School recites pledge in Arabic

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FORT COLLINS, Colo., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A Colorado high school cultural group said it took some heat -- and praise -- after petitioning to recite the morning Pledge of Allegiance in Arabic.

Rocky Mountain High School senior Nuha Kapatayes, who has spoken Arabic fluently since she was taught it as a child, said the group, the Cultural Arms Club, asked to recite the pledge as a way to reach out to all students at the school.

When they did so Monday Kapatayes told the Fort Collins Coloradoan she was braced for negative feedback, though none came from fellow students. By midday, school officials said they had, however, received complaints from some parents.

The club said the pledge in Spanish earlier this year and some students made "rude" remarks, she said.

This time no one said anything to her and club members said they hoped the message -- that the Pledge of Allegiance means the same in all languages -- got through, the newspaper reported.

"No matter what language it's said in, pledging your allegiance to the United States is the same in every language," said sophomore club member Skyler Bowden.

Classmate Eric Stauffer, a freshman, said he thought it "was actually pretty cool."