Revenge of the Pledge
Apr. 21st, 2004 06:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
conuly
I finally got back to it. This subject obsesses me, sorry about that. First, an interesting link and then the irritating essay.
On one thread about the Pledge of Allegience, somebody posted the neat little statement that "it's not a religious thing, it's about patriotism". Patriotism. Now, I may be strange, but I always thought that the best way to show pa... wait, better define what I mean. Ahem.
M-w.com defines it as love for or devotion to one's country. It is distinct from jingoism in that it doesn't have to involve other countries or "belligerant foreign policies", and nationalism in that it doesn't specify that you place your nation "above all others" and your interests above the interests of other nations. It should go without saying that much of contemporary "patriotism" seems to be one of the two latter feelings instead. To my mind, patriotism means caring about your country enough that you want to make it better. Some people apparently feel that patriotism is best taught and shown by what children learn by rote. (Side note, there's something interesting, adults are rarely called upon to recite the pledge, only children. Does that mean they are less patriotic than their kids?) I had thought that it was best shown by helping out your community, but apparently I was wrong. I am still uncertain as to whether or not the pledge should be recited when there are so many other options.
1. The Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
2. Miranda Warning
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, and for an attorney to be present during questioning. If you can not afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.
3. The American's Creed
I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
"I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.
4. The First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
5. Declaration of Independance
WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Hell, if I tried a bit harder I could come up with a list of good quotes that could just be added on to... a new quote every week or so.
Now, I suspect most people do not have half of these documents memorized. If the assertion that reciting a patriotic document makes one a patriotic person is correct, than by my reciting more important patriotic documents I should be seen as a more patriotic person, right? Riiiight?
Obviously not.
Well, possibly it was meant that meaning the pledge makes one patriotic. In order for a child to mean the pledge, they'd first have to understand it. It is generally well-accepted that children often misrecite the pledge because the words have no meaning to them. This is often seen as "funny" instead of "sad". For a five or six year old, what make the pledge more patriotic than: I bagged a genie in a bag...."? Older students do, I hope, understand the meaning behind the words, but by that time they recite out of habit instead of actual feeling. If that is patriotism, then I have been misinformed.
I do have a point here, and the point is that the pledge is just stupid. It shouldn't not be recited because it's religious, or because it infringes on the rights of others, or because it's a form of indoctrination (though those are all good reasons), but because it's the stupidest thing we could recite, and it has no meaning to those saying it, and it does nothing but waste a minute or two out of every day. Rather than recite a pledge, it would be better to spend that time analyzing relevant quotes, such as the one by Ben Franklin:
"Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security"....
I could start a whole 'nother rant on that, but I won't. I'm tired. And possibly tedious.
On one thread about the Pledge of Allegience, somebody posted the neat little statement that "it's not a religious thing, it's about patriotism". Patriotism. Now, I may be strange, but I always thought that the best way to show pa... wait, better define what I mean. Ahem.
M-w.com defines it as love for or devotion to one's country. It is distinct from jingoism in that it doesn't have to involve other countries or "belligerant foreign policies", and nationalism in that it doesn't specify that you place your nation "above all others" and your interests above the interests of other nations. It should go without saying that much of contemporary "patriotism" seems to be one of the two latter feelings instead. To my mind, patriotism means caring about your country enough that you want to make it better. Some people apparently feel that patriotism is best taught and shown by what children learn by rote. (Side note, there's something interesting, adults are rarely called upon to recite the pledge, only children. Does that mean they are less patriotic than their kids?) I had thought that it was best shown by helping out your community, but apparently I was wrong. I am still uncertain as to whether or not the pledge should be recited when there are so many other options.
1. The Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
2. Miranda Warning
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, and for an attorney to be present during questioning. If you can not afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.
3. The American's Creed
I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
"I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.
4. The First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
5. Declaration of Independance
WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Hell, if I tried a bit harder I could come up with a list of good quotes that could just be added on to... a new quote every week or so.
Now, I suspect most people do not have half of these documents memorized. If the assertion that reciting a patriotic document makes one a patriotic person is correct, than by my reciting more important patriotic documents I should be seen as a more patriotic person, right? Riiiight?
Obviously not.
Well, possibly it was meant that meaning the pledge makes one patriotic. In order for a child to mean the pledge, they'd first have to understand it. It is generally well-accepted that children often misrecite the pledge because the words have no meaning to them. This is often seen as "funny" instead of "sad". For a five or six year old, what make the pledge more patriotic than: I bagged a genie in a bag...."? Older students do, I hope, understand the meaning behind the words, but by that time they recite out of habit instead of actual feeling. If that is patriotism, then I have been misinformed.
I do have a point here, and the point is that the pledge is just stupid. It shouldn't not be recited because it's religious, or because it infringes on the rights of others, or because it's a form of indoctrination (though those are all good reasons), but because it's the stupidest thing we could recite, and it has no meaning to those saying it, and it does nothing but waste a minute or two out of every day. Rather than recite a pledge, it would be better to spend that time analyzing relevant quotes, such as the one by Ben Franklin:
"Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security"....
I could start a whole 'nother rant on that, but I won't. I'm tired. And possibly tedious.
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no subject
Date: 2004-04-21 04:23 pm (UTC)The minute I was old enough to understand the pledge, I haven't said it except when I'm forced to. Since I'm not foreign, my not saying the pledge is unpatriotic. I find a blind recitation of gabbly-dee-gook to be even more unpatriotic. If you love your country, it's there. Period.
I do love America. Because I don't have to say the pledge and I can loudly announce that our shit stinks too.
no subject
Date: 2004-04-21 04:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-21 04:36 pm (UTC)But then, the concept of Marxism isn't too shabby either.
no subject
Date: 2004-04-21 04:44 pm (UTC)It's important to note that Marxism was never actually tried as an economic system, and even more important to realize that Marx never said what would happen after capitalism fell, only that a new system would arise. He never specified how that system would work.