What is a pledge anyway?
By Able_Reason
What is a pledge anyway? My own synthesis of dictionary terms is, 'a heartfelt promise'. And allegiance simply means loyalty. So, the Pledge of Allegiance is a heartfelt promise of loyalty.
The Federal Government would have (did/does have) our school-aged children (ages 6-18) recite the following:
I send my children to school to be taught how to learn efficiently and what to learn. I don't send them to school to be brainwashed.
I object to this phrase being a part of the pledge for two reasons. First, if I say the pledge but skip this phrase, then I'm silently endorsing the phrase. And second, if I refuse to say the pledge at all, then I'm accused of being unpatriotic and I risk becoming an outcast and vilified by society.
I'm convinced that the level of my own patriotism is equally as strong as any person who believes in the existence of a god or gods. I believe schools could more effectively foster age-appropriate patriotism in history, government, and civics classes. We should leave the reciting of pledges to individuals who are at or above the age of consent (age 18).
School-aged children shouldn't be coerced into making any heart felt promises of loyalty, and it shouldn't even be an option for them because they clearly are too young to comprehend what they are saying or doing when they recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
By Able_Reason
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The Federal Government would have (did/does have) our school-aged children (ages 6-18) recite the following:
"I pledge allegiance," - {I give my heartfelt promise of loyalty}So far I personally don't have a problem with any of these ideas. But I sure don't want my children being forced or encouraged to make promises they clearly are too young to even comprehend. The thought of coercing children to stand at attention and chant any mantra is disturbing, to say the least. It reminds me of the responsive readings we did in church growing up. The speaker and the congregation would take turns reading lines aloud. Seeing it done later after I'd deconverted it really gave me the creeps. During the reading everyone is very somber and voices are monotone. It's a lot like a form of hypnosis or hypnotic suggestion. The reciting of the pledge draws to my mind images of cults chanting their oaths of allegiance. I imagine the KKK, Black Panthers, the Aryan Nation, and others chanting their mantras and inciting their adherents into a frenzied response. Even though reciting the pledge isn't quite on the same level as this, it is a lesser form of the very same thing.
"To the flag, of the United States of America" - {to a cloth symbol of our country, the flag}
"And to the republic," - {and also to the form of government that our country is established on, a republic}
"For which it stands," - {the flag is a cloth symbol of our country and also of our established form of government.}
I send my children to school to be taught how to learn efficiently and what to learn. I don't send them to school to be brainwashed.
"One nation, under god," - {the USA as a nation is watched over by god}I believe that to the many US citizens who believe in a god, the thought of removing this phrase from the pledge sends the message that god doesn't exist. It's no wonder that they are so violently opposed to being forced into making such an acknowledgement. They appear incapable and unwilling to even attempt to see things from the opposing side. I believe it's less of a state/church separation issue with them and more of a fear that their heartfelt belief system is being annihilated.
I object to this phrase being a part of the pledge for two reasons. First, if I say the pledge but skip this phrase, then I'm silently endorsing the phrase. And second, if I refuse to say the pledge at all, then I'm accused of being unpatriotic and I risk becoming an outcast and vilified by society.
I'm convinced that the level of my own patriotism is equally as strong as any person who believes in the existence of a god or gods. I believe schools could more effectively foster age-appropriate patriotism in history, government, and civics classes. We should leave the reciting of pledges to individuals who are at or above the age of consent (age 18).
"Indivisible" - {our people, our minds, and our land are forever united}This is obviously just an ideal to work towards. The OJ trial, the last presidential election, and this current pledge issue clearly show that we as a nation are indeed divisible on many different fronts.
"With liberty and justice for all" - {all those who take this pledge are granted liberty and justice}I certainly support liberty and justice for all US citizens, and hope that all nations of the world will one day follow suit.
School-aged children shouldn't be coerced into making any heart felt promises of loyalty, and it shouldn't even be an option for them because they clearly are too young to comprehend what they are saying or doing when they recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
June 27, 2002