Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} It’s morning. Everyone’s still waking up, even after 80 minutes of first block. D-TV comes on, and that patriotic screen showing the words to the Pledge of Allegiance appears. Everyone stands, just like we’ve done for the past twelve years. Everyone blandly recites the same words we’ve been reciting since kindergarten. We do this every day without really thinking about it; but do we actually understand the meaning behind what we are saying? Reciting the Pledge has basically become meaningless after eleven or twelve years of doing so. People have even started to joke around during the pledge, making faces or chatting to their friends. I get it: it’s early, and no one feels like standing up for a minute saying something “stupid.” For once, stop and think about what you are really saying. Look at the words of the Pledge. Everyone knows them, but does anyone ever take them to heart? The Pledge is a reminder of how this country came to be, of who we are. It stresses the unity of our nation, the common bond that we all possess as Americans. It shows that we all act as one. I’m making it my goal to find some personal meaning in the Pledge by the end of the year. I think everyone should follow suit; finding something bigger in some of those words could make a difference in your attitude towards our nation in general. Respect for our country can begin with respect for its Pledge of Allegiance. So don’t mess around tomorrow morning: stop and think about what you’re saying.