Imagine what I could have learned in those 13 seconds...

I am sure they are concerned with losing precious educational time;

Members of the activist club "Student Worker" are calling on students to leave class every Thursday at 8:30 a.m. -- when the pledge is recited over the intercom -- and rally in the courtyard to say a revised version of the pledge.

Club President Emma Martens, who's leading the protest, wrote this new version: "I pledge allegiance to the flag and my constitutional rights with which it comes. And to the diversity, in which our nation stands, one nation, part of one planet, with liberty, freedom, choice and justice for all."

Martens said her group is concerned that the traditional pledge read daily at the start of second period classes takes away from school time. She also said the phrase, "one nation, under God," violates the separation of church and state.

"Boulder High has a highly diverse population, not all of whom believe in God, or One God," she wrote in an e-mail to the Camera.

"We didn't think it was fair for the whole school to have to listen to it," Martens said between classes today. "It's disrespectful and in complete violation of the separation of church and state. It's almost religious oppression."

She said the group has written a letter to Principal Bud Jenkins asking that Boulder High hold the recitation -- which the school must make available by state law -- in the auditorium during both of the school's two lunch breaks.

"That's so students can go if they want, but not everyone is required to listen to it," Martens said. "I don't want them to break any laws by not saying it. We just want them to do it so we don't have to hear it every day."

With all due respect Emma, you're a dope! Why don't you just admit you are looking for an easy way to get some face-time and also a little break from classes. And exactly how does leaving class and heading out to the courtyard to recite your version not lose even more precious educational time than if you just stayed in class and recited your stupid version?

And besides, "the separation of church and state" is not in the Constitution. However this statement is;

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...

Nowhere do I see the government forcing her to say the dreaded phrase "under God" so she can just cover her ears if it bothers her that much. And how is this religious oppression? I don't get that. Well she is a teenager so what do you expect? Reasoned thinking? No...