A New Pledge - and a little history

[unapologetic]

A New Pledge - and a little history

 

[Spacetime Inhabitant]

A New Pledge - and a little history

His solution is too wordy. The best solution is to not have a pledge of allegiance at all. This is more representative of a state of freedom, and it also means people aren't making an empty, repetitive promise. It is especially meaningless to have children saying it, which is repressive.

 

[GenesisNemesis]

I pledge to do only productive things today. It's not going to happen. But I pledged it.

 

[unapologetic]

Yeah too wordy. I posted this for the history I didn't know.
I prefer the origional 1892 version.

 

[Bomb#20]

I think the guy's central thesis, that adding "under God" politicized it, is wrong. It was always politicized. Just as in 1954 "under God" was code for "I ain't no Commie", in 1892 "one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all" was code for "I ain't no Confederate". A loyalty oath is a loyalty oath.

 

[unapologetic]

I am comfortable saying "I ain't no Confederate".
We need to add a code for "no kings here".
Maybe pledgeing aleagence to the consitution instead of the flag.

 

[bilby]

Pledges of Allegiance are for autocratic shitholes. Free countries don't have them.

 

[thebeave]

I think the guy's central thesis, that adding "under God" politicized it, is wrong. It was always politicized. Just as in 1954 "under God" was code for "I ain't no Commie", in 1892 "one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all" was code for "I ain't no Confederate". A loyalty oath is a loyalty oath.

Not to mention the shout out in the pledge to Richard Stands. Nobody even remembers who he was anymore!

 

[robnisch]

On a similar note.
I hate the national anthem.
Born out of a dumb war.
I would prefer Woody Guthery's "This Land".

 

[bilby]

On a similar note.
I hate the national anthem.
Born out of a dumb war.
I would prefer Woody Guthery's "This Land".

National anthems are, as a class, almost invariably awful. The US anthem is perhaps less horrible than the Australian one, or the British one, but really, that's not saying much.

Of course, there are (and have been) some genuinely stirring national anthems out there; But countries that have them tend to be militaristic autocracies, so be careful what you wish for...

 

[crazyfingers]

I am forced to listen to the US anthem and the Canadian anthem a lot. My family watches hockey - US and Canadian teams.

The US anthem is about war. The Canadian anthem is about protecting liberty and freedom.

US

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
⁠What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
⁠O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
⁠O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
⁠Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
⁠As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
⁠That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more?
⁠Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand,
⁠Between their loved home and the war's desolation,
Blessed with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land,
⁠Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Canada
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
𝄆 O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

 

[bilby]

OK, but can it truly be a national anthem, if it doesn't include the word "girt"?

 

[crazyfingers]

The US pledge as it is used today is a tool of Christian fascism



When mt kids went into grade school I made sure that they knew that standing for the pledge was optional. But still the school tried to make them stand when they didn't want to. I called the Principal and chewed him out. We discussed the pledge on the phone for about an hour. He squirmed but I think that I convinced him that the pledge was a lying, authoritarian, theistic fascist tool.

But he did nothing except to remind staff that it's optional.

 

[crazyfingers]

OK, but can it truly be a national anthem, if it doesn't include the word "girt"?

Surrounded by the sea?

 

[crazyfingers]

OK, but can it truly be a national anthem, if it doesn't include the word "girt"?

Australia is a large landmass, low population country. High in personal freedom and legal virtue, human rights, etc.. ( but not perfect) but that was once under threat from a Japan though now a friend in a relatively unstable neighborhood, though separated by ocean. New Zealand is a sister country not too far away. Good but relatively powerless.

Today it's greatest threat is China and an unreliable US partner. But otherwise a very nice place that if I could move there I would.

 

[Bomb#20]

On a similar note.
I hate the national anthem.
Born out of a dumb war.
I would prefer Woody Guthery's "This Land".

Ah, words to live by.

This land ain't your land, this land is my land,
I got a shotgun, and you ain't got one!
I'll blow your head off, if you don't get off!
This land was made for only me!​

 

[Bomb#20]

I am comfortable saying "I ain't no Confederate".

Me too. Likewise saying "I ain't no Commie"; likewise downing a screwdriver. Doesn't make it a good idea to tell kids to.

We need to add a code for "no kings here".
Maybe pledgeing aleagence to the consitution instead of the flag.

Hey, if we're going to do it, might as well do it with truth in advertising. My proposal for a new improved Pledge:

"I ain't loyal to Britain, Mexico, the Confederacy, Spain, Germany, Japan, the International Communist Conspiracy, or the Taliban."

 

[Jarhyn]

I pledge allegiance to no God, Master, nor King, and will fight and die such that nobody else may be held to.

Instead, I pledge allegiance to all peoples everywhere who seek peace that they may find it; and to offer all others justice and mercy instead.

 

[TomC]

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all".

That's what it was before the politicians got hold of it.
Tom