Is it? What other contries in the democratic world require regular repeating of a such a pledge by their schoolchildren? I ask the question only becuase I don't know the answer! I know there is no such pledge in the UK, but I don't know about other countries - is it a particularly common pratice?
"I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United Kingdom. And/Or to the parochial former nation to which I feel allegiance, be it England, Wales, Northern Ireland, or, God forbid, Scotland. And to her majesty, although we're not really sure what she does anymore, and the Exchequery, because when we say that word we sound smarter than the Colonials. One Kingdom, under the Chuch of England, indivisible unless we're picking Premiership games, with liberty and justice still dispensed by guys wearing powdered wigs." How'd I do?
Hmm...not bad. A couple of flaws, though. If you are in one of those parochial non-English places, you wouldn't be likely to pledge allegience to the Church of England, for a start! Also, if you were in Scotland or NI you would be under a different structure of 'soccer' league entirely, so the premiership wouldn't be relevant. In Wales, of course, it would be the wrong shaped ball for most people anyway, although the premiership might actually be directly relevant next season for the first time ever. Anyway, I certainly won't be pledging my allegience to the 'United Kingdom' or it's accursed rag (or its monarch, for that matter) anytime soon, obviously!
i went to public school, and after the invasion of Iraq i stopped saying the pledge and refused to stand for it, and all that ever happened to me was my Japanese teacher yelling "TATE KUDASAI! TATE KUDASAI!" at me. that was it
I think that they part that says 'liberty and justice for all' should apply to each person who believes in their government. After 13 years of saying it over and over during the school year, you'd think that kids actually would trust their government to guarantee the liberty and the justice. Some people don't find out that their government is flawed until they lose what is precious to them and it was totally unjust. They seek defense and help and they are shot down even more. Unless: they are rich of course. Which explains how this country is really run : NOT FOR ALL. maybe I should send an email to the white house: um please change 'with liberty and justice for all'... to 'with liberty and justice for the rich.' Let not give the kids false hope.
Tatte has two t's in romaji I've never stood for it, and will never while "Under god" is still in it.
It's blind indoctrination, plain and simple. My kindergartener came home a few weeks ago and recited the entire pledge as her teacher taught her. I asked her what it means. She just shrugged her shoulder and said, "I dunno". Then she started play acting by bowing and saying, "I pledge allegiance, your majesty". This leads me to believe that perhaps she understands exactly what it means? Perhaps better than most adults?
Technically you do not have a right to not be forced to recite the pledge of allegiance. Practically, I think forcing children to recite it contradicts our nation's mission.
Sorry, too many negatives in there, I'm unsure whether I understand your meaning. Do students in school have a right to refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance? Yes.
So why didn't you just stand quietly? I went to an American school with some foreign children in attendance. We said the Pledge of Allegiance.. they stood respectfully.
Did you stand up or continue to sit during the pledge? Did you explain to the teacher in a mature way (doubt it) why you didn't make the pledge? Do you have a past history of disrespecting your teachers or school staff? Did you tell the teacher before (in a mature way) that you did not believe in god at the begining of school. ---------- My prediction : You probably had the right to not say you believe in god but you also acted a completly disprespectful fashion towards the teacher and ended up calling her names.
If you don't have the right to NOT pledge allegiance to the flag, you don't live in a free country... and neither does anyone else in the US.
I've already voiced my opinion on this matter earlier in this thread, but this video also sums it up rather nicely. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2BfqDUPL1I"]YouTube - ‪The Whitest Kids U' Know - Pledge of Allegiance‬‏[/ame]
I say the pledge the way I learned in 1953. Here are all the "official versions" since its initial appearance. 1892 "I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all." 1892 to 1923 "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all." 1923 to 1924 "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all." 1924 to 1954 "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all." 1954 to Present "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Wait...you still say the pledge of allegiance? Crap, I had no idea we were supposed to continue doing that after elementary school. They should have included that bit of instruction in the pledge itself. "...and I pledge to continue reciting this pledge like a drone long after the brainwashing has taken a firm hold..."
To me the flag has great meaning. I was a soldier in Nam, and saw many people, including my friends, die, fighting for that flag. I respect and admire what the flag stands for, and I still pledge my support to it.
Margmot is right. Adults do things in order to be respectful of others. Children often don't. When I travel to foreign countries I always try to show respect for the mores and customs of those countries. While I don't think it is necessary to wear long pants in church I always do when visiting churhes in Italy because to not do so would be disrespectful. When a waitress or waiter places my dish on the table I always say thank you. While it is that person's job to serve me, it is polite and respectful to say thank you. There are many little acts adults perform every day just to be respectful of others. In my opinion you acted like a little child, making a scene when you could have respectfully stood in silence.
Hats off! Along the street there comes A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums, A flash of color beneath the sky: Hats off! The flag is passing by! Blue and crimson and white it shines, Over the steel-tipped, ordered lines. Hats off! The colors before us fly; But more than the flag is passing by. Sea-fights and land-fights, grim and great, Fought to make and to save the State: Weary marches and sinking ships; Cheers of victory on dying lips; Days of plenty and years of peace; March of a strong land's swift increase; Equal justice, right, and law, Stately honor and reverend awe; Sign of a nation, great and strong Toward her people from foreign wrong: Pride and glory and honor,--all Live in the colours to stand or fall. Hats off! Along the street there comes A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums; And loyal hearts are beating high: Hats off! The Flag is passing by!
I got in trouble 55 years ago for not saying the Pledge of Allegiance or the Lord's Prayer in school. Like you, I would have been devastated if I hadn't gotten in trouble.
He also didn't include the words under God. This was added later by Congress. I have nothing against saying the pledge myself but don't think people should be forced to do so.
The ones that refuse to say it. Should be deported, or placed in prisons. And thats being nice about it. Many countries would just execute them. ___________________________ "If guns cause crime, all of mine are defective." - Ted Nugent
So the pledge is clearly nationalistic and we know that it was written by a socialist. Does that mean that it is a national socialist pledge? Oh, dear... That at least explains dixiehunter's post above.
