>When I was in the first grade, I read a kid's book version of something by Thomas Paine. From that point on, I never recited the pledge...I just stood there silent, until the last six words. Then we had a moment of "silent meditation"...you could pray, or you could just stand there quietly.

Yeah, but that was back when we were still "allowed" to think for ourselves. Now we are enlightened because the gov't knows what is best for us ... with liberty and justice for all.