Pledge of allegiance

[removeduser_4536284751384]

"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."

Why exactly do many schools in America have their students say this weekly? An allegiance in this context is "a duty of fidelity said to be owed by a subject or a citizen to his/her state or sovereign". In a republic the people are the sovereign. So why do they swear allegiance to the flag and the government?

It's a very bad idea that I think can only increase tolerance for bad government and, as we can see with many people of the USA, nationalism and xenophobia.

What do our American and other users think of it?

I won't even mention the "under God" part.

[Big War Bird]

Kinda creepy.

[Phier]

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.

Yea thats going to lead us to evil

Don't have an issue with it myself, though I think the original pledge was coined by a socialist back when that was still considered cool.

I do enjoy though that you picked the 'Nazi' looking salute which of course, dates pre-wwII and has been used in propaganda in the past against the US.

So ya, whatever, keep in touch.

[removeduser_4536284751384]

Yea thats going to lead us to evil

not evil but I think it does increase xenophobia.

And while the it's very common for Americans to use "Americans" to mean "people" I think that does too.

I do enjoy though that you picked the 'Nazi' looking salute which of course, dates pre-wwII and has been used in propaganda in the past against the US.

like the swastika, the bellamy salute was once a widespread peaceful symbol that was stolen by the nazis.

[motiv-8]

I don't mind a pledge of loyalty to our Republic, as opposed to just, I don't know, assuming. I mean, this is the only time I can really think of in which an average natural-born citizen would actually make such an affirmation, you know? The only other times are upon taking up public office and joining the military, but that's a miniscule percentage of the population.

I think you're confusing matters by implying that pledging allegiance to the government precludes working to improve and/or change the government. In the context of our state works the pledge of allegiance isn't unusual at all, except for the "under God" part.

[Big War Bird]

Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance

[Marie Louise von Preussen]

The Nazi Salute is a copycat of the one true Roman salute.

[danzig]

The Nazi Salute is a copycat of the one true Roman salute.

Yeah but he picked that one particular picture no doubt for a reason when no one in sane world uses it since it was corrupted by the nazis.

And nothing wrong with the pledge, its not mandatory you can just sit there quietly.

[wilpuri]

Yeah but he picked that one particular picture no doubt for a reason when no one in sane world uses it since it was corrupted by the nazis.

People still use it, for example in Croatia (IIRC it has been used there since the 19th century) its a common sight in Thompson concerts and football games.

(Of course, as an American you have the right to divide the world into "sane" and "insane", "good" and "bad", "right" and "wrong")

[motiv-8]

vDon't have an issue with it myself, though I think the original pledge was coined by a socialist back when that was still considered cool.

Errr, no, a Baptist Minister. His cousin was the socialist author.

[Phier]

Errr, no, a Baptist Minister. His cousin was the socialist author.

Well jolly good then, shame they added the 'under god part'..

like the swastika, the bellamy salute was once a widespread peaceful symbol that was stolen by the nazis.

Glad your wikipedia works

[Burnum]

Errr, no, a Baptist Minister. His cousin was the socialist author.

He was a Christian socialist.

[Wegen7 die Große]

Um isn't that the Nazi salute?

The Nazi Salute is a copycat of the one true Roman salute.

Isn't that were they hit there chest and then do the nazish salute but rather with a fist instead of an open hand?

[Arbitrary Crusader]

Um isn't that the Nazi salute?

Before WW2.

[Wegen7 die Große]

Before WW2.

Well I did not know that the Americans believed in Nazism before WW2.

[Arbitrary Crusader]

Well I did not know that the Americans believed in Nazism before WW2.

I did not know that the Nazi own that salute sign...

[Wegen7 die Große]

I did not know that the Nazi own that salute sign...

ow right just googled it and figured the rest out, hm I guess I was wrong for the first time.

[Haldred]

Whats with the picture? You hold your right hand on your heart for our pledge of allegiance. There's nothing wrong with the pledge, I never minded it throughout school, and wouldn't mind saying it every day regardless of where I'm at. Now if they put it up on every channel every morning for everyone to say, then thats weird. It's just being Patriotic.

[Dr. Croccer]

A pledge of allegiance is good. It shows one's respect and love for his country. It should be re-instituted over here.

[razor-]

I think its great, in a country as diverse as USA there need to be some kind of rituals for the sake of cohesion. I fail to see anything in the allegiance that will foster xenophobia.