Fifty years ago this month, I faced an agonizing personal dilemma. As president of the student body at my Los Angeles high school, I was obliged to lead my fellow students, teachers and staff in reciting the "Pledge of Allegiance," the oath of loyalty to the United States of America, at our graduation ceremony.
What's so hard about that, you might ask.
Well, seven years before, in 1954, two little words — "under God" — had been added to the pledge, and I felt them inappropriate to repeat. In addition, and much more conspicuously, I resolved not to stand while "The Star-Spangled Banner," the national anthem, was being played and sung.