Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But none of you have a problem spending or making money that says In God we trust...........

A lot of us do, actually. But we don't have a choice.

You do, you just are too much of a coward to go move someplace else and stand up for what you believe in. Go live in Kenya, they don't have that on their money.

Anonymous wrote:For those who grew up in another country, do they not have something similar to pledging allegiance to the flag in schools like we have here? I was born and raised here but I guess I always assumed that other countries had similar practices. Is this not the case? Just curious.

See 09/10/2012 14:02

Anonymous wrote:But aren't all of you anti-pledge folks glad you live in a country where its optional for you and your child to say the pledge? How far are you willing to go do defend your freedom?

How is saying the pledge optional?
It is not like those who do not say it can be in another room doing some other activity. If you do not say it everyone knows and that reflects badly on you. There are social consequences and teachers attitudes and so on

Anonymous wrote:For those who grew up in another country, do they not have something similar to pledging allegiance to the flag in schools like we have here? I was born and raised here but I guess I always assumed that other countries had similar practices. Is this not the case? Just curious.

Definitely not. Pledging allegiance to flag is considered something funny. (West-Europe).

Anonymous wrote:The whole thing (doing the pledge every morning in school) seems kind of fascist.

I agree. It gives me the willies.

I am a good citizen - I vote, participate in school communities, work on cleanup days in public parts, etc. - but draw the line at pledging my allegiance to any government.

Anonymous wrote:But aren't all of you anti-pledge folks glad you live in a country where its optional for you and your child to say the pledge? How far are you willing to go do defend your freedom?

First question: yes. Second question: what does that have to do with saying the pledge?

But aren't all of you anti-pledge folks glad you live in a country where its optional for you and your child to say the pledge? How far are you willing to go do defend your freedom?

For those who grew up in another country, do they not have something similar to pledging allegiance to the flag in schools like we have here? I was born and raised here but I guess I always assumed that other countries had similar practices. Is this not the case? Just curious.

Anonymous wrote:But none of you have a problem spending or making money that says In God we trust...........

A lot of us do, actually. But we don't have a choice.

But none of you have a problem spending or making money that says In God we trust...........

I dislike the jingoism of the Pledge, as well as the reference to God, but I'm letting my children sort it out for themselves. I decided around 4th grade that I would no longer say it. They can also make--or not make--that decision on their own.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole thing (doing the pledge every morning in school) seems kind of fascist.

Agreed. My great Aunt grew up in Nazi Germany. She also said a pledge to the flag every morning.

--Yep. Former East German. Usually only Fascists, Communists, and apparently Americans...

Anonymous wrote:My problem with it is that our child is multinational (has 4 passports) and I agree a minor cannot pledge allegiance and certainly shouldn't in our case as it isn't the truth.

The god part is the icing on the cake for being annoying (I'm from atheist socialist/communist countries so the historical addition is offensive to me).

I'm saying nothing because I don't want to my child associated with my crazy opinions but our child will learn at home what it all means.

I grew up as a dual citizan, I agree. You can't pledge allegiance at such a young age when you don't understand what you are saying.

As an American citizen now only - I understand what the means. I will ask my child not to pledge alligiance to the flag - or anything, until he can honor what those words mean.

Memorization is not honoring the flag, or what it stands for - it's insulting if you think it does.

Anonymous wrote:The whole thing (doing the pledge every morning in school) seems kind of fascist.

Agreed. My great Aunt grew up in Nazi Germany. She also said a pledge to the flag every morning.

My problem with it is that our child is multinational (has 4 passports) and I agree a minor cannot pledge allegiance and certainly shouldn't in our case as it isn't the truth.

The god part is the icing on the cake for being annoying (I'm from atheist socialist/communist countries so the historical addition is offensive to me).

I'm saying nothing because I don't want to my child associated with my crazy opinions but our child will learn at home what it all means.