Submitted by Hardscrabble Farmer
The story takes place in an unnamed school classroom in the United States, in the aftermath of a war between the US and an unnamed country. It is implied that America has been defeated and occupied. The story opens with the previous teacher leaving the classroom, having been removed from her position and replaced with an agent of the foreign power. The new teacher has been trained in propaganda techniques, and is responsible for re-educating the children to be supportive of their occupiers.
During the course of the story, the children are persuaded to abandon their religion and national loyalty. Framing the story is the fact that, while the children have ritually recited a ‘Pledge of Allegiance’ every morning, none know what it actually means. The teacher is relentlessly positive about the change, offering the children candy, songs and praise. When asked if the war was won or lost, she responds only that “we won”, implying that everyone would benefit from the conquest.
Edjumacation just isn’t what it used to be. http://www.dailywire.com/news/20219/report-some-patients-treated-putting-sunblock-joseph-curl
That’s very isolated story. One Nurse Practitioner, at one treatment facility reported: “she and her colleagues have seen a few patients who experienced pain after putting sunblock in their eyes.” (Notice, she did not say they put it in their eyes on purpose).
The source is KRCR in Redding, CA. Which by the way, although it’s in California, it’s in Shasta County which leans red (see second link below)
http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/irresistible/patients-treated-after-putting-sunblock-in-eyes-during-eclipse/612322723
http://www.homefacts.com/politics/California/Shasta-County/Redding.html
I see.
The author of the story, James Clavell, was inspired to write this upon his young daughter’s grade-school memorization of the Pledge of Allegiance. Although she memorized the pledge, Clavell realized she didn’t understand what it actually meant. He wrote:
Sadly, most parents today aren’t curious. Neither are their kids. And the Pledge of Allegiance isn’t even memorized anymore. Even if it were, what does the flag stand for today, anyway? Not to sound overly nihilistic, but: “Mission complete”.
We had a republic. We couldn’t keep it.
Not to mock the pledge, but don’t you feel silly repeating “with liberty and justice for all” these days? I do.
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the forcefully united “states” of murrika, and to the Republic, for which it stood, now one geographical administrative zone, opposed to God, with sexual liberty and social justice for all, good and hard.”
“In the Halls of Justice, the only justice is in the halls”, Lenny Bruce
I remember learning the pledge as a child. I also remember learning what the words actually meant. Mom loved giving us civics lessons, and at that time the words of that ‘pledge’ still had some meaning.
Now days when I go to county commission meetings or community meetings the pledge is always said before the meeting. I stand out of respect, cross my hands in front of me, bow my head and say a silent prayer. I refuse to put my hand on my heart and say a pledge that has lost its meaning. The words themselves still matter to me. It is just unfortunate that those words don’t apply to this country anymore.
The evil looks I get don’t bother me any as the people who give them are on auto pilot. When I look at their faces as they are reciting these words I fully expect Rod Serling to pop out from behind the flag smoking a cig and start with some cool monologue.
The pledge is a vow or oath, which I take seriously. The oath I took at 18 when i joined the military, and my marriage vows before god are the only 2 that I still honor. Why would one ever pledge allegiance to a government that is guilty of such fraud and atrocities?
Isn’t this really about the Cultural Communist takeover of everything in America except the Internet which has started ?
Now that we have the intellectuals, we must continue to teach the teachers. They are the gateway to the future.
First sentence contains the unknown words allegiance, United, and republic.
For most high schoolers its a magical incantation, it may as well be Matins in Latin.
That little show would never see the light of day on commercial TV today. It is too, too close to the truth of what is happening today’s public school classrooms.
I see no harm in the pledge, and I say it when it comes up at meetings and events. But I believe compelling school kids to say it is kind of a pointless exercise. Right up there with those “Support the Troops” car magnets. When my son was in middle & high school, he volunteered at the local VA (VA has a Summer Youth Volunteer Program; I highly recommend it). I guess my point is it’s better to do something, no matter how small, than to recite some words.
“When in doubt, do something” (Harry Chapin)
https://www.volunteer.va.gov/features/summeryouth.asp
When I work in high schools, I observe that most students stand for the pledge but they eon’t say it.
Red Skelton saying/explaining the Pledge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZBTyTWOZCM
Well said…it is a pity that exactly that happened.
I remember being taught civics in elementary school, at home (not unusual for a military brat) and in the cub/boy scouts.
Imagine if children were taught their rights and responsibilities as citizens during their formative years. Would things have gone so far off the rails if they had? Everyone these days seems to grasp the concept of rights but almost no one talks of or abides by their concurrent responsibilities.
I do not remember the age I understood the pledge, but I well remember having to take Americanism Vs. Communism and Civics before I could graduate from High School. This was in 1966. Later in college, I was in a political science class where one of the weekly requirements was to read and comment on 3 excerpts from the current Congressional Record, or a national editorial from the NYT or WSJ. Those assignments certainly made me a better thinker. I am reminded of those in class discussions as I read the comments in TBP. Still learning and thinking.
What teachers call Civics now is Communist Propaganda.
A prophetic song sung by Mike + The Mechanics 32 years ago, is now reality.
‘Pledge allegiance to the flag what ever flag they offer.
Theres a gun and ammunition just inside the doorway. Use it only in an emergency.
Take the children and yourself and hideout in the cellar, the fighting will be close at hand”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8KQmYWB9PQ