Great idea, maybe new citizens can teach it to our children for whom many, their only aligners is to a new pair of Nike's or and Ipod. Ignorance breeds apathy. I see nothing objectionable in the pledge of allegiance, with the only possibilities of atheists not want to say "under God". For the rest is doesn't specify a Christian god, Hindu god, etc. If your god is your dog or global warming so be it. Very little is required from citizens in this country. It would be a damn shame if kids didn't know this phrase. Don't say "God" if it offends your sensibilities.
Brainwashing, what a joke that is. If you want to be technical that would cover everything except eating, sleeping, and taking a dump. Do you really believe saying something over and over makes you a true believer. Apparently you survived saying it in school as a kid.
Lets look at it line by line, because I believe some here might not know the words or what they imply:
I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America.
Pretty straight forward, it doesn't say don't change anything, or don't criticize the US. No single party or group has a monopoly on it, and that's is the way it should be. It says I am an American - if that offends anyone they really have no business here.
and to the Republic for which it stands.
Yes we are a Republic. I know some here voted for a Social Democracy and you may get your wish. Your little red book will contain the proper pledge when that occurs.
one nation,
Any disagreements yet? California believes in this concept... they want one nation to bailout their debt.
under God,
Athiests... leave this part out, just close your mouth for 2 seconds, it will pass quickly, the rest, this is what ever YOUR God is. I wish people were as offended here about cop killing, ho beating lyrics as they are these two words, might be some hope then.
indivisible,
This should only offend separatists, anarchists, and anyone else that would like to see the US broken up or dissolved. Here's a flash, most people don't, so don't go away mad, just go away.
with Liberty and Justice for all.
Anyone disagree with that? Maybe some think we are not at that point yet. For that group, is it wrong to set that as a goal and try to achieve it? Shouldn't we aspire to this? Without these ideals, minorities would be second class citizens or non-citizens now. Some will throw gay in here as an exception. Personally I don't, to me it's a life style and second they have the same rights as the majority does, they seek additional recognition IE special status.
I'll let the courts decide, since I don't have a horse in that race and even if I'm surrounded by gays, I won't be "brainwashed" into turning gay. Some of you that are easily "brainwashed" by repeation of things you hear every day might want to be careful.
Happy Independance Day BTW. I suppose a few of you will be lighting up your US flags tonight.
So you think it's a prayer?
I didn't say they could marry "who they wanted," I said they had the right to marry the other gender just as everyone else does. If you are going to debate me, argue what I actually said, not just what you think I said.
Using gay marriage as a basis to not believe/say/etc. the pledge is... a bit ridiculous. As I stated before, gay marriage is something that is being debated and worked on. We are reaching for "justice and liberty for all." Again, it is a work in progress.
If you don't want to say it, fine. But don't believe that just because you don't means that it should just be dumped. "It's fine as long as it doesn't extend beyond one's nose," as you always say.
You started the exchange by taking my point, which we've debated frequently, and turning it into something else Jade. You know that when I talk about marriage I'm talking about the concept behind marriage, i.e. marrying who you want to. Logically, a straight person will marry the opposite sex, while a gay/lesbian person will not. That, is my point.
Which is my point. I believe that affirmation to be silly because we're not what we claim. You get my point? I think it boils down to the fact that I am a bit stricter in what our principles dictate. Call it a form of protedst if you will.
Exactly, to each their own opinion.
Actually, I don't believe we have ever debated it. You, against KFC, and Lula, oh yes. Me, no.
(Off-topic moment: If we had debated the issue, you would know that while I support gay marriage, it's a fallicious argument to say that they don't have the same rights as everyone else. Just like it's a fallicious argument to say that gay marriage will affect straight marriages. Everyone has the right to marry the opposite gender. No one has the right to marry the same gender. Some people don't care, some do. Should we all have the right to marry a consenting adult, no matter gender or race? Yes. However no one can say that gay people have less rights, just because they want to change a right. That is all it comes down to, is changing a right. Which I am fine with.)
Liberty and justice for all is something that we work TOWARD, not something we necessarily are at this moment. We are not claiming to be completely equal as we are right now. But it is an ideal to work for. As Lincoln put it:
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Thus, "liberty and justice for all."