaintances are conservative; many of those are also fundie Christians. What I would've said, if I could've replied the way I wanted to, is something like this:

First off, if I were one of your children, the last thing I'd want to do is stand up and recite a pledge that is a lie. Why is it a lie? Because it does not live up to the "with liberty and justice for all" part that comes at the end. In a truly just society, you would be held accountable for assault if you hit your children up side the head. In this country, though, children under 18 have no liberty or justice; they are the slaves of both parents and the state, and providing you did no permanent physical damage, you'd probably not be charged for assault as you should.

Furthermore, it is a lie because there is still at least one sexual minority who have no rights in this country: the minor-attracted. We are fired from our jobs, slandered and persecuted without recourse to the law simply for being who we are. Officially we do not exist . . . unless we break the law. Then we are treated as if we're lower than garbage. No, I will never stand for "The Pledge of Allegiance" as long as these conditions exist, for the pledge is currently a bald-faced lie and I will not support it.

And it's the truth. To this day I will not say "The Pledge of Allegiance" for these reasons, and a few others. I will stand, simply out of respect for those who died, but that's as far as I go.