12th March 2003, 12:07 AM
Yeah... the Pledge has nothing to do with immigration or what new citizens say. Its said at school at the beginning of the day... you look at the classroom's flag and put your hand over your heart and say it... '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.'
I have no idea if other countries have something like it... I don't remember something like that in Slovenia, but it was so long ago I could have forgotten since then... I don't know.
It works just as well without those words and isn't offensive anymore... they were added in the '50s to promote religion and patriotism after all...
Umm, if you say that you think "pledge allegiance" is just as offensive, you just fundamentally don't get it. They have no relation... sure some people don't pledge allegiance, but that's totally different from something to do with god... its just not on the same level at all.
Oh, and I bet someone somewhere has sued over that too... but a case on that issue would never win...
All I want to know is this -- why pledge allegiance to the flag? Why not to the nation?
I have no idea if other countries have something like it... I don't remember something like that in Slovenia, but it was so long ago I could have forgotten since then... I don't know.
It works just as well without those words and isn't offensive anymore... they were added in the '50s to promote religion and patriotism after all...
Umm, if you say that you think "pledge allegiance" is just as offensive, you just fundamentally don't get it. They have no relation... sure some people don't pledge allegiance, but that's totally different from something to do with god... its just not on the same level at all.
Oh, and I bet someone somewhere has sued over that too... but a case on that issue would never win...
All I want to know is this -- why pledge allegiance to the flag? Why not to the nation?