Vancouver resident Cemal Richards speaks out against removing the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance at County Council meetings
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com.
Councilor Wil Fuentes’ proposal to remove the Pledge of Allegiance from Clark County Council meetings is not just a controversial policy suggestion; it reveals a deeper ideological agenda that threatens the shared values that have long unified our community and our nation.
The Pledge is a symbol of unity, patriotism, and respect for the principles upon which the United States was founded — values that are being increasingly undermined by proposals like Fuentes’.
The Pledge of Allegiance is more than just a tradition; it is a living reminder of the ideals that make our nation exceptional — freedom, justice, and equality for all. These are the values that have allowed America to thrive as a beacon of hope and opportunity for generations.
When Councilor Fuentes seeks to remove the Pledge, he is not simply questioning a ceremonial practice — he is dismissing the very foundation of the United States itself. This move reflects an ideological basis that is rooted in a disdain for the nation and its historical identity, a mindset that views our shared values as outdated and irrelevant.
Fuentes’ position is indicative of a larger, growing movement that seeks to reframe America’s history and identity as fundamentally flawed and oppressive. The proposal to remove the Pledge of Allegiance is not an isolated event; it is part of a wider pattern of progressive efforts to challenge and dismantle institutions, symbols, and traditions that have historically united Americans. While some might dismiss this as a harmless symbolic gesture, it speaks to a deeper desire to reshape the narrative about our country — one that discounts the sacrifices made by countless individuals to protect and uphold the freedoms we enjoy.
The Pledge represents more than just words; it represents a commitment to the ideals of liberty and democracy that millions have fought and died for. To remove it is to ignore the struggles and triumphs of generations who have worked tirelessly to create a more perfect union. This is not just an attack on a symbol — it is an attack on the very spirit of what makes the United States exceptional.
Councilor Fuentes may argue that the Pledge does not reflect the diversity of today’s America, but that argument misses the point. The beauty of the United States lies in its ability to bring together people from all walks of life, each with their own unique experiences, and unite them under the banner of shared values. The Pledge is a reflection of those values — values that transcend any individual or group. By seeking to remove it, Fuentes is effectively saying that these values no longer matter, and that the spirit of unity that has allowed this country to prosper is expendable.
If Fuentes truly wants to represent Clark County, he should be focused on the issues that directly impact his constituents — public safety, homelessness, and economic opportunity—not on undermining the symbols that have long helped unify our community. The removal of the Pledge of Allegiance would only deepen the divisions within the county and distract from the real work of governance.
Fuentes’ proposal is not just a political stance; it reveals an ideological belief that our country’s shared values are outdated and unworthy of respect. This perspective is dangerous and divisive. The Clark County Council should reject this proposal and reaffirm its commitment to the values that bind us together as a nation and as a community.
Cemal Richards
Vancouver
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Amen Cemal!
Fuentes argument that the time spent on the Pledge of Allegiance and/or the Invocation would make the council meetings less efficient is a cowardice attempt to find a reason to justify his own ideological bias against the United States (the greatest and freest country this earth has ever known, despite human flaws we have fought to overcome).
The Pledge of Allegiance takes all of 12 seconds to administer. Likewise, there can be a time limit on the invocation as limited as 15 seconds. I argue that the council time already wasted addressing this issue has used up the time that would have been spent on a timely Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance for the next 12 months. So let’s get on with real county business like solving the homeless crisis, crime and fiscal responsibility and keep harmful and divisive personal ideologies out of county council meetings.
Sincerely,
Gary Wilson
Vancouver, WA
Outstanding letter Cemal,
Tradition was explained when I served in the military and why we did it, to bring us together even if we came from different backgrounds. Your spot on with your words.
I urge you all to go to the next Battleground city council meeting. The red head masked LGBTQ mom asked the mayor not to allow a prayer at the start of their meetings. She was the last speaker on Jan. 6th when the city manager, mayor, and democratic council people voted to continuing to add sodium Fluoride to Battleground’s water. That is why they took months to study the EPA lawsuit of why the EPA union wanted to stop fluoridation. Battleground did not stop fluoridation during the study.
