You folks in Madison seem to have as many zany people as we do in L.A.
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Los Angeles Times: Wis. School Board Ends Pledge Ban

[url]http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-pledge-controversy1016oct16.story?coll=la%2Dap%2Dtopnews%2Dheadlines[/url]

Wis. School Board Ends Pledge Ban
By JENNY PRICE
Associated Press Writer

October 16 2001, 7:57 AM PDT

MADISON, Wis. -- The Madison School Board voted to allow schools to offer the
Pledge of Allegiance, reversing an earlier decision that critics denounced as
unpatriotic.

The board approved the change on a 6-1 vote Tuesday after hearing about eight
hours of testimony from emotional residents about its decision last week to bar
the Pledge of Allegiance and only allow an instrumental version of "The
Star-Spangled Banner" in classrooms. The new policy allows the singing of the
national anthem, too.

"For a few minutes every morning, everyone joins in an exercise that I believe
binds us together," board member Ray Allen said.

The 800-seat auditorium at Madison Memorial High School was overflowing late
Monday into Tuesday with citizens wanting to express their opinion.

Last week, the board ruled out the pledge or the singing of the anthem as a way
for schools to comply with a new state law that calls for a daily dose of
patriotism -- either the pledge or "The Star-Spangled Banner" -- in schools.
Instead, schools were to use an instrumental version of the anthem.

Supporters of that policy had suggested the lyrics to the national anthem were
too militaristic, and complained about the "one nation, under God" line in the
pledge, saying the religious words do not belong in public schools.

"I don't think the pledge is about religion. I think it is a commitment to our
democracy," Allen said Tuesday.

The district received more than 20,000 phone calls and e-mails over the matter
-- almost all of them criticizing the decision.

Before the meeting started, many in the crowd spontaneously began reciting the
pledge, with the majority standing as some scattered boos were heard. After
finishing the oath, supporters broke into applause, waving American flags.

Under the new policy, schools that decide to have the pledge recited or the
anthem sung will start with an announcement reminding pupils that participation
is voluntary. But critics said some schoolchildren might feel pressure to take
part.

Laura Brown, a Madison resident, said it was unfair to divide students with
different beliefs on the issue of the pledge.

"It's bad enough Osama bin Laden has declared a holy war on us," she said. "It's
a heck of a lot worse if we declare war on each other in the name of God."

Dan Neviaser of Madison, who said he volunteered to serve in World War II,
contended the board allowed a vocal minority to overrule rights of the majority
of people who want the pledge said in schools.

"In this time of stress and fear, we need our `Star-Spangled Banner,' we need
our Pledge of Allegiance," he said. "You know what we don't need? Our school
board."

Outside of the meeting, several parents led by former U.S. Rep. Scott Klug,
R-Wis., said they intend to seek the recall of some or all of the board members.

Board member Bill Keys, who wrote the original motion and voted against
rescinding it, said his primary concern was making certain that students of all
religions and backgrounds were comfortable in the classroom.

___

On the Net:

Madison Metropolitan School District: http://www.mmsd.org
Copyright 2001 Associated Press

Madison is one of the most liberal parts of the country. Take a walk down State St sometime and you;ll see that. My reserve unit is in Madison and surprisingly even we have a handful of liberals.

The rest of WI is pretty conservative for the most part.

Liberal representation from Madison and Milwaukee in the state capitol is the main reason Wisconsin doesn't have a concealed weapon permit.  Just like in Illinois, it's Springfield and Chicago and some suburbs infiltrated by people who used to live and work in Chicago and now have decided it's not the best place to live.