Student Idiocy in Costa Mesa

Junior College student government "leaders" in Costa Mesa, CA, who are clearly educated beyond their intelligence, have decided to take a stand that's sure to bring them lots of bad publicity:

COSTA MESA – Passions ran high at Orange Coast College on Wednesday after a vote by student government leaders to stop recognizing the Pledge of Allegiance.

Three of five Associated Students trustees took the action Monday, with board member Jason Ball calling the flag salute "irrelevant to the business of student government."

"While it's great to be an American, and I'm proud to be an American, yadda-yadda-yadda, and I appreciate all the rituals, I'm done" saluting the flag, Ball said Wednesday.

The trustees didn't enact an outright ban, but a dozen students crowded board chambers Wednesday to decry the move.

Sophomore Chris Belanger, who accused the board of "radical views and anti-Americanism," waved the American flag at the start of the meeting.

College Republicans President Christine Zoldos called for the patriotic oath: "What I'm about to say might offend some of you. If you get offended by the Pledge of Allegiance, please leave the room."

The three trustees who voted not to acknowledge the salute – Ball, Regis Jues and Coyotl Tezcatlipoca – remained seated while about two dozen attendees recited verses. Trustee Chairman Brent Bettes, who didn't participate in Monday's vote, also remained silent. Board member Michelle Schneider, the sole dissenting vote, took part.

I'm sure they're good Democrats all.

UPDATE: According to Reuters, the leader of this little cabal is a socialist and atheist:

"That ('under God') part is sort of offensive to me," student trustee Jason Bell, who proposed the ban, told Reuters. "I am an atheist and a socialist, and if you know your history, you know that 'under God' was inserted during the McCarthy era and was directly designed to destroy my ideology."

Bell said the ban largely came about because the trustees didn't want to publicly vow loyalty to the American government before their meetings. "Loyalty ought to be something the government earns through performance, not through reciting a pledge," he said.

And, might I add, a moron.