Do you know what the Pledge of Alligiance means, and do you think we should be encouraged to say it more?

Question

Do you know what the Pledge of Alligiance means, and do you think we should be encouraged to say it more?

Answer 1

No we should not be encouraged to say it more. If you wish to say it , say it

Answer 2

Yes! I've been saying it for over 50 years. "One nation under God" needs to be left in, too.  Oh, by the way , It should ONLY be recited in ENGLISH. English, after all is the language we speak in The United States.

If you do not want to learn English, please  enjoy your visit and return to your country and don't desecrate mine.

Answer 3

Yes, I know what it means (I think it's silly to pledge allegience to a bit of cloth, BTW).

I think it's wrong that we force young children to recite it -- they're being required to promise something they aren't capable of understanding.

No I don't think people should be encouraged to say it more.

It's words.

If you want to say it, no one is stopping you.

What I'd rather see is people being genuinely loyal to the country, including that annoying document, the Constitution -- especially those who promised to uphold it, but are doing their best to shred it.

Answer 4

Anyone taking a pledge of allegiance is simply stating that they honor and respect a group or society and that they will have the integrity to stand-up for and participate in the privileges and responsibilities of belonging to that group or society.

Our taking the Pledge of Allegiance "to the flag of the United States of America,"  says that we recognize, honor, and commit to the values, intentions, and welfare of this collection of states that have joined together to provide strength and protection for each other.  The pledge is to the flag because that one object symbolizes the values of our founding fathers:  courage (blue), purity (white), sacrifice (red), and sovereignty of the states (50 stars) who came together originally as 13 colonies (13 stripes).

Anyone who is not willing to commit their loyalty to these United States are actually saying that they do not want to live under the responsibility of being a member -- and, if that's what they think, then they also should not be allowed to enjoy the benefits that society offers.

Answer 5

I find the Pledge of Allegiance a bit creepy.   This is why:  when my mother grew up under a fascist government in Portugal, they demanded the same, mindless thing of their students.    It's a small thing, sure, and we should take a deep and sincere pride in our country.   But the way the Pledge is written is ridiculous.   Most of it is not about fostering pride, but swearing to protect and defend the US.  That isn't pride, it's militarism.    It's setting up an "us vs. them" view of the world that pervades most of ignorant America.   Do we really need to construct an "evil other" to put into our heads when we're five?   It's not some five year old's responsibility to do that.   Just like it was not my mom's responsibility when she was five to uphold the dictatorship.  

And the "under God" phrase showed up in the 50's.  It's not some wise "founding fathers" proverb.