Pledge of allegiance

Should we pledge #kids #school #pledge #government #flag #lawyer #america

[isaiahsiordia]

Can we all stop for a sec and appreciate that Pokémon joke
“Who’s that Pokémon?… it’s” *the shining twins voice* “indoctrination”

[Anonu]

As a German, I'd like you all to imagine what it would look like if we start doing that.

[MrBrandonify]

The pledge of allegiance to the flag would make more sense to kids if we taught them their rights, the constitution and history of the founding. They would better understand why it’s important. Otherwise without it, it does sound like indoctrination.

[birtarb]

Growing up in Europe, I remember the first time I heard about Americans doing this EVERY DAY. I still find it so strange

[Pringlesman]

I've always thought that if we saw that North Korea had a pledge that every child was required to say every day in school we would rightfully call them out on it.

[milky]

I stopped saying the pledge my senior year. I did it ironically dueing american gov being taught by a teacher who was a marine. I thought i was going to get crapped on but the teacher turned it into a teaching moment. He brought up that doing the pledge isnt required anymore and that he joined the military so people can do exactly what i did. The looks i got from the rest of the class still make me laugh today.

I didnt like this teacher much before this but he gained my respect that day. I didnt stand up for the pledge much during that year. The only 2 times i did it was veterans day and his birthday as a sign of respect for him and his service.

Screw anyone who tells you that its mandatory or try to make you feel bad about not doing it

[JasonFightsCrime]

I worked at a school for a while. I did not care for the pledge. I'm a veteran. I've been to war. I have been sworn to protect and defend the Constitution almost all of my adult life. I demonstrated my loyalty by deeds. I don't need to recite the pledge.

[alphaknight]

HELP I LOST IT WHEN HE SAID "Yea I didn't know you were part of the problem" AHAHAHAAHH

[scootert]

Yeah, no. I tried to let my kids know from a young age they do NOT have to participate in this. Some teachers will try to convince, especially young ones, it's required. For me and mine, no and no.

[chibigirl]

Around 2nd grade I asked my grandma what a pledge was (we were watching Fiddler on the Roof), she said it was a promise. So I asked my teachers what we were promising, they said to serve our country. I asked "What if I want to live in a different country when I grow up? Wouldn't I be lying?" I got sent to sit in the hall the rest of the day.

[Somethingfoster]

It started during the McCarthy Era as part of the Cold War

[OG.StrawberryGoat]

My school tried to have me suspended for a week for deciding one morning I didn't want to say the pledge. My parents thought the entire thing was ridiculous and my friends in school staged a protest for me where dozens of kids refused to say the pledge. What were they going to do? Suspend half the 8th grade because they didn't want to talk like zombies for one morning?

[BiscuitBoi]

I wrote a paper on how Under God wasn't even in the original pledge, and that by having it projected all throughout a public school, is implicit coercion that's a violation of the 1st amendments establishment clause. I don't have a problem with religion, but when our constitution says we do not endorse one, then the under God part is repugnant to those principles

[NexisPrime]

Your wife seems smart. You should listen to her.

[BaconPeach]

USA may have issues - every country has issues - but to remove respect for the country, values, and constitution that affords you the opportunities and relative peace Americans live under is ungrateful and destructive. Live in another country in the world for a while and maybe then Americans may appreciate more of what they have. And I'm saying this as a Canadian. America is a country of freedom, but only if we keep those values. Government seems to be working at removing and dismantling that slowly and that WILL make the pledge empty brainwashed words.

[Raven-DT]

As a kid capable of critical thinking, I realized what was going on with the whole pledge of allegience being recited every day in school. It always felt very cult-like and excessively nationalistic. I ended up standing for the pledge but not reciting it. I felt that forcing children in this way was wrong. Also, a lot of the people I went to school with had the sort of blind nationalism that his wife said over the phone. "It's important to have pride in your country and to strive to be #1." Maybe, but at what costs?

Now, three decades later, and after 12 years of active military service, I still feel the same way. I think children should instead be taught history in a way that they understand both the good and the bad about their country, a lot like Germany. You'd be surprised at how blindly people can love the US, or even how blindly they can despite/hate it.

People who love their country blindly will never allow any sort of criticism against it, no matter how constructive and respectful it may be presented. Likewise, people who hate their country blindly will never admit the good parts it has done.

And this is where we are with the US and its citizens today.

I love the US and I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. And I although I no longer wear the uniform, I will continue to do so until the day I die. But that doesn't mean I won't criticise the hell out of it when I feel it's being absolutely stupid.

[Fable]

It became optional to say it around 2009 for the schools in my area. Became too awkward considering half the students were Native American.

[ComicRaptor]

Nothing wrong with giving kids national identity

[mistermartindale]

In my school (UK) we used to all say
"Good morning *teacher's name*, Good morning everyone"
I feel like indoctrinating good manners is fine, any oath to any thing is weird. It just means as an adult they'll either be anxious forever or never be able to hold any promise as strictly as if they felt they never broke any.

[Ruska_o]

there is nothing wrong with teaching your kids to be proud of what your nation was founded upon. and the pledge of allegiance is exactly that. millions died for that flag, the least we can do is appreciate it.