Can We Please Get Rid of the Pledge?

[SYTFE]

The Pledge of Allegiance is not an expression of patriotism. It is a loyalty oath that one normally associates with totalitarian regimes. People who love freedom, should be appalled by the idea our children are being coerced to stand and declare their support for the state. This is the worst form of indoctrination and it is completely anathema to the principals articulated in the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I cannot imagine outspoken libertarians like Thomas Jefferson or Tom Paine ever proclaiming their loyalty to the state when they correctly saw the state as the greatest threat to individual freedom. Which it is.

Now I know that many people think the Pledge is simply an affirmation of their respect for the flag, their love for the country, and their gratitude to the men and women who fought in America’s wars. But that’s not what it is. The Pledge is an attempt to impose conformity on the masses and compel them to click their heels and proclaim their devotion to the Fatherland. That’s not how it’s supposed to work in a democracy. In a democracy, the representatives of the state are supposed to pledge their loyalty to the people and to the laws that protect them. That’s the correct relationship between the state and the people. The Pledge turns that whole concept on its head.

Now I’d have no problem if our schoolchildren recited the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence before class every day:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

That’s great stuff, unfortunately, the people who run this country would never allow it. They’d never allow our kids to recite an incendiary, revolutionary document like that every day for fear it would incite violence against the state. What they want is “good Germans”, not revolutionaries, not freedom-loving populists, and not well-informed, critical thinking individuals who can see through the sham of their jingoistic propaganda. They want people who are going to follow the rules, do what they’re told, fight the wars, and perform their worktime drudgery for 30 or 40 years until they’re carted off to the glue factory. That’s what they want. Reciting the Pledge fits perfectly with this dumbed-down version of permanent indentured servitude. It provides the ideological foundation for bovine acquiescence to the demands of the state and the crooks who run it behind the tri-color banner.

The fact that institutions like the Pledge are never challenged in a public format, points to deeper problems with the media and the way our kids are being educated. And while I don’t have time to talk about that now, it makes me wonder where are the people to question these silly recitations that undermine democracy and personal liberty? Why are their voices never heard?
---------------------------------

Read the rest here:
Can We Please Get Rid of the Pledge?

Interesting perspective, one that I've shared for years but never bothered to articulate as well as this author did. Your thoughts?

The pledge is not going anywhere, but you can leave anytime, or stay and pull your hair out, we do not care.

Nah, I think I'll stay here and annoy you for as long as possible.

 

[Bassman007]

It's time for us to evolve, folks.

The country is devolving fast.

There is an awakening happening right now, and it is evolving, much to the chagrin of authoritarian conservatives who hate change.

They lost the culture war and are desperate to revive it before Christianity is just one of many faiths and they can't lord it over the rest of us.

No one is forcing christianity and there is no awakening. However, the depths of depravity know no bounds.

This nerd is a Jehovahs Witness, they hate the flag and the pledge, in fact the orgs bylaws do not let them say the pledge of allegiance. They are also not Christians so do not be fooled.

 

[Bassman007]

The Pledge of Allegiance is not an expression of patriotism. It is a loyalty oath that one normally associates with totalitarian regimes. People who love freedom, should be appalled by the idea our children are being coerced to stand and declare their support for the state. This is the worst form of indoctrination and it is completely anathema to the principals articulated in the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I cannot imagine outspoken libertarians like Thomas Jefferson or Tom Paine ever proclaiming their loyalty to the state when they correctly saw the state as the greatest threat to individual freedom. Which it is.

Now I know that many people think the Pledge is simply an affirmation of their respect for the flag, their love for the country, and their gratitude to the men and women who fought in America’s wars. But that’s not what it is. The Pledge is an attempt to impose conformity on the masses and compel them to click their heels and proclaim their devotion to the Fatherland. That’s not how it’s supposed to work in a democracy. In a democracy, the representatives of the state are supposed to pledge their loyalty to the people and to the laws that protect them. That’s the correct relationship between the state and the people. The Pledge turns that whole concept on its head.

