I stood and didn't say it in high school. In freshman year, it happened to fall during Participation in Government class. My teacher told me if I declined to say it, I had to write an essay detailing why. I printed out the state law and handed it in. I was not American, why would I pledge to the flag?

Op here. I'm glad I'm not alone. I felt weird saying it growing up and I feel uncomfortable hearing it at the school (I'm not a classroom teacher so I'm rarely around kids when they say it to see how much they participate).

I liked saying it as a kid in elementary. Maybe slightly patriotic (my family are immigrants from South Asia and my parents were always very positive about the US). We moved out of DC and my kids' current elementary says it every morning and I still like it. But I also especially like that 4 kids per morning are invited to the front office to lead the pledge and their voices are amplified throughout the school on announcements. I love that opportunity as a very low key and participatory public speaking opportunity for young kids. They love it too.

Anonymous wrote:I hate it almost as much as I hate america’s history. This is the most racist white supremacist country on earth where women and children are in danger while white men enjoy the riches of slavery.

This is so awesome! You

I hate it almost as much as I hate america’s history. This is the most racist white supremacist country on earth where women and children are in danger while white men enjoy the riches of slavery.

No. It was just another hoop to jump through.

No. It had zero meaning as a kid. I just stood up and said it usually with my mind elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, very meaningful.

It belongs in every school, without exception.

What is your reaction to all the posters here saying that the pledge being said turned them off, felt fake or overbearing?

Meant absolutely nothing. Never knew what it meant, was uncomfortable saying it, often mouthed the words as a form of rebellion.

Nope -- and I'll add that my mother was an immigrant who became a US citizen and was extremely involved in local politics throughout my childhood. Both she and my dad stressed the importance of voting and valuing our right to vote and our First Amendment rights. But saying the Pledge of Allegiance -- just going through the motions -- was really the opposite of what they considered to be the responsibilities of citizenship.

Waste of time. By high school, it struck me as vaguely authoritarian

Nope. I absolutely fine with abolishing it completely

It means nothing to me but I'm forced to at least stand for it every day in my state. I work in a public school. None of the POC kids stand or recite. Read the room, white people.

Anonymous wrote:Nope, not in the slightest. Also said an Our Father after at Catholic school grades K - 4. If anything being in Catholic school showed me the ridiculousness of that belief system. My 3rd grade self could not believe a higher power would send a newborn baby to hell if they didn't have a guy in funny clothes talk over them and drip water on them.

+10000

Nope, not in the slightest. Also said an Our Father after at Catholic school grades K - 4. If anything being in Catholic school showed me the ridiculousness of that belief system. My 3rd grade self could not believe a higher power would send a newborn baby to hell if they didn't have a guy in funny clothes talk over them and drip water on them.