Question

Alina and I want / more than anything to walk back into our classroom / press our hands against our hearts. Say, / 'I pledge allegiance... loud / without our jealous God looking down on us. / Without our parents finding out. / Without our mothers' voices / in our heads saying, You are different. / Chosen. / Good.

A) They fear divine judgment.
B) They want to rebel.
C) They feel excluded.
D) They seek independence.

Answer 1

The passage suggests that the characters feel excluded from participating in a patriotic exercise due to religious and familial pressures, aligning with the historical controversies surrounding the inclusion of God in the Pledge of Allegiance and school prayer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage in question appears to express a longing for the freedom to participate in a common patriotic exercise without the weight of religious or familial judgment. Drawing upon the provided context of the School Prayer Amendment and the constitutional issues surrounding school prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, the passage can be analyzed for its themes and meanings. The feelings the characters in the passage are experiencing point toward Option C) They feel excluded. They wish to engage in the act of pledging allegiance like their peers, but feel unable to do so because of the pressure of their "jealous God" and the expectations of their parents. The inclusion of God in the Pledge of Allegiance has historically been a controversial issue, with arguments about whether or not it forces religious expression in public schools.