I could go on about this for HOURS Skip...I'm with you 100%.
I'm not a big fan of "gung-ho ra ra God bless the USA", but I'm even less a fan of people relentlessly pursuing the undermining of the foundation of pride, compassion and, at times like this, the strength of this great nation. This country has pretty much always been about 1/3's...1/3 for, 1/3 against and 1/3 don't give a shit. We're always in one of those 3 groups and often, if not always, get driven crazy by people in one of the other 1/3's. The moral of your wife's encounter can probably be best summarized as a fine example of the breakdown of the lessons, given from parents to children, about respect. Not only respect for out country, but respect for, in this case, your wife and the "way" your daughter is being raised. It's really none of her goddam business, and I find it absolutely bizarre that some poor misguided, obviously bitter, child would find the recitation or balls-to-the-wall belting out of any standard American pledges or songs as an apparent fault in modern parenting. Can't blame it on the schools, can't blame it on movies or music...all comes back to the moral and ETHICAL fabric woven at home. This young "lady" (and her own family) obviously doesn't share your families view on what is "right or wrong". I guess the only hope in all this is that she's a child (the 18 year old), and once she actually experiences life and realizes that the world isn't black and white her views may change (hopefully!!!)

Oh, and getting off subject SLIGHTLY, I read a news blurb on the net today (can only assume there's a grain of truth in it) that Pepsi is releasing a "patriotic" can with the Pledge of Allegiance on it...."Under God" has been removed though. I think it does actually dovetail rather closely with the situation your wife encountered. Something else for us to ponder.....