Sunday, December 18, 2011

The Pledge of Allegiance . . . But Not at the New Hartford Town Library!

The Pledge of Allegiance was in the news this past week. In Around Central NY: Pledge of Allegiance Joe Kelly reveals that the Pledge was written by a local man, Francis Bellamy, who is buried in the Rome Cemetery. Mr. Kelly presents some little known facts about the Pledge, and about Mr. Bellamy, who wrote the words that are repeated every day in schools and government meetings throughout the nation.

One place where the Pledge is not heard, however, is at the meetings of the New Hartford Town Library Board! One trustee, Mr. Wiatr, sought to right this wrong, but here is what happened . . .

Almost the entire New Hartford Library Board believes that saying the Pledge is "for show," and "waste of time" (or at least voting on it is such because most abstained) New Hartford OnLine produced this video, and did a little research that shows the New Hartford Library Board as being out-of-sync with other library boards across the state. 


The Bigger Question that only New Hartfordans can answer: Is the New Hartford Town Library Board out-of-sync with its own community?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ed may have been a little agressive in his approach here. Almost a jerk about it. What's the big deal? Do it as a formality, but for the record most boards do not start the meeting with the Pledge.

What is tell tale are the "abstaining votes". To an outside observer it seems that they are mostly abstaining from siding with Ed's assertive position on the issue. If it were presented in a different way they might have gone with it.

Want to fix most of the social and economic problems with our country? BRING BACK THE DRAFT! Doesnt necessarily have to be the traditional military service, but the social and common foundation laid by our forfathers has been destroyed....only way to get us back on track is a draft like program....maybe Ed is on to something.

Anonymous said...

Is that Linda Romano sitting at the front of the table?

Did she also vote against saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

Isn't she an attorney who has sworn to take an oath, defend our constitution, etc.?

What is wrong with these people.

Mr. Wiatr, congratulations for your concerns over the Pledge of Allegiance and what it stands for.

As for the others, I think they should resign!

Anonymous said...

Didn't I read about this in the OD?? NOT

Library Patron said...

Anonymous,

Trustee Wiatr was not aggressive. His deep ties with the military says otherwise.

Perhaps, you need to understand that Trustee Wiatr (when first appointed as a Trustee) requested the Pledge of Allegiance be said before each meeting.

Concerned Citizens for Honest & Open Government videotaped this meeting and one of the attendees who represented the Friends of the New Hartford Library walked out of the meeting, indicating her negative feelings towards Trustee Wiatr's simple request.

While Trustee Wiatr has frequently stated his concerns; a review of the videotaped meetings reflects an on-going hostility towards him perpetuated by a recycled Board of Trustees.

Trustee Wiatr is the farthest things from a jerk. Perhaps, your choice of words could be directed elsewhere but certainly not towards one who wishes to bring transparency and accountability to the town residents.

Also, I have not been at one governmental meeting where the Pledge of Allegiance has not been said. Simply put, municipal governments and their board do say the Pledge of Allegiance. The New Hartford Libary's Handbook illustrates that the Pledge of Allegiance is number 2, as part of their Agenda. New Hartford NY Online pointed this out in their blog.

George M. Cohan said...

You can smile and smile and yet be a villain, and you can recite and recite the Pledge of Allegiance and yet be an enemy of the Republic.

I'm more concerned with people's anti-American actions than their omission of the Pledge. Saying the Pledge isn't going to make them more inclined to do their civic duty. The words aren't a magic incantation.

Although I understand the symbolic arguments.

Anonymous said...

Nearly all governmental meetings start with a pledge. It is a reminder to those serving that they owe an allegiance to the principles upon which this country was founded. It takes about 10 seconds to recite. It is particularly appalling that the library director said it was a waste of time. He doesn't take seriously the sacrifice of many citizens in supporting the library through their hard earned income.

Anonymous said...

Can't wait till this un-trusting board wants to jam this switch to a school budget item down our throats. One's easily forget the selling point many years ago that the "school" library would be open to the public once it was refurbished and the tax dollars were needed to support that endeavor. That budget was approved on that selling point. When the school library was finished it was then "gee we were only kidding" closed to the public. How many library's do we need. It is free for everyone at my expense. While I have to pay twice for library's What does the school budget for a library? Then add it to their $500,000+ dollars.I can see and hear it now...gee if the budget don't pass we will have to shut down sports, trips, no new books etc..that will be a total jam job by that group. Talk about a hammer over the taxpayers.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Wiatr was no more aggressive or a jerk than anonymous 1 is a registered level 3 sex offender!

Anonymous said...

Pledge of Allegiance is obsolete.

General public no longer feels a connection to the moral fiber that this country was founded upon.

"One nation, under god, with liberty and justice for all"?

Maintaining the statement of "God" in the pledge is debated heavily. Don't want to offend anybody!!! "God" forbid!

Liberty? Does the general public believe they have "Liberty"? I guess compared to some countries, but the US is no longer any more special than many other countries.
Liberty from what? "Give me your tired, poor, huddled masses" is basically past.

Justice?
We have a legal system, calling it a "Justice" system - just isn't so....

Why say the Pledge if it no longer applies? Makes sense to me...