Do you say the Pledge of Allegiance?

Question

Or did you, when you were in school? I don't, and I'd probably be kicked out of R.O.T.C. if they knew how I feel about America, since R.O.T.C. cadets are supposed to be a bunch of patriotic Dubya-supporters. (I'm only in R.O.T.C. because I didn't want to take P.E.) I don't say the pledge because there are so many blatant lies within it, such as:

1. "I pledge allegiance to the flag..." I'm assuming the flag represents the U.S. Hell no, I'm not allegiant to the U.S.

2. "And to the republic, for which it stands..." Republic: a political system or form of government in which people elect representatives to exercise power for them. In this country, the common people don't elect the President, the majorities do. There's a difference.

3. "One nation under God..." God doesn't exist.

4. "Indivisible" We're quite divided right now, Republicans versus Democrats, races versus races.

5. "With liberty and justice for all." Yeah, right.

Answer 1

I don't say it because it's too jingoist. People of all countries should unite, not form into separate groups fighting each other economically or by war.

Answer 2

I did. I think you will appreciate your country more as you get older. You sound like a high school age person. I remember being in high school, saying the pledge, and not digging it.

1 - sorry to hear it. What do you have allegiance to?
2 - We vote for all of our leaders except the president true, but we do vote for electors (the electoral college). Interestingly enough, the author of the Plegde was a socialist.
3 - I agree with you, but many of our founding fathers believed in god, though this phrase was added at the request of the K of C in 1952.
4 - There are a whole lot more than the big 2. I am a libertarian.
5 - This statement is true today and was true when it was penned in 1892, but certainly was not true when we established our country.

Answer 3

With number 4, you mean "groups", not races. I dont say the PoA at school or anywhere else. But saying it is just a sign of paying your respects to the ones that made this country. Yeah, America does seem a little out of hand but what the hell... If no one is willing to pay repects to the country, then why bother following the law?

And besides, from the year the PoA was created in whatever year, it will soon lose its meaning.

And the flag does represent the US, after all you were born here...(Correct me if Im wrong)

And number 3, its not talking about the real God, its meaning the President...

Number 2 and 5, I dont really care.

But I do agree with you. America is full of lies.

Answer 4

Well I believe in God 100%. And the reason why is because he gives us life. If it wasn't for him, then we could never make it to heaven. And I love America better then anywhere else. At least you have a little freedom here, that everywhere else you don't even have that much at all. I don't agree with the war and people trying to take over the world crap. But The pledge of Allegiance is alright to say. I have heard worse sayings lots of times. But I believe there is more in life then just any country being better then anywhere else. There is good and bad people in all places.

Answer 5

I'm a member of a service club and recite the Pledge at least twice monthly at meetings. I don't recite the "under God" part, as I believe the phrase does not belong, but I say the rest. Our country is far from perfect, and I don't much care for the current leadership, but I'm proud of our system. The Founders did well.

Answer 6

If you have no allegiance to the United States, then why are you here? Try living in a third world country for even a week and you will understand all the opportunities and privelieges that come with being an American that we all take for granted.

As far as liberty and justice for all, no system is perfect, but in the vast majority of cases, justice prevails. That's the thing about American law: it doesn't care what race, gender, religion, or ethnicity you are. So before you start complaining about how shoddy the American legal system is, a.) learn something about it, and b.) as I said before, try living somewhere else and having the freedom to criticize the government.

There's an interesting little anecdote, the details of which I can't recall exactly, but it goes as follows: during the Cold War, a prominent, outspoken American liberal/communist/anti-capitalist finally decided to defect to the Soviet Union. Within a couple of years he was back in America. I'll look into the details, but the fact remains, you really don't know how good you have it here.

As I said before, if you really have no love for this country, then leave, for both our sakes.

Answer 7

Since I am a teacher, I say the pledge every day before school starts and I say all parts of it. Sure our country isn't perfect, there are a lot of things I am unhappy about and don't agree with.
I am against this war and I don't support this administration but...I realize that we are truly blessed. For starters we have the right to write about our differences in opinion on a website without having the police knock down our door, drag us away and cut our tongue out and Chip our fingers off.

Answer 8

we are not the most perfect country, and i agree with some of your comments. BUT, a lot of people have died so that i can say that little pledge. So.....every time i hear it, I will put my hand over my heart and look at the flag and mean every word that I say. I feel that it is a privilege.

Answer 9

Ignoramises talk like you, until something that truly shocks them rattles their cage, and they mature, and then realize that the freedoms they fight for are not someone elses.

They suddenly awaken to the fact that without those freedoms, their lives mean nothing. Then, at dawn, we attacked, and won, the hill. The flag became a symbol of each individual person's liberty.

That small victory proved to the opposition that we have more resolve than they will ever get out of their drafted or conscripted 'followers', because we fight for our personal 'territory' and the freedom to live as we desire, while their conscripts are slaves under the sword.

Then, when that day dawns for you, you will be the staunchest supporter of all that you now deny. And, no one else will know, or care, that you have awakened to the meaning of it all.

That is when you will recognize the sacrifice of the men and women before you wasn't just for themselves.

Answer 10

Personally, I do not recite the pledge for many of the same reasons u stated(I do believe in God). It's just a veiled attempt to induce some sort of loyalty to a country whose agenda is totally in contradiction. "I pledge allegiance to the green, and to the power which it holds..." is how it should start.

Answer 11

I never said it. I never even stood up in school. They can't do anything.. Maybe you shouldn't be in ROTC. The pledge is a pledge to the country, ROTC is the pathway to the armed forces..Their job is to protect it.. It doesn't sound like you are in the right place. They can't kick you out for refusing to pledge to the flag.. look it up in your school rules.