Should we be able to say the Pledge of Alligence in school whats your thoughts?

Yes it does mean you have no respect for America and that you are against the flag for which it stands.

Wait -- America stands for a flag? Surely you mean the other way around - the flag stands for America?

Personally, as a non-American, I think the Pledge of Allegiance is valuable in some ways, and not-so-valuable in others. The Pledge is a good way to demonstrate your affection for your country and the values which you believe it s tands for. However, if you don't actually FEEL allegiance to the country, saying the pledge wont change a thing. It's the actual allegiance to the country that matters - the pledging of it is entirely optional.

- Scarlet.

 

We don't have a Pledge of Allegiance.

 

We should be able to say it. We should not be required to say it.

 

First of all, I'm not from the US, so I was not going to say it. I remained seated and let my eyes wander around.

Second, I don't say it to my country neither because my only loyalty is to family, friends and loved ones.

 

Personally, I take pledging an allegiance to anything VERY seriously. To me, allegiance means total, unconditional support. There are VERY things I will pledge my allegiance to...not countries, nor people. Coutries and people are fallible and flawed.

I will pledge to ideals, and the hope that those ideals can be fulfilled, but too often my country falls short of my ideals, so my "pledge" remains to follow the ideals in my heart, and to do all I can to strive for the upholding of those ideals worldwide.

 

In the 1950's, conservatives in Congress altered the original Pledge of Allegiance and inserted the words "under God." The original pledge was fine, but back then politicians wanted to highlight our differences with the "godless" commies -- as if there wasn't a big enough difference between democracy and communism to begin with.

It was all part of the Red Scare...

Restore the Pledge to its original form I say.


Back when I was in grade school, there were some kids who wouldn't stand and recite it because it was against their religious beliefs, ie, they believed that you could only pledge allegiance to God. Pledging allegiance to the flag of a country was a form of idolatry.

As far as having to say it, if you need to recite a pledge to have pride in your country, you're awful shallow, in my opinion. Reciting something over and over doesn't make it true, unless you're trying to brainwash yourself.

 

God, I don't even know if I remember the whole pledge anymore...

I pledge allegience, to the flag, of the United States of America. For which it stands, under god, with truth, liberty, and justice for all.

Is that it?

(I agree they should take OUT the under god part, it wasn't in the original and it's stoopid to add it in. It's kinda like making Greedo Shoot First.)

 

I think you are not cool for agreeing that they should take out ,"Under God"

 

And I think you are going to be earning a ban soon.


EDIT: AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Nice editing job, someone's afraid.

 

Normally, I'd agree.

But it was never part of the original pledge and was just a cheap ploy due to the so called red scare.

So why is it stupid?

 

I also agree that it's stupid to keep "Under god" in the pledge. Oooohhh....the boogy man in the sky might hurt us if we take it out. Better be careful, didn't the boogy man flood the world?

 

Consider yourself happily ignored, Darth Bain. Seems you're just trolling.

Stoney's comment got me to thinking... do other countries have the equivalent of a pledge? If so, what types of governments are they?

Think about it.

 

Come back when you can be constructive.

 

"I pledge allegiance, to Allah, to burn down the stinking infidels' buildings, I spit on you, SPIIIIIITTTTT!!!" - Bin Laden.


Why do we have a pledge to begin with? Does that seem really retarded. If you want to honor your soldiers, frickin' visit them at a cemetary, do not indoctrinate a nation into pledging a piece of cloth. Also, according to my Honors US history teacher from the 11th grade, whom I trust, the only reason we have a pledge is because when immigrants came over they wanted to "Americanize" them. That's all, no honor or anything behind it, so it's ******** stupid to keep it around.

 

But Bin Laden is Muslim, his religion doesn't count and is a tool of the devil.

- sarcasm

 

Yeah, he's the debil incarnate. That means every time some goth guy goes "Hail satan!" they're actually hailing Bin Laden. Best watch out for those goths now, they might be....*looks around cautiously* terrorists. *eye roll*

 

We know Britain doesn't have a pledge. Does Australia have a pledge? How about Canada (Actually, I know they don't, either)? What democratic nations have a pledge of allegiance? What nations feel that their population needs to daily recite such a pledge?

So far, I can think of only one, and ironically enough, it's the one that proclaims itself to be the "most free". Anyone else know of other pledges? I'm curious.

 

My country has a pledge and an anthem. My country is a democracy. I won't say that pledge.

 

I bet China has a pledge or oath of allegiance.

 

Wow, something I posted got someone thinking? [face_shocked]

Ooh, a quick question that is sorta related - I heard that if you were to fly a flag in America that is not the American flag, you'd have to fly the American flag above it. Is that true?

(Say if I moved to America and wanted to fly the Scottish Saltire in my garden, I'd have to fly the Stars and Stripes above it...?)

I don't know for certain of any other country that has an official pledge - I've seen the American one used in films and on TV, and it always seemed pretty cheesy to me...

 

No you do not have to fly the American flag over it. There are Mexicans all over the place here, that have Mexican flags, but no American. Same thing with confederate flags, they can fly with no American. Same for state flags.

 

and it always seemed pretty cheesy to me...

Kinda makes us all look like brainwashed citizens, doesn't it?

About the flag; you are correct in that you would have to fly the American flag above it, according to this website; however, I'm not sure you would have to fly the Star and Stripes:
When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the right of the flag of the United States.

But then, there are TONS of rules for flying the flag! The website gives all the others, too.

 

Thanks you two I think I'll just not fly any flags, then I won't need to worry!

 

One point that I have is that if you are not an American this probably doesn't really concern you. And I never said that we should be forced to say the pledge I just think that it is stupid that people think that the pledge is offending their religon or whatever they believe in. It's just a way that we show respect to our country!!

USA!!!

 

One point that I have is that if you are not an American this probably doesn't really concern you. And I never said that we should be forced to say the pledge I just think that it is stupid that people think that the pledge is offending their religon or whatever they believe in. It's just a way that we show respect to our country!!

If you're talking about the God-in-the-Pledge debate, you're probably looking for the Separation of Church and State thread, or the Pledge of Allegiance ruled unconstitutional thread. Nevermind on the latter, it has been locked.

If you're talking about the right to pledge allegiance to your country, I say go for it, recite it 'til your heart's content.

But you cannot force respect, either in a country or another person, even through repetition. Neither can you force obedience to a religion by repetition.