Should the Pledge of Allegiance be removed from U.S. schools?

[Independent voter]

The "under God" part was added in the 1950's

The pledge was put in place right after the Civil War in the hopes it would prevent a second Civil War.

"One nation" not two. "Indivisible" meaning you can't divide it, etc.

[Allybeboba]

I am baffled by the number of "yeah, this is fine" votes we're getting. I realize as far as priorities go it's pretty low. Is it just "removing this would stir more crap with religious conservatives than its worth" or "this is actually a good thing we should keep on its own merit"?

I am just curious how many Americans would want it removed.

[Machismo]

No and the school prayer needs to return. Atheists can go sit in the corner.

I'm so glad we have a first Amendment. It's a shame you seem to hate the United States Constitution so much.

[Mister Cheese]

I am just curious how many Americans would want it removed.

A lot probably. Which is pretty sad. Considering the reasons it was put in and our current political climate.

[Machismo]

I don't care if a school gets rid of it, but they sure as hell better not try and punish anyone who doesn't wish to recite it. My son decided not to recite it a couple times, not because he opposed the Pledge, but because he didn't feel like standing up at the time. The teacher kicked him out of class. The teacher did the same thing to two other students. I made it clear that if they tried it again, I would make sure that they would be out of a job, as would the principal. There have been no issues since.

[draynay]

Cold War is over, we no longer have to distinguish ourselves from "godless commies" so lets drop the "under God" bit, thanks.

[Allybeboba]

A lot probably. Which is pretty sad. Considering the reasons it was put in and our current political climate.

Apparently not...
Only 40 people so far have voted to have it removed compared to the 60+ that didn't. And that includes non-Americans.

[Kylista6]

Apparently not...
Only 40 people so far have voted to have it removed compared to the 60+ that didn't. And that includes non-Americans.

Yep, because mmo-champion's user base is reflective of the entire U.S. population, right?


To me it promotes solidarity around supporting your Country.

As for the God part, I was raised LDS, in a very predominantly Mormon neighborhood, and after 17 years of dealing with that religious bullshit still don't believe in god. I don't care if 'under god' is in the Pledge, and feel that "Liberty and Justice for All" no longer represents current American values.

They should make the Senate and Congress say this every day imo, I'd get a laugh out of that.

Growing up, I had no idea wtf the pledge of allegiance was, and only knew that once it was called, I stood up, turned towards the flag, and groggily recited the words. It does no harm to recite the pledge, just like reciting the national anthem does no harm. If a kid doesn't want to say it, that doesn't really hurt anything either.

[Allybeboba]

Yep, because mmo-champion's user base is reflective of the entire U.S. population, right?


To me it promotes solidarity around supporting your Country.

As for the God part, I was raised LDS, in a very predominantly Mormon neighborhood, and after 17 years of dealing with that religious bullshit still don't believe in god. I don't care if 'under god' is in the Pledge, and feel that "Liberty and Justice for All" no longer represents current American values.

They should make the Senate and Congress say this every day imo, I'd get a laugh out of that.

Growing up, I had no idea wtf the pledge of allegiance was, and only knew that once it was called, I stood up, turned towards the flag, and groggily recited the words. It does no harm to recite the pledge, just like reciting the national anthem does no harm. If a kid doesn't want to say it, that doesn't really hurt anything either.

In college, Texas A&M, recited it and the Texas pledge before games. We still do.

[The Stormbringer]

No and the school prayer needs to return. Atheists can go sit in the corner.

I recommend a prayer from a different faith every day. Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Shinto, Buddhist, Pastafarian, you name it.

[GreenJesus]

For those who aren't familiar with it, the Pledge of Allegiance reads as follows:




Students in U.S. schools stand up and recite this together at the beginning of each school day. It is usually followed by a moment of silence.

Here are my arguments for why it should be removed:

1. Although students cannot be officially punished by the school (as far as I know) for refusing to stand and say it, the social pressures to say it are enormous. A student who refuses to say it risks being seen as unpatriotic or even hating their country. They may be ostracized or bullied by their peers, or even receive a lower grade than they deserve by a teacher who doesn't like their stance.

2. The fact that the pledge includes the phrase "under God" is discriminatory against atheist and agnostic students, as well as students who are of a polytheistic religion.

3. Every other pledge I've heard of, you say it once and that's it. What the hell kind of pledge do you have to say every day? Having to say the same thing over and over again causes it to lose meaning. Also, "with liberty and justice for all"? Does anyone really buy that bullshit?

4. It smacks of something the Hitler Youth would have done.

5. It is a waste of instructional time. The Pledge and moment of silence take about 30 seconds each day. Multiply that by 180 school days, and that's one and a half hours every year that could be spent learning.

Did you really pull the "Hitler" card?? This country's history began with the efforts of anglo-saxon puritans. What do atheists/agnostics even care about? They have no religion anyway. There is no "god" that they can disrespect.

[Spectral]

We should definitely remove the references to "God" from the Pledge and our currency, especially as these aren't historical elements, but more recent additions to help fight those godless heathen communists.

Can we just flip it to saying, "one nation, under kakistocracy"?

[Enthusiastic Steward]

It should be kept, as an important part of our history. Also, to respect that history, I say we recite the Pledge as originally written:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Additionally, in keeping with the noble ideals of the REAL American who wrote the Pledge, we should all become socialists.

[Zeek Daniels]

So heres what i did and my point of view on the pledge of allegiance in school. By the time i was in high school i stopped saying it. I still stood up out of respect for those who died to make this nation what it is today. But i saw no need to repeat that pledge day in and day out when i had done it for years. I stand for America and dont need to recite a pledge every time someone tells me too or because other ppl are doing it.

To the OP. No one told me I had to say the pledge. Now maybe no one noticed my mouth wasnt moving or maybe they didnt care. I never sat down for a pledge prolly because i would draw attention to myself if i did that. But even today i still dont say the pledge at big events and stuff because ive been there done that. I dont need to put my hand over my heart either.

[Deleted]

Yes, remove the "under god" and replace it, under the people or for the people.

Teach them patriotism rather than empty ceremony.

[Deleted]

For those who aren't familiar with it, the Pledge of Allegiance reads as follows:




Students in U.S. schools stand up and recite this together at the beginning of each school day. It is usually followed by a moment of silence.
4. It smacks of something the Hitler Youth would have done.

This! That's the definition of nazism, what a pitiful country where people are being indoctrinated like that.

- - - Updated - - -

Yes, remove the "under god" and replace it, under the people or for the people.

Teach them patriotism rather than empty ceremony.

That's the opposite of what should happen. The god part is the most harmless part, it's the flag of country part that is highly nazistic and offensive. Any country doing this should be condemned.

[Deathquoi]

I mean, I really don't give a shit, but it's one of those things that's a little odd but I don't really worry about. I do acknowledge that it's a little strange that school kids stand up and pledge allegiance to the US every morning. Why is it necessary? It isn't, however, something I have a strong objection to.

[GreenJesus]

We care about shit that actually matters. You know, real shit that actually affects our lives. Given, I'm not actually an atheist/agnostic but close enough.

Sorry, I meant why do they even care about saying it?+

[Deathquoi]

This! That's the definition of nazism, what a pitiful country where people are being indoctrinated like that.

- - - Updated - - -



That's the opposite of what should happen. The god part is the most harmless part, it's the flag of country part that is highly nazistic and offensive. Any country doing this should be condemned.

I'm not sure you know what Nazism is?

[Stormspark]

Yes, remove it. It's a blatant attempt at brainwashing.