Now I’d have no problem if our schoolchildren recited the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence before class every day:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

That’s great stuff, unfortunately, the people who run this country would never allow it. They’d never allow our kids to recite an incendiary, revolutionary document like that every day for fear it would incite violence against the state. What they want is “good Germans”, not revolutionaries, not freedom-loving populists, and not well-informed, critical thinking individuals who can see through the sham of their jingoistic propaganda. They want people who are going to follow the rules, do what they’re told, fight the wars, and perform their worktime drudgery for 30 or 40 years until they’re carted off to the glue factory. That’s what they want. Reciting the Pledge fits perfectly with this dumbed-down version of permanent indentured servitude. It provides the ideological foundation for bovine acquiescence to the demands of the state and the crooks who run it behind the tri-color banner.

The fact that institutions like the Pledge are never challenged in a public format, points to deeper problems with the media and the way our kids are being educated. And while I don’t have time to talk about that now, it makes me wonder where are the people to question these silly recitations that undermine democracy and personal liberty? Why are their voices never heard?
---------------------------------

Read the rest here:
Can We Please Get Rid of the Pledge?

Interesting perspective, one that I've shared for years but never bothered to articulate as well as this author did. Your thoughts?

The pledge is not going anywhere, but you can leave anytime, or stay and pull your hair out, we do not care.

Nah, I think I'll stay here and annoy you for as long as possible.

You are the one who is annoyed with the pledge of allegiance, not me. I love clowns like you, so keep being the class idiot.

 

[SYTFE]

It's time for us to evolve, folks.

The country is devolving fast.

There is an awakening happening right now, and it is evolving, much to the chagrin of authoritarian conservatives who hate change.

They lost the culture war and are desperate to revive it before Christianity is just one of many faiths and they can't lord it over the rest of us.

No one is forcing christianity and there is no awakening. However, the depths of depravity know no bounds.

This nerd is a Jehovahs Witness, they hate the flag and the pledge, in fact the orgs bylaws do not let them say the pledge of allegiance. They are also not Christians so do not be fooled.

Who's a Jehovah's Witness? The author of the article? Me? lol

 

[Wyatt earp]

It's time for us to evolve, folks.

You just mad because it has "under God" in it

 

[BettyYeti]

It's time for us to evolve, folks.

The country is devolving fast.

There is an awakening happening right now, and it is evolving, much to the chagrin of authoritarian conservatives who hate change.

They lost the culture war and are desperate to revive it before Christianity is just one of many faiths and they can't lord it over the rest of us.

No one is forcing christianity and there is no awakening. However, the depths of depravity know no bounds.

This nerd is a Jehovahs Witness, they hate the flag and the pledge, in fact the orgs bylaws do not let them say the pledge of allegiance. They are also not Christians so do not be fooled.

Liberty means not being forced by your government to "pledge" to things. Anyone who truly believes in God can't pledge allegiance either since that belongs solely to God who is above all things including nations.

 

[Bassman007]

The country is devolving fast.

There is an awakening happening right now, and it is evolving, much to the chagrin of authoritarian conservatives who hate change.

They lost the culture war and are desperate to revive it before Christianity is just one of many faiths and they can't lord it over the rest of us.

No one is forcing christianity and there is no awakening. However, the depths of depravity know no bounds.

This nerd is a Jehovahs Witness, they hate the flag and the pledge, in fact the orgs bylaws do not let them say the pledge of allegiance. They are also not Christians so do not be fooled.

Who's a Jehovah's Witness? The author of the article? Me? lol

You are defending Jehovah's values. sad that this is the best thing you can do with your time. The flag is not going anywhere, but you are free to take the first boat back to China and start eating puppies

 

[BettyYeti]

It's time for us to evolve, folks.

You just mad because it has "under God" in it

It wasn't in the original and it shouldn't be now.

