Not standing is a choice that students should be able to make themselves. The story quotes the veteran saying that the punishment fits the "crime". A veteran, while being truly patriotic, should also understand that our sacrifice affords people the explicit right to make that choice. What I don't understand is the fact that if someone decides not to participate but be silent about it then how do we know why they aren't participating? An explanation would be nice as well as informative.

In my high school, we were all required to at least stand for the Pledge, even if we didn't want to say it.

Standing shows respect... respect for the people and the country. You would stand at a sporting event for someone else's country out of respect.

And that's the problem... people today (not just kids, but they're learning the behavior from those they see) don't have respect for others. "You disagree with me politically, you're a different race, you're a different class... I don't hae to respect you then." It's all what have you done for ME, so that I should give YOU anything?

It's a real shame.

The law specifically states that a student cannot be punished for refusing to participate.

That would include refusal to stand up (which is the only participation most people do anyways).

I imagine they kept asking people until they found a veteran who said what they wanted to hear.