Pledge of Allegiance

[ChattanoogaPhil]

We recited the Pledge of Allegiance in elementary school, but not in high school. Can't say that as a grade school kid I really understood what the words meant... more interested in the pretty girl next to me or how long it would be till recess. As an adult I can't say that I recite the Pledge of Allegiance much.

Over the years it has changed in both words and style. The Bellamy salute was until about the time of WWII. I guess the salute kinda looked like a bunch of Jr Nazis.

I think kids should recite the Pledge of Allegiance in school if for no other reason than on general principle. Anyone who says there is no time for it isn't being honest. They have an agenda or problem with it.

 

[Pasifikawv]

I remember them trying to remove "Under God" from the pledge.

Maybe that didn't save them enough time so now they're going for the whole 10 seconds?

We all know how busy they are, With all this brainwashing and such.

I remember my mom telling stories of my older sisters learning the "pledge" in school. They were practicing their recitation with mom after school and it was different than when my mom learned it. When my mom and dad (and grand parents) learned the pledge, there was no "under God" phrase in the pledge. At first, mom thought their teacher had added the phrase for some reason, but that wasn't the case.

My parents learned the pledge as children during WWII. My sisters learned the pledge in the late 50's. The "under God" clause was added in the early 50's as a knee-jerk response to the communist threat. Given many communists philosophers had a negative view of organized religion, the knee-jerk US legislators of the day wanted to further show our difference from communism/socialism (as if more were needed) and inserted "under God" into the pledge. No one at the time would dare resist anything that was proposed as "anti-commie" so it passed with little fanfare or debate.

I wouldn't have any problem going back to the original pledge. If it was good enough for the "Greatest Generation" and good enough for my parents, it is good enough for me.

Since there is no external "godless commie threat," to what the purpose does "under God" serve other than ostracize non-Christian Americans as somehow less American? "One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" is more than adequate. If our pledge is limited to only those who believe in organized Christian religion's concept of God, it isn't one nation for all - but only for those who that share a certain belief system.

I welcome the unwavering devotion and allegiance to our nation from any American, regardless of religion.

 

[Steve O]

How much of their decision is based on being PC? Search for Red Skelton's video on the pledge of allegiance; I guess we are where he hoped we wouldn't get.

 

[mkk41]

I remember my mom telling stories of my older sisters learning the "pledge" in school. They were practicing their recitation with mom after school and it was different than when my mom learned it. When my mom and dad (and grand parents) learned the pledge, there was no "under God" phrase in the pledge. At first, mom thought their teacher had added the phrase for some reason, but that wasn't the case.

My parents learned the pledge as children during WWII. My sisters learned the pledge in the late 50's. The "under God" clause was added in the early 50's as a knee-jerk response to the communist threat. Given many communists philosophers had a negative view of organized religion, the knee-jerk US legislators of the day wanted to further show our difference from communism/socialism (as if more were needed) and inserted "under God" into the pledge. No one at the time would dare resist anything that was proposed as "anti-commie" so it passed with little fanfare or debate.

I wouldn't have any problem going back to the original pledge. If it was good enough for the "Greatest Generation" and good enough for my parents, it is good enough for me.

Since there is no external "godless commie threat," to what the purpose does "under God" serve other than ostracize non-Christian Americans as somehow less American? "One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" is more than adequate. If our pledge is limited to only those who believe in organized Christian religion's concept of God, it isn't one nation for all - but only for those who that share a certain belief system.

I welcome the unwavering devotion and allegiance to our nation from any American, regardless of religion.

At the risk of breaking both the "no religion or politics" rules in one thread , I fully agree. Some of the most loyal and patriotic Americans I know , many of whom are Vets , are Atheists , Agnostics , Buddists , Pagans , Wiccans and other not so acceptable faiths.

 

[BillK01]

Both my boys (8 & 6) still say it in school every day. We also say it at every Cub Scout Den and Pack meeting before anything else happens. I certainly hope it doesn't change here.

 

[mkk41]

Nobody seems to want to be just an American these days. They all claim to be what I refer to as a "hyphen-American". No matter if they're an immigrant themselves , or first/second/third generation.

I know one person who will tell anyone who listens that he's not just an Italian , he's a Sicilian!

He was born here.

Both his parents were born here.

Grandparents probably were born there.

I enjoy rattling his cage by remindiung him the not only was he NOT born in Sicily , he's never even been there!

I also love telling him that I've been to Sicily on several occasions , and for extended periods of time. I tell him "I'm more Sicillian than you , and I'm Polish!"

Well , of Polish descent!

 

[unbrkn]

They must still be doing it around here, i walked out of a local Kroger not too long ago and seen two little black girls stop at the flag outside, and proudly put their hands over their hearts, and started the pledge. It was the cutest thing I had seen all day.

 

[BillK01]

Nobody seems to want to be just an American these days. They all claim to be what I refer to as a "hyphen-American". No matter if they're an immigrant themselves , or first/second/third generation.

I know one person who will tell anyone who listens that he's not just an Italian , he's a Sicilian!

He was born here.

Both his parents were born here.

Grandparents probably were born there.

I enjoy rattling his cage by remindiung him the not only was he NOT born in Sicily , he's never even been there!

I also love telling him that I've been to Sicily on several occasions , and for extended periods of time. I tell him "I'm more Sicillian than you , and I'm Polish!"

