Stories like this, and this and this ridiculous bit of paranoid nonsense...though some people are recognizing that there is distinct bias (oh, but it's not a matter of race at all)...and some people are looking at the situation through a realistic lens of common sense amidst the madness.
For those who are screaming "indoctrination" - I have three words: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
Original Bellamy Pledge saluteAnd not just the "standard" pledge that we know today - which is the single most jingoistic piece of indoctrination we have in this country directed at schoolchildren, but my stars! It isn't even the original pledge! Considering the origin of the Bellamy Pledge...
The original pledge, from 1892, is:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Even by itself, it is an indoctrination method - but when you consider what was added to it in 1924 (changed "my" to "the" before flag, and added "of the United States of America")...and then later in 1954, the words "under God" were added on, as well...so that it is a complete take-off from the original Bellamy pledge. (And of course there are other variations of the Pledge, as noted if you read further.)
Now...interesting point. The statement of the Pledge is strictly voluntary. There is no law that says anyone must say the Pledge. I would encourage anyone to have their kids actually test this, though.
My son, when he was 13, decided to test this. In class. During the Pledge, he remained seated and didn't say a word.
Exercising his 1st Amendment-protected right to NOT say the Pledge got him criticized by his peers and scorned (heavily) by his teacher. It was an object lesson for my son, who, to this day, will not say the Pledge. He is a proud American, but he is disgusted by the truth beneath the expectation. He stands in respect, but does not place his hand over his heart...nor does he say a word. (And I am proud of his determination and perseverance.) He knows how much that flag means - he was an honorable young Boy Scout, he is the son of an active duty soldier, and he is the grandson of a decorated war veteran. He is proud of that. He does not, however, subscribe to indoctrination techniques. Why? Because he knows how to think for himself without being subjected to grotesque drills of forced jingoism.
THAT, my friends, is indoctrination.
NOT the President of the United States speaking to schoolchildren about the importance of staying in school, working hard, and being good citizens.
4 comments:
The subjugation of American citizens on such a grand scale is interesting because it has been very successful so far. It proves two things: Americans are mostly lemmings, and perseverance pays off.
Well, what it makes me *wonder* about, and I haven't yet found any answer, is what was the American response when Bellamy first presented/promoted the pledge that became what it is today. I'm extremely curious about that.
Most people have little to no deep understanding of our own history. Even fewer are actually interested. I fear it is part of the 'dumbing down' of America. We are devolving.
Indeed Shauna. I'm working toward the next entry of this blog, and to that end, I'm doing a different type of retrospective elsewhere (a place I've designated for detailed information - *as I understand it* - without bogging down *this* space). As someone who appreciates history, you might enjoy it: http://prosepetals.wordpress.com/
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