Saturday, 9 September 2006 - 2:47 PM BST

Hi David,

 Middle Eastern politics and the like are not really my bag, so I don't usually comment on such things. However, I would like to draw your attention to a book I read many years ago. It's called 'The cat ate my gymsuit' by Paula Danziger. (http://www.amazon.com/Cat-Ate-My-Gymsuit/dp/0698116844)

Admittedly, it's aimed at 12/13 year old girls (the age I was when I read it, in America in fact), but it does illustrate a rather interesting point . Please ignore the sub-plot about a fat self-loathing 13 year old girl, that's not what I'm referring to here :-).

In a nutshell: A popular and radical high school teacher is suspended from her post for her refusal to pledge allegiance to the American flag. A concept previously alien to me, but it did teach me to question authority. Basically, what I'm trying to say, is that it's not necessarily conformity that makes America great.

All the best,

Corinna

Saturday, 9 September 2006 - 7:05 PM BST

Talking about books this is excellent. You can order it from Amazon. Scroll down to the bottom of the page:

 http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

Monday, 11 September 2006 - 11:51 AM BST

Corinna,

When I was in a US high school for four weeks in 1986, the pledge was entirely volunary. Some students stood up and recited it, others didn't. The pledge was read out over a tannoy system, with a loudspeaker in every classroom. It came during the middle of a lesson. The teachers just carried on teaching whatever they were doing as though nothing was happening. There was NO compulsion.

Curiously, the pledge was written by a socialist!

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_allegiance 

DY