Discussion resumes about saying the Pledge of Allegiance at Decorah City Council meetings

Monday night's Decorah City Council meeting started with Mayor Don Arendt reading a statement responding to comments made by some Decorah City Council members at the January 7th city council meeting.

City council member Julie Fischer said she hoped the mayor would be open to reciting alternative pledges, such as the "Pledge of Allegiance to the Planet."  Fellow city council member Rachel Vagts then stated that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance "feels like public prayer."

On Monday night, Arendt said he "was shocked and saddened by the comments" and added that they disturbed him.  He concluded his statement by saying "I hope the next time we say the pledge we can say it with pride and we can reflect on the words and use them to better serve our country and community."

On Monday night Fischer said she didn't object to saying the Pledge of Allegiance, but wanted to know if it was a legal requirement to say it at the start of every city council meeting.  She said she also supports the Pledge of Allegiance to the Planet because "we're all in this together."  But she said she did not want to supplant the Pledge of Allegiance.

The mayor last month said that he would continue the practice of beginning each city council meeting by saying the Pledge of Allegiance.