Parents of Students at Eagle Bay Elementary in Utah, Upset over 'I Pledge' Video

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Ofelia Wade, the principal at Eagle Bay Elementary in Farmington has apologized for showing a video on August 28, at an assembly that Gayle Ruzicka, president of conservative Utah Eagle Forum, has called "radical, leftist propaganda." The video opens with an image of President Barack Obama and part of a speech in which he says, "Let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other." The video then features celebrities making pledges about how they will help the president and the world. That's what has riled some people.

Many pledges, such as supporting local food banks, miling more, and caring for the elderly are noncontroversial. But other pledges have caused a great deal of consternation -- "to never give anyone the finger when I'm driving again," "to sell my obnoxious car and buy a hybrid" and to advance stem cell research cross the line.

Chris Williams, Davis School District spokesman, said school principal Ofelia Wade and school PTA leaders decided to show the video as part of an assembly about the school's theme for the year, service. He said the PTA board chose the video and Wade did not see it before it was shown in the assembly. Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

Sorry, I don't believe anything that can be remotely considered as political should be shown in any of our schools and churches, no matter which party. I found some of the pledges to be utterly ridiculous -- "I pledge to be of service to Barack Obama," "I pledge allegiance to the funk, to the united funk of funkadelica," and pledges to not use plastic grocery bags and not flush the toilet after urinating. Come on people, parents have a role to play in teaching their children values, not a video.