echineko 1 Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Hello! Can someone from US tell me about it? When do you say it and why? I wonder how many country have like this thing. Quote: The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.", should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute. Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 When I was shogakusei (mukashi, mukashi...), the students would all stand and say it at the beginning of homeroom. I'm not sure if kids still do this now. I would say "...one nation, indivisible..." and leave out the "under god" part because even as a child I did not acknowledge the christian god. Until recently, you could get into trouble in some parts of the USA (especially the South) where most people were christian. A law went into effect a few years ago saying schools can't force kids to say the "god" part. Why? Saa... maybe to instill patriotism? If you simplify the pledge, it is basically saying, "I promise to be a loyal American." Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 echineko, you planning on getting a green card? Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 so do all US schools make kids say this at the start of each day? Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Not sure if it is de rigueur anymore. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 but you have to do it in the naturalization room. Link to post Share on other sites
OkemoLoon 0 Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 here is a good read if you really want to know. I said this everyday before school from grades 1-12. Every classroom in every public school has an American flag in it and you face the flag and say the pledge. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Does anyone or any groups complain about having to do this, or is it just accepted? Sounds creepy to me. Link to post Share on other sites
OkemoLoon 0 Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 People do complain about the "under God" part because of religious freedom in the States. The pledge is just a part of American culture. I can understand why you think it sounds creepy. I thought the same about a lot of different things when I came to Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I talked to a few teacher friends (in the USA) yesterday evening, and they said that in their district, the administration leaves it up to the individual teachers to decide whether to have the kids say it or not. I imagine that in certain areas of the US, the powers that be are not so egalitarian... Since the Supreme Court ruled that the "god" part was an infringement on freedom of religion, kids were allowed to say the pledge without it, but there are those who still complain that even mandating kids say the pledge in the first place is a violation of freedom of speech. I'm sure from the outside, the pledge sounds like some kind of brainwashing. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 just a point, but why is "God" an infringement on religious freedom? Surely all religions worship a God, but they have different names for Him/Her/It. I think it is WAAAY creepy. Brainwashed to the max. When I went to Florida with my family on holiday about 10 years ago we used to get up to laugh at the neighbours raising the american flag on their front lawn with arms across their chests!! dunno if they were pledging allegiance as we were inside....Americans have guns you know!! Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I guess non-christian monotheistic religions want to use their name for their god (the "A-word" for example). Plus, there are a lot of religions that don't have diety/dieties at all - take Buddhism for example. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Quote: we used to get up to laugh at the neighbours raising the american flag on their front lawn with arms across their chests Ignoring the silly arms across chest thing, surely that was a special occasion? Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 I thought it was just on movies, that. Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 You see it a lot when they play the National anthem at sporting events in the States, or during the Olympics. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Originally Posted By: BagOfCrisps Quote: we used to get up to laugh at the neighbours raising the american flag on their front lawn with arms across their chests Ignoring the silly arms across chest thing, surely that was a special occasion? they done it every day for the 2 weeks we were there. I guess its wrong to laugh at another culture, but because its America and our cultures are thought to be so similar, we thought it was very funny. Link to post Share on other sites
snobee 0 Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Sounds pretty spooky. In my young primary school days in Oz we had to do a pledge once a week - I love my country, I honour my flag, I salute the Queen ....and a few more followed by singing "God save the Queen". No wonder I'm an anti-royalist anti-nationalist raver. Pledges, Flags, Anthems and Nationalism - refuges for more than just scoundrels. Link to post Share on other sites
Ewok 2 1 Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 "i pledge allegiance to the underworld" a friend of mine used to sing that song in karaoke. i'm a horrible singer though. Link to post Share on other sites
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