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It is remarkable that the official US motto is "in God we trust". The government is supposed to be secular! And even more, that students are compelled to say the pledge of allegiance (including the phrase "one nation, under God") every morning. This brainwashes feeble minds into subservience to their country, which I think is a form of propaganda to mold American children into chauvinistic adults who will be willing to join the army and fight blindly to defend the concept of "United States". I think sensible people should urge their children to exercise their First Amendment right to freedom of expression and religion to OPT OUT of saying the pledge. As a child I saw how ridiculous the practice was, but was afraid that I would be castigated if I had sat down throughout that morning ritual. Now, I see that I was pressured to being a sheep and accepting it despite how ridiculous it seemed. These tactics are powerful and we must recognize them and refuse to submit to social pressures to act in asinine ways! For example --
during World War I, the British government employed women in cities to belittle men who chose not to fight, basically calling them wussies. And the sad thing is that it was effective!
That phrase in the pledge was introduced during the McCarthy era, as a jab toward the "godless Communists". "In God We Trust" was an innovation, too. If it's important to you, write your representatives in Congress about it. You're not alone in wanting to change those things.
Growing up and reciting the pledge every morning at school has given me great reverence for our flag and as I progressed and came to learn what that flag means for so many it is still humbling.
Wars have been fought and men have died under that flag to protect what they believed was the American Dream. We have swarms of immigrants both legal and not who dare death to reach our shores to live under the freedom banner that is the American flag.
The Pledge of Allegiance is a great way to remind kids that they live in a great country and the morning recital is like a shot in the arm of Patriotism.
Patriotism is Pride but not " a form of propaganda to mold American children into chauvinistic adults who will be willing to join the army and fight blindly to defend the concept of "United States". as you say.
What is wrong with Patriotism?
I suppose you are the type who attends a sporting event and doesn't stand, keeps talking or playing on your phone when the Star Spangled Banner is played.
To those who don't maybe they need a History refresher course?
The OP mentions exercising your first amendment rights to opt out of the pledge but remember first that good men died for this country to allow you to "opt out".
Maybe if more kids grew up reciting the pledge and believed in and loved their country they wouldn't be trashing it as adults?
Growing up and reciting the pledge every morning at school has given me great reverence for our flag and as I progressed and came to learn what that flag means for so many it is still humbling.
Wars have been fought and men have died under that flag to protect what they believed was the American Dream. We have swarms of immigrants both legal and not who dare death to reach our shores to live under the freedom banner that is the American flag.
The Pledge of Allegiance is a great way to remind kids that they live in a great country and the morning recital is like a shot in the arm of Patriotism.
Patriotism is Pride but not " a form of propaganda to mold American children into chauvinistic adults who will be willing to join the army and fight blindly to defend the concept of "United States". as you say.
What is wrong with Patriotism?
I suppose you are the type who attends a sporting event and doesn't stand, keeps talking or playing on your phone when the Star Spangled Banner is played.
To those who don't maybe they need a History refresher course?
The OP mentions exercising your first amendment rights to opt out of the pledge but remember first that good men died for this country to allow you to "opt out".
Maybe if more kids grew up reciting the pledge and believed in and loved their country they wouldn't be trashing it as adults?
it should be self-evident that the country is great and that you shouldn't need to be drilled into thinking that--it should be obvious. If it requires drilling with the pledge of allegiance, you're not learning that it's good, you're learning to submit. Our country was built on the idea of questioning authority, not blindly adhering to established laws. Symbolism doesn't matter.
Last edited by Jeo123; 08-30-2015 at 08:11 PM..
Reason: Edited Quote
it should be self-evident that the country is great and that you shouldn't need to be drilled into thinking that--it should be obvious. If it requires drilling with the pledge of allegiance, you're not learning that it's good, you're learning to submit. Our country was built on the idea of questioning authority, not blindly adhering to established laws. Symbolism doesn't matter.
I think kids should learn the pledge and know the history of it, but I don't think it's necessary to say at school EVERY day.
I also agree that "God" needs to be removed from it, all money, and publicly funded buildings, etc. It is excluding and not what America is about. I grew up saying it and my daughter just recently learned it and as a non religious person, hearing that phrase "under God" makes me uncomfortable. Something done to pay homage and show respect for your own country shouldn't make ANYONE feel uncomfortable.
"In God We Trust"? Maybe we should vote on it since this is a Democracy. Oh, that's right, we aren't a Democracy anymore because that would be politically incorrect.
So, I'm thinking "In God We Trust" gets a reaction like a vampire to a cross? Oh my!
It is remarkable that the official US motto is "in God we trust". The government is supposed to be secular! And even more, that students are compelled to say the pledge of allegiance (including the phrase "one nation, under God") every morning. This brainwashes feeble minds into subservience to their country, which I think is a form of propaganda to mold American children into chauvinistic adults who will be willing to join the army and fight blindly to defend the concept of "United States". I think sensible people should urge their children to exercise their First Amendment right to freedom of expression and religion to OPT OUT of saying the pledge. As a child I saw how ridiculous the practice was, but was afraid that I would be castigated if I had sat down throughout that morning ritual. Now, I see that I was pressured to being a sheep and accepting it despite how ridiculous it seemed. These tactics are powerful and we must recognize them and refuse to submit to social pressures to act in asinine ways! For example --
during World War I, the British government employed women in cities to belittle men who chose not to fight, basically calling them wussies. And the sad thing is that it was effective!
As an atheist myself, these little things are just background noise. Sure, the government should not be in the business of revising things to promote religion, but there are more important battles to wage than sniping over silly mottoes that insecure Christians think adds to their middle eastern faith's credibility.
The USA was never formed as a democracy. It's a republic. Always has been.
It's degenerating into a public.
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