What's the problem with the pledge of allegiance?

Question

I'm all for it. How about you?

Answer 1

I don't have a problem with it--I am a teacher and we say it everyday in class. However, it is a personal preference whether or not you choose to say it. I can't make my students say it, but they have to stand up with the rest of the class as a show of respect. Some people refuse to take an oath to a country--and funny enough, that is their right in the USA. I think the mega controversy over it is because we as Americans LOVE to sue and try to influence the courts to our way of thinking so that everyone else is forced to do what one person wants. Just wouldn't be America if someone wasn't suing over what is said on our money or what we do in front of our flag. :)


And yes, the "under God" part wasn't originally in the pledge. It was added in the 1950s. Thus, the controversy because it wasn't in it in the beginning. Interesting bit of trivia for you.

Answer 2

For starters, its hard to take a pledge seriously that mentions a fictional character as if it is real.

But worse, the pledge is a tool of indoctrination. If it was really just a pledge, it would be something people might do when they turned 18, registered to vote, or something like that. You would take the pledge once because once you have declared your allegiance, what would be the point of declaring it again?

Of course, the pledge of allegiance isn't used that way. It is used as a tool of indoctrination. That's why its focused on school children, and that's why they say it every freaking day. The point is to brainwash people while they are young and gullible into supporting what the government does, whether its right or wrong. That's a shame because in a democracy, what we need are people who know how to think and are not afraid to question authority.

Answer 3

Yes, I am a substitute teacher, so I go to a different class every day. Some teachers have their class say it, others don't. But I notice that in every class I've ever been in where we did say the pledge, we have said the phrase "Under God".

By the way, no matter what you think of the issue of banning the words "Under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance, it would be a stupid law to pass because how would you enforce it? Put Federal Marshalls in classrooms between 8:00 and 8:15 every morning???

Answer 4

The pledge is fine, but the original pledge is better. They should get rid of the "under God" part, as this was added after the original pledge had been created. Not to mention that it seems a bit out of line in a country that promotes the separation of Church and State. Of course, it does seem interesting to pledge your allegiance to a flag. I guess this was intentionally done, so that our allegiance would be to ideas (ideas of democracy, freedom,etc. as defined by the founding fathers), rather than a government or state, which could theoretically become a dictatorship.

Answer 5

The words 'Under God' were added in the 1950s. It's great and all to have our own creed that pleges our eternal patriotism, but at the same time those words don't really reflect true American values. There is a wonderful little thing in our constitution called the First Amendmant, which states that we all have the freedom of religion.

So... what is so un-patriotic about honoring the constitution?

If Christianity was the minority and Islam was the majority in the US, would you be upset if you were forced to say the pledge with the words "Under Allah"?

Answer 6

The original Pledge (yes, you should capitalize it), did not contain the words "under God". The American Legion had that inserted after lobbying for it for years after the second world war. It should be taken back out. It served our nation just fine as it was. It was added as our nation was becoming more consumer oriented and jaded. Perhaps it is cause and effect?
Oh, and who said there is a problem with the Pledge?

Answer 7

There is no problem with the Pledge of Allegience. What is next? Changing all of our paper money?

If people are knee-deep in sin and think they have absolutely no way out of it, what's the best thing for them to do? Get rid of the God they're sinning against. Maybe then there won't be any consequences.

Sorry, they can change the names, change the words, change whatever you want to----but theywill never, ever change the truth----or the consequences. The wages of sin is death, eternal spiritual death.

AND JAY, WHAT DO WE HAVE FOR OUR SINFUL CONTESTANTS? ETERNITY WITH SATAN IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!!! (AND THE CROWD GOES WILD!!!!!!!!!)

The truth is the same yesterday, today, and forever--no matter how many people try to get rid of it to hide the fact that they're completely lost.

Answer 8

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has ruled the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional under the First Amendment due to its inclusion of the phrase "under God."

Finding the phrase violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment's separation of church and state guarantee, the court overturned a 1954 Act of Congress that added the words to the Pledge.

The words "under God" were added by Congress in 1954, at the direction of President Eisenhower, who stated at the time, "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

The establishment clause reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..."

Answer 9

The Supreme Court made up our minds years in the past that no little one in public university might be pressured to salute the flag or to mention the Pledge of Allegiance. But as a veteran, I must ask: why do you so disrespect my brother and sister infantrymen who gave their lives in order that you might reside unfastened?

Answer 10

I don't have a problem with it; however, there are some things we may want to consider when we deconstruct the basic ideals of our nation.

Consider the synopsis of the short story by James Clavell I found on the website below.

Read this, or the entire 90 page published edition, and see what you think...it may change your mind about issues like flag desecration, not standing during the national anthem, etc., too.