Pledging Allegiance

There was an article recently about a boy in 4th grade who was not putting his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.  The teacher actually grabbed the student’s arm, telling him to put his hand over his heart.

The young boy did not back down.  He said that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not worship objects, but that he would stand out of respect.  The teacher ended up getting suspended and is under investigation (and rightly so in my opinion).
The whole thing of pledging allegiance to the flag is a little funny to me.  It isn’t patriotism to me.  It is falling in line with the establishment and being a good little soldier who doesn’t question authority.
Americans like to make fun of pictures from 1930’s and 1940’s Germany where German citizens are extending their arm upwards in a Nazi salute, or something to that effect.  You can see many pictures and videos of Hitler doing it, with crowds of people imitating.
Are we going to look back one day and make fun of Americans for putting their right hand over their heart in allegiance to the American flag, which is really supposed to translate into allegiance to the U.S. government?
As usual, I like reading the comments at the bottom of the story.  It is a little disturbing that many people were making fun of the kid and pulling the whole patriotism card.  It really is amazing how brainwashed people are.  They will make fun of other people in other countries, but they can’t see their own hypocrisy.  And some people follow in the footsteps of the authoritarian teacher saying that if you don’t want to say the Pledge, then you should move to another country.
Of course, there were some comments saying that it is the kid’s right not to put his hand over his heart if that is his choice.
While I didn’t read all of the comments, I didn’t see a mention of the fact that this likely took place at a government school.  You never seem to get these controversies in schools where there are actual paying customers.
I’m a little surprised, although not too much, that the kid’s parents are not sending him to a private school or homeschooling him.  Of course, the government taxes people so much that they have difficulty opting out of the government school system.
I think the Pledge of Allegiance, which was written by a socialist, is a joke and a propaganda tool of the state.  All of the people who are criticizing those who do not worship the Pledge should take a look in the mirror.  Should we all pledge allegiance to Obama and Congress?  Should we all do a Nazi salute while we are at it?