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4:24:34
01-06-2025 Battle Ground City Council Study Session & Regular Meeting
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YouTubeBattle Ground City Council
They had a study session for the first hour. The public comment started at 2:17pm with a dentist Bill Osmunson. Then 4 people against fluoride, and then the masked mom, who doesn’t want prayer.
Watch this video. If might boil your blood! Fluoride lowers IQs , causes cancer, crippling bone disease , Down Syndrome babies, Alzheimer’s , Thyroid, breast, lung and bone cancer and etc… Ask the mayor and city manager because they would know the side effects of their so-called medication. You Tube: Dr. Dean Burk: Fluoride is poison. This doctor from the NIC studied fluoridation for 34 years and Dr. John Yiamouyaiannis. Does your city manager and staff know more than the experts?
In the 1960s the public was lied to about drinking poison to prevent cavities. Where in the Dental Board tests and licensing does it say; “ You can lobby a politician to use and industrial waste product with a poison sign on it to “medicate” the water to prevent cavities?”
There is no dosage control. A poison sign should be on every bottle of water and your water bill. The mayor said he wants fluoridation to continue because poor people don’t teach their children how to brush their teeth! In medical journals do doctors give “medicine” to people who don’t need it. In this case the toothless. Babies and seniors don’t need their water poisoned, to prevent cavities for teeth they don’t have! I would think this would be a case of malpractice. Are the council doctors? I don’t know any doctor that would prescribe medication without knowing the patient’s age, weight, and height. How do you control the amount that any one person gets?
The PFOAs in the water means more fluoride. What about the people on fluoride drugs? Isn’t this council over medicating them. “Dr. “Troy McCoy didn’t tell the public of the side effects. Would that make the council liable for any harm done to the water drinkers from their medicating policies?
Teachers can teach tooth brushing at school and have the equipment to do it there. Is the council only thinking of children with teeth? I want the mayors research study that the poor don’t teach children to brush. Where is his proof? People can have their blood tested for fluoride and show the mayor the results. A good doctor has plenty of research and read many books. Which books from the experts did Battle ground staff read[gp1] ?
Fluoridealert.org Fluoride Action Network
You tube: U.S Regulatory Agencies Don’t Know the Safe vs Toxic
Save Our Children
The masked mom who doesn’t believe in God might want to learn to pray when she gets cancer from the recycled toxic water, food, covid jabs, chemtrail trails and toxic fog. Hope to see you there at the next Battleground council meeting.
[gp1]
Thank you for the update. Please prepare a letter to the editor on this vital topic concerning the harm posed to residents, especially babies and children.
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The Elks Magazine Online
https://mag.elks.org › articles › respecting-the-us…
The Elks Magazine Online June 2024: Respecting the US Flag: The …May 7, 2024 · The development of the Pledge of Allegiance can largely be seen as the beginning of the movement toward creating a set of formal protocols that guide how civilians should show their respect for the US flag. The first version of the pledge was written in 1892, when The …
I suggest Every person living in the US read this article. It tells the whole history of the Flag Code and the amended law (June 14, 1954) to add the words “under God”. When an immigrant takes the citizen test, they have to learn our history and everything about the flag. If you want citizenship in the US you must learn this and swear allegiance to our flag and country. As a US citizen we defend our nation against foreign and domestic enemies. What Councilor Wil Fuentes did was treasonous!
trea·son·ous
[ˈtrēzənəs]
adjective
Did he lie when he took his citizenship test? Who does he represent and what flag does he want to salute? This is the man, who our council illegally replaced Belcock with.
She has impeccable qualifications, she is military, and represents the people wishes. No light rail and tolls.
Some ignorant person (at the defense of Michelle Belkot meeting) last Tuesday, called me a racist.
Racist: a person who is prejudiced against or antagonistic toward people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized:
Did Will Fuentes get his citizenship to run for office and change our culture? Did he lie when taking an oath to flag and nation?
This is why we do not let foreign born immigrants be President. Soros, Putin,and Xi Jinping (/ ʃiː dʒɪnˈpɪŋ /; born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has been the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and thus the paramount leader of China, since 2012 . These people have enough money to put their children in office. They can take down our nation.
Should Fuentes have his citizenship revoked? I