Submitted by The Dissident Dad via Mike Krieger’s Liberty Blitzkrieg blog,
Remember those weird kids who didn’t say the Pledge of Allegiance in school? They either sat down or just stood up silently. I sure do. Most likely for religious reasons, but I remember thinking to myself as a kid that it was wrong not to say the pledge aloud with the rest of us. As I got older in my teenage years, I even felt that those kids were not being respectful.
Some adults may even give them the old, “well, if you don’t like it then you can leave” routine that is mentioned every time a minority opts out of the majority’s way of doing things.
Homeschooling my children will really make this a non-issue; however, my nieces were reciting the American Pledge of Allegiance the other day while playing with my children. In fact, here in Texas the kids recite both the American and Texas Pledge of Allegiance before class.
After hearing them recite it, and of course remembering the 2,500 or so times I said it in my lifetime, I started to think about the purpose and real meaning of this pledge that millions of school-aged children recite every morning Monday through Friday.
A pledge, of course, is a vow, an oath, or a commitment. Allegiance is defined as loyalty, devotion, and obedience. In fact, the antonyms for allegiance are treachery and disloyalty.
Crazy when you think about it, right? Do we really want our kids pledging obedience and loyalty to the U.S. federal government? Especially when the pledge itself is masked with a lie. I mean, it ends with, “with liberty and justice for all.” Now that’s a crock of shit right there. Not one arrest in the financial sector for the 2008 crisis, not one investigation into the 2003 Iraq invasion where no WMDs were found, and a complete cover-up of the events on 9/11, i.e., Building 7. Liberty and justice for all… how about we ask Edward Snowden about that? His patriotic actions were described as treachery and disloyalty.
Nationalism and blind patriotism is crucial in keeping a population dumbed-down and ignorant, which is why if you think about it, pledging allegiance to the government we have today is truly a backwards thing to do. Teaching it to a small child is particularly degrading.
As a dad who is proud of my own liberty, this makes life tough sometimes. Do I teach my kids the truth or go with the flow?
On the surface it seems black and white, but it’s not. Teaching your children about certain truths that make them the odd kid out is not exactly what a parent wants for their child. My wife and I are constantly turning to each other and asking ourselves, should we make a stand on this? Because if we do, it might make it hard for the kids.
A great example comes from a friend of mine with an 11-year-old son who stood up on 9/11 at school and countered the teacher’s lesson for the anniversary and told her about the Loose Change version. It was awkward to say the least. To simply question the events of 9/11 go against the state’s religion of nationalism, so for an 11-year-old boy to bring it up in a classroom…you can imagine the trouble it caused.
Teaching my children about the oligarchs and the current state of our leaders in government is not something that I take lightly. I realize that some of our core values, like the belief in liberty, respect for all life, and individual sovereignty will make them the odd kid out sometimes.
Being surrounded by people who have been taught, just as I was, to pledge allegiance to the state, is the unfortunate reality we are all confronted with. something that is so deeply engrained that the best I can do is teach my children to think for themselves and decide on their own. Figuring out how to best teach my children the danger of such blind allegiance is without a doubt the most difficult task I face as a father.
I do not say The Pledge of Allegiance because I refuse to swear my allegiance to any “state” or country. I have an allegiance to God and to my family.
I have not said The Pledge since I was in 10th grade, after I self-examined and analyzed the words I had been uttering blindly. My parents never cautioned, nor counseled, me. I am now 60 years of age and remain steadfast to those convictions. In those many years since I first took my stance, only a few people have ever even mentioned my belief. Ironically, I have taken the Oath to ‘defend and protect’ America during the years at a job requiring a security clearance. I have no issue with that Oath.
However, I do not pledge blind allegiance to any flag or country. It is my unalienable right to refuse to pledge myself to any “state” and there are many religious people who refuse to do so, including Amish and Mennonites. Are we all dissidents, or are we the only Americans who understand the blind promise ?
The Pledge of Allegiance beats the 40 Our Farthers or 40 Hail Marys the Priests in the Catholic Church used to Donal out after Confessional.
I’ve been the odd man out for a while now, (15 or more years) for a time I would engage any and all about the power the state has over us all, because what we allow, will continue.
After a few years you begin to understand some/most will never change, they are content being governed, they embrace new laws and worship politicians as if they were some elite being, rather just another human being. (that’s a strange word, being)
I’ve kept my head down for the last six years or so waiting for the obama magic to fade, there are more and more who are starting to get it, they are tired of the same governance from both parties, the endless wars, the endless sideways shuffle, the endless crisis du jour, the endless promise of hope and change.
What we allow will continue, some day, after we lose everything, we may not allow it anymore but I have no hope for change in my lifetime.
The Pledge was introduced in schools to counteract the treasonous Communist subversion that had completely infiltrated the national government by the end of World War II. There really were Reds under the bed – and in Congress, the State Department, the White House, Hollywood, the newspapers, etc., hundreds of them being actual Soviet agents and tens of thousands more being either fools or witting Fellow Travelers. No need to say which tribe a majority of them belonged to (though it is only fair to say that many of the most effective anti-Communists were fellow tribesmen). When the American people finally woke up and demanded something be done to these traitors, ensuring the basic patriotism of the younger generation was a rational and necessary step to take. Contrary to what you read in the liberal press, the great majority of the American people knew that Sen. Joseph McCarthy, though clumsy in his methods, was largely right on the facts. yes, today the Pledge may seem antiquated but before too long we may need to re-educate our young and flush their heads out to get rid of the filth that we have allowed our cultural masters to pour into them.
To me, the flag represents an idea, not the government. The idea is a United States of America which strives for a basically Norman Rockwell world for everybody, regardless of race/religion/politics. That we haven’t achieved that is irrelevant. Just because we haven’t achieved it is no reason to give up, to quit trying. So to me, the flag is a symbol of what should be, not of governmental mess-ups.
I pledge allegiance to the idea, not to the government.
I have mixed feelings about this.
Desertrat said (emphasis, mine) — “To me, the flag represents an IDEA, not the government.”.
That’s correct — “I pledge allegiance TO THE FLAG ..” …. NOT the government. Then again, the flag represents, at least in part, the government.
I appreciate the historical beginnings of the pledge, as posted by Southern Sage. BUT, that was then … this is now. Today it has nothing to do with fighting communism. It seems to have everything to do with BLIND allegiance ….. to the state ….. unless, of course, you teach your children otherwise.
Damn … so many qualifiers!
In high school we had a couple devout Jehovah Witnesses who wouldn’t stand and recite it. We made fun of them … a lot. I wish I could go back in time to apologize to them,
Bottom line, I have no use for it anymore. But, I don’t condemn those who recite it because I can’t see what’s in their heart.
Th old pledge is so passe’ with the new corporatist controlled Federal system of government.
Reciting new pledge, soon to be a requirement of all stakeholders of One America will be a prerequisite for the stakealloters in determining the residence of all future non-FEMA and FEMA camp detainees.
So learn it well.And ,remember compliance is our strength
I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the Corporate States of One America,
and for the police state for which it stands:
one Conglomerate under central control, incorrigible,
with servitude and complacency for all.
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@flash
Killa picture, looks real natural don’t it ! Nazis will be Nazis.
Being surrounded by people who have been taught, just as I was, to pledge allegiance to the state, is the unfortunate reality we are all confronted with. something that is so deeply engrained that the best I can do is teach my children to think for themselves and decide on their own. Figuring out how to best teach my children the danger of such blind allegiance is without a doubt the most difficult task I face as a father.