 

[SYTFE]

The Pledge of Allegiance is not an expression of patriotism. It is a loyalty oath that one normally associates with totalitarian regimes. People who love freedom, should be appalled by the idea our children are being coerced to stand and declare their support for the state. This is the worst form of indoctrination and it is completely anathema to the principals articulated in the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I cannot imagine outspoken libertarians like Thomas Jefferson or Tom Paine ever proclaiming their loyalty to the state when they correctly saw the state as the greatest threat to individual freedom. Which it is.

Now I know that many people think the Pledge is simply an affirmation of their respect for the flag, their love for the country, and their gratitude to the men and women who fought in America’s wars. But that’s not what it is. The Pledge is an attempt to impose conformity on the masses and compel them to click their heels and proclaim their devotion to the Fatherland. That’s not how it’s supposed to work in a democracy. In a democracy, the representatives of the state are supposed to pledge their loyalty to the people and to the laws that protect them. That’s the correct relationship between the state and the people. The Pledge turns that whole concept on its head.

Now I’d have no problem if our schoolchildren recited the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence before class every day:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

That’s great stuff, unfortunately, the people who run this country would never allow it. They’d never allow our kids to recite an incendiary, revolutionary document like that every day for fear it would incite violence against the state. What they want is “good Germans”, not revolutionaries, not freedom-loving populists, and not well-informed, critical thinking individuals who can see through the sham of their jingoistic propaganda. They want people who are going to follow the rules, do what they’re told, fight the wars, and perform their worktime drudgery for 30 or 40 years until they’re carted off to the glue factory. That’s what they want. Reciting the Pledge fits perfectly with this dumbed-down version of permanent indentured servitude. It provides the ideological foundation for bovine acquiescence to the demands of the state and the crooks who run it behind the tri-color banner.

The fact that institutions like the Pledge are never challenged in a public format, points to deeper problems with the media and the way our kids are being educated. And while I don’t have time to talk about that now, it makes me wonder where are the people to question these silly recitations that undermine democracy and personal liberty? Why are their voices never heard?
---------------------------------

Read the rest here:
Can We Please Get Rid of the Pledge?

Interesting perspective, one that I've shared for years but never bothered to articulate as well as this author did. Your thoughts?

The pledge is not going anywhere, but you can leave anytime, or stay and pull your hair out, we do not care.

Nah, I think I'll stay here and annoy you for as long as possible.

You are the one who is annoyed with the pledge of allegiance, not me. I love clowns like you, so keep being the class idiot.

 

[Syriusly]

The Pledge of Allegiance is not an expression of patriotism. It is a loyalty oath that one normally associates with totalitarian regimes. People who love freedom, should be appalled by the idea our children are being coerced to stand and declare their support for the state. This is the worst form of indoctrination and it is completely anathema to the principals articulated in the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I cannot imagine outspoken libertarians like Thomas Jefferson or Tom Paine ever proclaiming their loyalty to the state when they correctly saw the state as the greatest threat to individual freedom. Which it is.

Now I know that many people think the Pledge is simply an affirmation of their respect for the flag, their love for the country, and their gratitude to the men and women who fought in America’s wars. But that’s not what it is. The Pledge is an attempt to impose conformity on the masses and compel them to click their heels and proclaim their devotion to the Fatherland. That’s not how it’s supposed to work in a democracy. In a democracy, the representatives of the state are supposed to pledge their loyalty to the people and to the laws that protect them. That’s the correct relationship between the state and the people. The Pledge turns that whole concept on its head.

Now I’d have no problem if our schoolchildren recited the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence before class every day:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

That’s great stuff, unfortunately, the people who run this country would never allow it. They’d never allow our kids to recite an incendiary, revolutionary document like that every day for fear it would incite violence against the state. What they want is “good Germans”, not revolutionaries, not freedom-loving populists, and not well-informed, critical thinking individuals who can see through the sham of their jingoistic propaganda. They want people who are going to follow the rules, do what they’re told, fight the wars, and perform their worktime drudgery for 30 or 40 years until they’re carted off to the glue factory. That’s what they want. Reciting the Pledge fits perfectly with this dumbed-down version of permanent indentured servitude. It provides the ideological foundation for bovine acquiescence to the demands of the state and the crooks who run it behind the tri-color banner.