Well , of Polish descent!

Both my boys are adopted - one is half Filipino/Hispanic the other is Korean. People still ask me "what are they" and I reply "American" - causes from funny looks.

 

[mkk41]

These days , I see more people flying the flag of the country they came from.


I like the words of Teddy Roosevelt,

"If it were up to me , I'd drive every foreign flag from the continent by bayonet point!"

 

[DeathGrip]

I remember my mom telling stories of my older sisters learning the "pledge" in school. They were practicing their recitation with mom after school and it was different than when my mom learned it. When my mom and dad (and grand parents) learned the pledge, there was no "under God" phrase in the pledge. At first, mom thought their teacher had added the phrase for some reason, but that wasn't the case.

My parents learned the pledge as children during WWII. My sisters learned the pledge in the late 50's. The "under God" clause was added in the early 50's as a knee-jerk response to the communist threat. Given many communists philosophers had a negative view of organized religion, the knee-jerk US legislators of the day wanted to further show our difference from communism/socialism (as if more were needed) and inserted "under God" into the pledge. No one at the time would dare resist anything that was proposed as "anti-commie" so it passed with little fanfare or debate.

I wouldn't have any problem going back to the original pledge. If it was good enough for the "Greatest Generation" and good enough for my parents, it is good enough for me.

Since there is no external "godless commie threat," to what the purpose does "under God" serve other than ostracize non-Christian Americans as somehow less American? "One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" is more than adequate. If our pledge is limited to only those who believe in organized Christian religion's concept of God, it isn't one nation for all - but only for those who that share a certain belief system.

I welcome the unwavering devotion and allegiance to our nation from any American, regardless of religion.

Thanks for the education. I learn something here everyday.

 

[armenius]

How times and Country have changed.I was a first grader when WWII started.Every morning before class there was a devotional withScripture,prayer and songs of Faith as well as America The Beautiful,God Bless America or one of the Military Themes.My favorites were Wild Blue Yonder or the Marine Hymn.There was time to sell stamps toward a $25 War Bond.Then of course we checked to see how much scrap metal or "tin foil" was collected by each student.At home bacon grease was collected and turned in at the butcher shop to go to nitro glycerine production.You think 22 cartridges are hard to find??.They were rationed and mostly went to farmers for pest control.All other ammo was as scarce as hens teeth.No joy rides as gas was strictly rationed and stamps issued were more important than money,which was in short supply coming out of the depression.Shoes,clothes,butter,meats,sugar and practically all else was rationed.If you watch old WWII movies you will see that silk stockings were a greater chick magnet than a Porsche.I was too young then to know what you could get with panties.A simple thing like an Almond Hershey Bar was as scarce as a Registered Magnum.I was fortunate as my Aunt and Cousin worked with many other women making 20 mm AA ammo and could use the PX and get me candy and Lance Cheese "Nabs".Almost everyone went to Church twice on Sunday and Prayer meeting Wednesday night.Everyone was affected by friends or relatives dying or wounded.It was the worst of times but also the best of times.Maybe it will take near destruction again to bring back our Nation, but it may be too late.I'm personally not minding getting older.

 

[millisec]

Its all part of the big picture in one world globalization the liberal elite are pushing for this country. Doing that involves destroying nationalism piece by piece.

 

[the ringo kid]

These days , I see more people flying the flag of the country they came from.


I like the words of Teddy Roosevelt,

"If it were up to me , I'd drive every foreign flag from the continent by bayonet point!"

When I lived in Austin, I was chagrined to see what was and was not flown inside the library i went to. Inside, they fly around 25 FOREIGN flags. You guessed it--ours was NOT seen. The branch library I went to was Walnut Creek. The thing that clenched my decision to stop going there was when they passed a stupid no hat policy. The policy was not the straw that broke the Camels back, it was when a worker totally disrespected and mis-treated a WWII Marine Vet.

The vet and I were standing in line talking while standing in line to use one of their 15 minute computers. A worker (one so politically correct) came up and "went off" on the Vet as well as myself citing that we both BETTER get our hats off that instant or we both would be escorted out of the library and given a 1 month "sentence" of loss of computer and book priviledges.

I looked at the rude punk with daggers in my eyes, the vet turned red with anger looking at the punk with swords in his eyes. We both glared at the punk for several seconds then we walked outside to resume our chat. Our "crime" was we both were engrossed in our conversation that we both forgot to remove our caps--which we normally did but not because of the stupid new rule--because we removed cover when entering buildings.

Outside we both also tore up and threw away our library cards.

 

[nicky4968]

Someone on NPR, I forget who, suggested the Pledge be changed to end with, "under g------it!"

Said with real feeling, it gets the point across.

 

[roadhog96]

Is it possible that things like this are part of a master plan?

My thoughts exactly!

 

[rwsmith]

It was pointed out in the televised meeting that the recital of the pledge only took 10 seconds. The board acknowledged this fact and yet decided that nowhere in the 7 hour school day was there an opportunity to allocate the ten seconds necessary for pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and therefore, it would not be done.

I

Baloney. Time is not the reason. The real reason is that they don't WAN'T to recite the pledge.

 

[DeathGrip]

I wonder if its not used in all of our 52 states?

 

[the ringo kid]

I wonder if its not used in all of our 52 states?

You mean, all 58 States?