my friend i am the one person you would never say this about in the world, i am a pacifist and often put aside confrontation for some peace instead of speaking up every time things do not go my way...this is me. thank you for understanding

here's another better, article regarding the law. note the ability to opt out.

JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Gov. Bob Holden, unfazed by a recent court ruling, signed a law Wednesday requiring the state's public-school children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance once a week.

"The events of Sept. 11 have made all of us aware of these challenging times in our country's history," said Holden, who like some other officials at the bill signing wore a tie with an American flag motif.

"We must work to instill the importance of preserving American democracy in our young people."

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ted House, a St. Charles Democrat, requires public schools to hold the Pledge of Allegiance at least once a week, though it allows students to opt out of reciting it.

House said many schools conduct the pledge regularly, but some have stopped. The pledge should be recited so schoolchildren understand American values, he said.

"I believe it's very important that we recognize the Pledge of Allegiance as a celebration of our freedom," House said. "Those values need to be taught."

The governor and House said they were not worried about a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision last month. The court held that the phrase "under God" in the pledge unconstitutionally violated the separation of church and state.

The decision will be overturned, Holden and House said.

"That phrase (`under God') does not even begin to get close to the establishment of a particular religion or denomination," House said. "There is no freedom without God."

Holden said that if for some reason the court decision were to stand and "under God" were cut out of the pledge, the revised pledge still should be said in public schools.

He also said the state is willing to defend the new law in court "any day of the week."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri, which lobbies the Missouri legislature, did not oppose the bill because language allowed students, if they chose, not to recite the pledge.

Matt LeMieux, executive director of the organization, said the provision comports with a U.S. Supreme Court decision that says students cannot be compelled to recite the oath.

Though the bill allows students to stay silent, some critics have said the law will make the dissenters targets of ridicule and hostility.

"I think the school would have to take affirmative steps to make sure kids weren't, in fact, ostracized by their peers" for not saying the pledge, LeMieux said.

The governor said critics are "being too sensitive.

"I don't want to see any child picked on," Holden said. "This is a way for them all to understand what it is to be an American."

The Pledge of Allegiance measure was one of several patriotic-themed bills Holden signed into law a day before the nation's birthday.

Other bills signed:

• A measure prohibiting the state and cities from regulating the display of American flags, as long as the flag is displayed properly.

• A bill designating April 19 Patriots Day in Missouri.

• Legislation creating special license plates for various veterans' groups, and also creating a "God Bless America" plate.

• A measure establishing Dec. 15 as Bill of Rights Day in Missouri.

hmm. i want to know more about this decision. i'm sure it comes down to the fact that students cannot be absolutely required to recite it, but the school can have a mandatory oath recitation with the ability to opt-out.

God may not refer to one PARTICULAR religion, but it does refer to a certain spectrum of religions.

as for his second statement, should that really be the stance of the government towards freedom? there is no freedom without god? he can personally believe it if he wishes, but it seems to me that he's stating it as a fact. i'd find that pretty insulting if i was an atheist, or Buddhist, or member of a similarly non-God oriented religion and lived in Missouri.

so this is democracy, eh? being persuaded to stand as one, and recite an oath to your government. i'd say the way to instill the spirit of American democracy would be to present them with choices, and tell them it's ok to disagree with how things are done. that's how a nation grows.