The fact that institutions like the Pledge are never challenged in a public format, points to deeper problems with the media and the way our kids are being educated. And while I don’t have time to talk about that now, it makes me wonder where are the people to question these silly recitations that undermine democracy and personal liberty? Why are their voices never heard?
---------------------------------

Read the rest here:
Can We Please Get Rid of the Pledge?

Interesting perspective, one that I've shared for years but never bothered to articulate as well as this author did. Your thoughts?

As a kid I detested the pledge

It always seemed the height of hypocrisy- forcing kids to 'pledge' to be patriotic.

I always figured if I wasn't patriotic, I wouldn't hesitate to lie and say I was.

As an adult it irritates me less, but it still strikes me as hypocrisy.

I am a patriotic American- you don't have to force me to pledge it as part of the collective.

 

[SYTFE]

It's time for us to evolve, folks.

You just mad because it has "under God" in it

Why would I be mad at that? I believe in God.

 

[Bassman007]

It's time for us to evolve, folks.

You just mad because it has "under God" in it

Why would I be mad at that? I believe in God.

Jehovah's believe in God too, their god will kill 7.4 billion people..............You need to believe in the flag, and what it stands for.

 

[Wyatt earp]

It's time for us to evolve, folks.

You just mad because it has "under God" in it

It wasn't in the original and it shouldn't be now.

See I knew the OPs motive

 

[SYTFE]

It's time for us to evolve, folks.

You just mad because it has "under God" in it

Why would I be mad at that? I believe in God.

Jehovah's believe in God too, their god will kill 7.4 billion people..............You need to believe in the flag, and what it stands for.

Listen, because I can't handle the stupidity of your posts, so I'm gonna make this really fucking clear for you -- I am not a JW. Jehovah's Witnesses is a cult.

 

[eagle7_31]

Conservatives have a strange love affair with authoritarianism.

So do liberals.

 

[SYTFE]

It's time for us to evolve, folks.

You just mad because it has "under God" in it

It wasn't in the original and it shouldn't be now.

See I knew the OPs motive

You don't know shit. As I already mentioned to you, I believe in God.

 

[BettyYeti]

Conservatives have a strange love affair with authoritarianism.

So do liberals.

No, that is illiberal - liberalism | politics

 

[Bassman007]

It's time for us to evolve, folks.

You just mad because it has "under God" in it

Why would I be mad at that? I believe in God.

Jehovah's believe in God too, their god will kill 7.4 billion people..............You need to believe in the flag, and what it stands for.

Listen, because I can't handle the stupidity of your posts, so I'm gonna make this really fucking clear for you -- I am not a JW. Jehovah's Witnesses is a cult.

JW is how they refer to themselves on the net.

LOL I never used that, so thanks for admitting what u r

he he he

 

[SYTFE]

It's time for us to evolve, folks.

You just mad because it has "under God" in it

Why would I be mad at that? I believe in God.

Jehovah's believe in God too, their god will kill 7.4 billion people..............You need to believe in the flag, and what it stands for.

Listen, because I can't handle the stupidity of your posts, so I'm gonna make this really fucking clear for you -- I am not a JW. Jehovah's Witnesses is a cult.

JW is how they refer to themselves on the net.

LOL I never used that, so thanks for admitting what u r

JW's is a common nickname for the cultists. Have you lived your life in a cave? No wonder "Kid Rock" is your hero.

 

[buckeye45_73]

Conservatives have a strange love affair with authoritarianism.

They are fear-based. Having a Big Daddy, on the ground and in the sky, makes them feel safer. That and their .38 teddy bear

Conservatives have a strange love affair with authoritarianism.

They are fear-based. Having a Big Daddy, on the ground and in the sky, makes them feel safer. That and their .38 teddy bear small penis enhancements.

Well being the nihilist you are life.must just suck......since you're nothing than dirt...I guess killing people is no different than animals......and yeah you believe the universe started with and aroma randomly exploding...just cause......suuuuuure