I Pledge Allegiance... a la Bandera? Wis. Vets Upset Pledge is Spoken in Spanish

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I Pledge Allegiance... a la Bandera? Wis. Vets Upset Pledge is Spoken in Spanish

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Posted: 12:01 PM Apr 24, 2008
Last Updated: 2:21 PM Apr 24, 2008
Reporter: WSAW Staff

7 comments

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Southern Wisconsin Veterans are upset that a local high school recently allowed students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish.

Edgerton resident and Vietnam Veteran Al Decker says the pledge is a symbol of the United States and should only be said in English.

Administrators at Edgerton High School allow students to recite the pledge over the intercom, something Decker says disgusts him.

School officials say it's an annual tradition and will continue next year.

Decker hopes to put an end to it and will take his complaint to the school board next week.

He says he also wants an apology.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: CHICA BLANCA Location: WAUSAU on Apr 28, 2008 at 01:35 AM
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH ANYTHING SPOKEN IN SPANISH I AM A AMERICAN JUST AS WHITE AS ANYBODY ELSE. BUT I AM NOT RACIST I DO SPEAK SPANISH WHERE I WORK AND MY BOYFRIEND IS HISPANIC. IF PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY... THEN WHY WOULDNT THEY PUT IT IN THEIR LANGUAGE EVEN IN HMOUNG FOR ALL I CARE... IF THEY ARE HERE THEY ARE FIGHTING DONT BE SO IGNORANT EN DE OJOS DE DIOS TODOS SON IGUALES.... THAT MEANS IN GODS EYES EVERYONE IS THE SAME.

Posted by: JENNIFER Location: SCHOFIELD, WI on Apr 26, 2008 at 03:30 AM
WELL TO COMMENT ON THIS COMMENTS OF HIM I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE WOULD EVEN SAY THIS. SINCE HE IS OLDER I UNDERSTAND WHY HE SAYS IT, BECAUSE MOST OF THE RACIST PEOPLE ARE OLDER. I AM NOT IN THE ARMY OR NETHING BUT I DO KNOW MANY HISPANICS ARE AND ITS NOT ALL "WHITE PEOPLE" I AM WHITE AND ASHAMED OF PEOPLE LIKE THIS. IN GODS EYES EVERYONE IS THE SAME AND PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE THIS. I SPEAK SPANISH AND MY HUSBAND IS HISPANIC AND I AM VERY PROUD OF THEIR CULTURE ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR MY COUNTRY WHICH THEY ARE I DONT CARE WHAT LANGUAGE IT IS LET THEM DO IT IN ALL BECUASE EVERYONE FIGHTS FOR OUR COUNTRY NOT JUST US. DE PERSONAS ASI SON MALOS SOLOMENTE SON RACISTAS JURO FELIDAD A LA BANDEDA DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA Y A LA REPULICA QUE REPRISENTA UNA NACION ABAJO DE DIOS INDISIBLE CON LIBERTA PARA TODOS THAT IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE IN SPANISH AND I AM PROUD OF IT

Posted by: Jay Location: Sun Prairie on Apr 25, 2008 at 09:02 AM
This and so many arguments over what language patriotism speaks is ridiculous. English is not America's native language. English is the native language of ENGLAND. America's native language is Sioux, Apache, and about 40 others. This man is trying to use patriotism to his his bigotry, plain and simple.

Posted by: Edgerton Vet Location: Fort Meade on Apr 25, 2008 at 06:41 AM
I am a graduate of Edgerton High and I returned from Iraq less than a month ago. A pledge is an oath, whether in Spanish or English, it is the intent of the speaker and what he feels for the flag and or country, not the language that gives it significance. I've traveled over a dozen countries in the last 15 years and saw plenty of my hosts "catering" to me to in their attempts at English. I was not offended at their sincere efforts. I do not have all of the facts of this event. Did the entire student body recite it, the Spanish Class, or were a select few Spanish-speaking students of Latin American descent afforded the opportunity to voluntarily give an oath to a country they weren't born in? There are not enough details to make an informed decision, but I guarantee the readers I'll find out.

Posted by: hawkeye Location: iowa on Apr 24, 2008 at 07:10 PM
this is the united states of america! We speak english here. i dont care where you come from or if you served in our military if you live here in the usa, speak our language. how can it mean anything if its recited in a foreign language?!? sure as hell you would feel the same way if we were to come to your country. it is really sad how much we do already to cater to the foreigners already. sucks to be a white american anymore when the illegal aliens are getting all the benefits.

Posted by: woffie Location: stevens point on Apr 24, 2008 at 02:00 PM
I served in the Iraq war in 1991 to 1994. I did 3 tours. I am spanish of back ground.. So If I can serve my counrty and almost die. Why is not ok to say the pledge of allegance in my language? We are a nation of all colors and languages. Thats what America is about. The wars are all the same we fight and we die for our counrty no war should be put in front of another. My friends died that died in Iraq war just like any other war. Be proud that our children still want and can to say the pledge of allegance in this country.

Posted by: Henni Location: New York on Apr 24, 2008 at 01:52 PM
I am Puerto Rican. I am very upset that this man would think it disgusting for people to speak their native language. I am also American by birth and think it's alright for you to say the Pledge in any language. If anything this Decker man should feel proud that people of other cultures are willing to say the American Pledge in their native tongue. He is being racist and it's because of ignorant people like this that we still have all of the racial seperation that we have. Poque yo soy un boricua para siempre!!!(Because I am a Puerto Rican forever!!!) This man needs a lot of help!!