Are the pledge and national anthem little more than loyalty oaths?

[KansDem]

All my life, I've stood up in crowds for the pledge and national anthem, however, I have not always partook of reciting or singing, especially during the last few years. I stand now, mostly out of respect for what this country stands for (or used to stand for) and partly out of not embarrassing my family as I have children going into high school and in elementary school and the occasions when the pledge or anthem occur are many. I will stand but wouldn't do the whole schtick: hand over heart, recite or sing, etc.

Now, however, I'm beginning to believe these are nothing more than loyalty oaths. The "Star Spangled Banner" became an official group sing-along in 1931 (counter to civil unrest during The Depression?) and the Pledge with "under God" became official in 1954 (counter to godless Commies?). But now with US-approved torture and wars of aggression, with Constitution shredding and election fraud, I now am leaning told not standing or even leaving the room when the occasion arises. I just don't care anymore about what other people around me think. To Hell with them. Since I live in a predominantly GOP area, I suspect they're all BushBots, anyway.

But I still have my children to think of. If Daddy gets labeled a "godless Commie who hates America," it might make it uncomfortable for them in school. I might compromise and stand up to recite the "new" pledge:

I pledge allegiance
to the Flag
of the Corporate States of America
and to the Republicans
for which it stands
one nation, invisible, under Canada
with liberty and justice for some...

I've done this a few times when "caught" at a school function. Nobody seems to really understand what I'm saying...but my lips are moving with theirs.

As for the national anthem, I've taken to humming an inner harmonization or the bass line in an attempt to improve my musicianship. Again, as long as your seen standing and with something coming out of your mouth, people tend not to notice. And very few Americans know or can sing the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner.

But I still think they're loyalty oaths...

[porphyrian]

1. Is it a loyalty oath if no one means it?

Forced compliance has nothing to do with loyalty.

[arcane1]

2. the name "pledge of allegiance" says it all

[noamnety]

3. I stand up

but keep my mouth closed. I figure that's what I do if I'm visiting a church - I stand or sit when told, but I don't pretend to say something I don't believe in, because that's disrespectful to those who do have faith - like taking communion when you aren't part of the church is disrespectful.

I'm a school teacher, and was curious to see if anyone would say anything about it to me - but our school quietly stopped doing the pledge, with no explanation, a few years ago.

Yes, it's a loyalty oath - or a conformity oath, or something. I can't figure out the purpose of it, myself.

[tanyev]

4. I figure I can honestly say this much of it:

I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands....

After that I just stop because we are no longer "one nation, indivisible";
The "under God" part is a recent, and unnecessary, addition;
And the whole "with liberty and justice for all" lost all meaning about 5 1/2 years ago.

[Joe Fields]

5. I believe they are.

I quit standing for the national anthem years ago.

[theanarch]

6. well, i stand for the national anthem...

...and for the pledge, but don't put my hand over my heart (i keep them clasped behind my back) and say nothing. It's the best compromise between respecting the mindlessness of others and making a statement i know of. As for the pledge, i would amend it to read (or be recited) as: "I pledge allegience to liberty and justice for all."

[noamnety]

8. I like that short version!

I could live with that.

Unfortunately, if you cut it down to that, I have a hunch a lot of people would scrutinize those words and be outraged at the liberal rhetoric. I didn't realize until a few months ago that people were put off by the concept of social justice - one of my coworkers had to clue me in to how offensive that phrase was to some folks.

[blonndee]

7. Yes, I totally agree

it's a way to instill a sense of mindless obligation and rote memorization/adherence to the familiar when it comes to authority.

[kineneb]

9. when I hear the Nat. Anthem, I think of the original words

and giggle:
I
To Anacreon in Heaven, where he sat in full glee,
A few sons of Harmony sent a petition,
That He their Inspirer and Patron would be;
When this answer arrived from the Jolly Old Grecian
"Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,
"no longer be mute,
"I'll lend you my Name and inspire you to boot,
"And, besides, I'll instruct you like me to entwine
"The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine.

more at:
http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/anacreon.html

music history geek /off

[AliceWonderland]

10. Loyalty oaths are creepy and pledges to the state repulse me

I find the Pledge concept too jingoistic, like the mindless repeating of party slogans. Though the irony of its origins does amuse me.

I think schoolchildren should go through the Bill of Rights in the morning. An amendment a day. They should know what their rights were supposed to be.