Pledge of Allegiance: Offensive? And to whom? God's name in vain?

Question

I am a teenage girl of an unspecified age. I don't wanna say, because I get passed off as too young and too stupid. Mmkay?

I personally refuse to stand for the pledge, first because I think it's really stupid to memorize words and recite them to a piece of cloth that does /not/ give a damn, and I dislike pledging anything to a god I don't believe in.

A lot of Christians I've met support it, but couldn't it be considered in vain, when you consider reciting it to a special piece of cloth?

What are your own, personal feelings?

Just another note:

This isn't a Christian nation. -shoos close minded child- We don't enforce one religion.

Second: A few of you have mentioned the right not to say it: I have, on occasion, had teacher attempt to force me, and one sub managed to force me at the end of the semester (something I have always regretted; and wished I could have sought legal action for).

Answer 1

Okay, first things first. You've just helped prove there is no such thing as an intelligent banana.

Now, onto your question. My feelings are as follows: I'm completely impressed that you think this way at such a young age. Gives a few of us "older folks" hope for the future of this nation. Apparently, the largest demographic of atheist/agnostics in the USA (19%) lie within your age group. Which means, it'll probably be up to your generation to change things - mine certainly hasn't - and probably won't..

Having said that, I appreciate the flag for what it symbolizes - just a piece of cloth, to be sure, but one can make the argument that the freedoms we all enjoy today derive from it. Much of Europe, (and Japan) with all its progressive thinking owe a little homage to it as well. They may hate the Bush administration, but if asked about the flag - the flag - they would agree.

I also think "In God We Trust" must go. No bibles in courtrooms either - use the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights. Get rid of religion - all religion - in public life, those sorts of things. Won't happen anytime soon - unless your generation decides to be the agent of change. I hope they do.

Answer 2

I too stopped standing and reciting the pledge while I was still in High School. It proves nothing to be able to parrot something without having any true idea of what such a pledge means. Anyone can stand and say the revised Pledge of Allegiance, foreign spies and terrorists included, so the ability to say it proves nothing..

My allegiance is to my country and to the principals it was intended to be based around; Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, as well as freedom and democracy.

As the bumper sticker on my car says "Waving a flag doesn't make you a patriot any more than carrying a bat makes you a baseball player" It's not about what you show off, it's about what you do.

Answer 3

I always recite the pledge as it was before the 1950s...

"I pledge allegiance to the flag and to the republic for which it stands. One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

It just flows so much better without that intrusive "under god" breaking up the elegant syntax.

The "under god" is unfair as it excludes polytheists, nontheists, and those of other religions.

Answer 4

I hear ya. I've never been much on ritual for ritual's sake.

You can look at it as support for your country, but really... pledging allegiance to your country.. to a flag, is just a "show" of support. It is not true support. To me, pledging to the flag is like praying: if it is not accompanied by action, it is worthless.

Stick to your principles :) This country in which you are living ensures your right to not say the pledge if you choose not to.

Answer 5

I think that adding Under God to the original Pledge was a terrible thing, and every time children say it with those two words added to it, it is pledging allegience to Joe McCarthy and slandering people like those on my grandpa's boat on D-Day, who said the pledge without it.

Answer 6

The words "under God" were added in fairly recently. It a way of separating America from communism, which sweeped the country in fear.
Do I believe in the pledge? Hell yes. My entire family served and one died for that piece of cloth. I will respect that, even if I don't like the under God part.

Answer 7

Do you think of God condones people who pledges their allegiance to a rustic? confident are you able to be a Christian and pledge your allegiance to a rustic... it would desire to be Chile, us of a, England, France... any u . s . you pick? confident Does God condone your allegiance to a kingdom no longer his own? confident What u . s . does God like maximum suitable? the u . s . a ., Iran, Japan, England, Germany? none are you able to pledge your allegiance to better than one u . s .? confident might desire to Christians be impartial and not pledge their allegiance to a rustic? no

Answer 8

Good on you.

A wise man said: "Tyranny will come to the USA as a cross wrapped in a flag."