For years our school, Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School, has played patriotic recordings before the start of every school day. These recordings included the Hawaii State Song, the Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America and a recording of children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. No one has ever complained. In fact, virtually every parent of students and members of the community have expressed their appreciation for the recordings.

That is, until October of this year when one party decided to complain about it. This party may or may not have children who attend the school and it is not known if this person even lives near enough to the school to hear the recordings every morning. But this person or persons decided to contact our district superintendent and complain and threatened to sue the school.

As a result, the school is no longer allowed to play "God Bless America" or play recordings of or allow students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. OUR rights are now being trumped by a small minded individual or persons. The majority should NOT have to kneel and give up their rights to the minority.

We are asking people to sign this petition so that we can show our school district's superintendent that WE are the voice here and that WE want the Pledge of Allegiance and God Bless America to return to our school.

The fallacy of "Separation of Church and State" and the First Amendment are not about denying people the expression of their faith or their patriotism. We need to make our voices heard!