Spaz

You live in Williamsburg, I live some 30-45 mins away from Williamsburg and guess what? We recite the pledge every morning, under god and all (Well I personally don't, haven't for a long time because I don't see the point, didn't really care about the under god part) But it is actually required but no one is going to enforce it.

beyelzu

I agree completely Ronin. I do see the under god part as being incredibly divisive. Without the undergod, I am actually perfectly ok with the pledge. I have felt the ridicule of silent person in a room full of people reciting the pledge.


Or when the football team would pray before a game that was pretty awkward as well.

himynameisPwn

Um, I'm just wondering, Muffin and Ration, since it is such a non-issue, then you really don't care that "under god" is removed?

Rational BAC

himy----

Don't know about Muffin or Ration---------

But, of course, my opinion is that "under God" can be removed from the pledge. It never was there for me anyway.
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Bey---------

I am also in somewhat agreement with you, but I would add a little more------

Drop the "flag" part because it is superfluous.

Drop the "indivisible" part because it is incorrect propoganda.

Of course drop that silly "under God" part----the 50's and McCarthy and the "atheist" Soviets are long gone.

Add "and equality for all" at the end as originally intended.

Stop this foolishness about placing the hand over the heart---because it is just a corny and oh-so-obvious substitute for the Nazi salute that was used when reciting the Pledge until WW2. (should stand respectfully though).


And it wouldn't be a half bad Pledge.

BioBeing

I'm English, living in the States with my American wife and young kids. I looked up the pledge to see just what it is my kids will be saying (and for all you other non-USA types out there):
Now - how can anyone in their right mind say that "Under God" is not religous?

How would I tell my kids to not say anypart of it, if they decide they don't want to say it? "Hi kids - now while I told you to always tell the truth, I now want you to pretend to say something. Now be careful - don't let anyone catch you not saying it." Or maybe I could just tell them to lie, and say it anyway.

Surely it just makes a whole lot of sense to just take the damn thing out.

Jewel

We find out just how nonreligious it really is everytime someone like Michael Newdow tries to get it removed.

Muffinstuffer

Uh....it is 'required' but no one is going to enforce it. Doesn't that sort of fall under 'no one is going to MAKE you recite the pledge?" I are confused.

Where do you live? I live right next to the Williamsburg Prime Outlets - literally. I could throw a rock and break one of the windows there probably. (Though I won't. )

Muffinstuffer

Will I be 'happy' to see it go? Hmm...I can't say I'll do cartwheels. As much as it really didn't matter to me to say it when I was a kid, from my perspective (which is, admittedly, a Christian perspective), it won't make me 'happy' to see it go. But there's a lot of other things that used to be done in schools - such as learning about Biblical stuff (they stopped that around the turn of the century) and praying in schools that is no longer done, and from the way it SOUNDS (I haven't done any research or published a peer-reviewed scientific journal on the subject ), there's loads of people who DO NOT want to say it and WILL NOT say it, so I don't see the point of keeping it around.

In other words, my life will not end if it goes bye bye. I don't believe this nation is 'indivisible' either. I believe it will be divided one day...but then, that gets into end times stuff, and that's a WHOLE other can of worms.

Muffinstuffer

But did you HAVE to say it? In other words, did you face punitive actions if you did not say it? I know that when I was a kid, I'd goof around and say "One nation, underwear" and laugh like a nut, or "I pledge allegiance, to Queen Fragg, to the United State of Hysteria...." just to be funny.....and I never got caught. I'm not saying no one else got caught, but if it is THAT BAD to say, and if I can get away with acting like a nut - and I'm 27 and I STILL do it - then why can't others just make fun of it or delete words, if they 'have' to say it or face ridicule?

Ronin

Because school is for critical thinking skills and not disrespecting someone's beliefs or ideology.

Beliefs belong to the private family and their respective house of worship.

That is the best way.