Children in the United States go through many years of school reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, but does it encourage loyalty in their nation or fear of it? The years that I spent in school reciting the pledge did little to instill patriotism in me.
I do not even remember the words to it. Having a more hands-on approach to community involvement would be a better way to teach children pride for their country. Encourage children to be concerned about their school, neighborhood, city and nation by letting them be a part of their community. It is the job of not just schools, but also the parents to play a part in showing the next generation what true devotion to their country is all about. True patriotism is the selfless giving of oneself and simply reciting the pledge is woefully inadequate.
The fact that school children, from the youngest to the oldest, are required to recite the pledge goes against the sense of individual liberty and freedom that is as the very heart of what our Republic stands for. James Perry, author of the essay titled, “What I Expect My Child to Learn from Not Saying the Pledge of Allegiance,” states, “recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance doesn’t support American ideals. Instead, it gives away our liberty, minimizing that for which the founding fathers fought.”
Children do not learn patriotism by being forced to recite a pledge every day, it only brings an element of fear from peer pressure and the Big Brother element. Being forced to recite the Pledge of Allegiance does exactly the opposite of what it’s supposed to do. Perry explains, “For a sovereign citizen to pledge allegiance to the Republic is exactly backwards. The Republic exists for us as individuals.” It takes away from their individual liberti...
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... learn respect for that. Parents also need to take a proactive approach to teaching the next generation true patriotism. For too long now, many parents have forgotten about loyalty to their nation, and in turn, have let reciting the pledge be a sad substitute.
Imagine if every child growing up in today’s world, did just one small community service, gave up one Saturday, how wonderful America could be. Teaching children to love their country is to show them what liberty and justice for all really means, to them as individuals and to America as a country. Teach them that true patriotism is the unselfish sacrifices that ordinary people do every day.
When patriotism becomes the daily reciting of the Pledge, waving the flag and never looking beyond your own small piece of the world, we do harm to our own country and the cause of true liberty and true peace in the world.
“Land of the free and the home of the brave.” This line has represented the United States for decades. These words were captured in The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key and since 1913, the United States has adopted The Star-Spangled Banner as its national anthem. We have used the Red, White, and Blue as one of our nation’s symbols. It has fifty stars, to represent the number of states we have in our Union. The military pledges its allegiance to the flag and the country which it represents at all costs. We are the land of the free and the home of the brave, and we are proud to show it.
In John McCain’s essay “Veterans Day: Never forget their duty” he talks about his friend ,Mike, who was in the same prison camp as he was in and showed the pride that he and his fellow prisoners had for their flag. The American Flag is the most iconic symbol of America and to express pride for The American Flag is to show pride in America itself. On page 7 paragraph 8 “Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang MIke’s shirt on the wall of our cell and say the Pledge of Allegiance. I know that saying the Pledge of Allegiance may not seem the most important or meaningful part of our day now, but I can assure you that for those men in that stark prison cell, it was, indeed, the most important and meaningful event of our day”. John McCain shares with us that the most important part of their day was to say 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.” As Americans, we say this to honor our state and because we are proud of what we as a citizen of America have done to make it the America that is today. Americans weren’t the only ones that helped; veterans were a big part of the success that made our country the America that I believe in.
In the 2008 the United States Census Bureau, Self-Described Religious Identification of Adult Population, The Christian faith proved to be the more dominating religion out of all religions. So it would seem the words “Under God” would be beneficial for the majority, the Pledge of Allegiance allures and supports the loyalty of the majority of citizens. The nonbelievers of religion have had the right to not recite the pledge since 1943 but have been asked to quietly stand while the believers recite the pledge in its entirety. Even though leaving out “Under God” is not a difficult task we can clearly see a division has now developed, opposite of bringing the people together. Another example that shows the pledge allures and supports a loyalty to the majority of citizens, the acceptance and encouragement to keep ...
The kid’s got no respect, man.” (Rodriquez 19). His teacher becomes furious, because the boy does not want to say the anthem like the other students. He feels obligated to say the anthem, and many readers can relate this aspect to the United States Constitution, where every human being is supposed to have freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, but of course, since the United States is the mother land, all those who live there have to obey their rules.... ...
Every day, while facing the flag, American students exhibit their loyalty to the country by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Written in 1892, during the 400th celebration of Columbus Day, the pledge used in “ceremonies that would culminate in raising of the flag” (Pledge of Allegiance). The creation of the pledge resulted from one sole event, the Civil War. Before the American Civil War of 1861, the American flag used to be a rare sight for many people. The Civil War resulted in the rise of patriotism an...
While being an American offers numerous benefits, it also brings with it certain imperative responsibilities. It is your duty to demonstrate your commitment to your country
Thinking back over the years, people are able to live a freedom filled life that may not have been if not for the many wars that were fought by our courageous soldiers, young and old. Wars fought to defend our country, guard our lives from terrorists, and to protect the 50 stars on our American Flag which represents our 50 free states. Throughout history, symbols have been a rallying cry for people throughout the world, and these symbols have led to the advancement in social justice and freedom for all. Europeans fought for their Kings and today, soldiers have fought and continue to fig...
Many students all across America stand and salute to the flag every morning and repeat these words, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, To the republic for which it stands, one nation, Under God, Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” There are controversy behind these words of historical allegiance, and that is why many people are refusing to stand for the pledge. This nation was founded upon freedom and liberties, and with those liberties comes with the freedom to choose your religion. The words “Under God”
First, I would like to talk about the history of the Pledge of Allegiance. Many people today recite the Pledge of Allegiance but do not know the history that took place behind it. The Pledge of Allegiance was originally written more than a century ago. The original pledge was: I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic, for which it stands, one Nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all . The flag serves as a symbol of our country and its proud traditions of freedom and equal opportunity. In the 1920s, the National Flag Conferences replaced the phrase “my Flag” with “the Flag of the United States of America.” In 1954, Communist threats occurred causing Congress to add the words under God to the pledge. Then 12 years later, Congress reviewed the Pledge of Allegiance and added the words “Under God .” While reciting the Pledge of Allegiance it should be recited by standing placing your
The exploration of what patriotism is and what represents patriotism is an important one more people should embark upon. If Americans are to examine patriotisms true meaning, we will be able to abolish this faux patriotism, which is represented by intimidation, censorship, and majority rules attitudes or actions. This can be replaced by feelings and actions of caring, compassion, acceptance, rationality, and nonviolence, or in other words, patriotism.
Training American children can take many forms; whether it is how to acquire knowledge, recitation day by day in attempt to instill allegiance to their country, inducing fear of not being completely socially accepted, or forcing them into a religion they don't truly understand. And if a child were to speak up, punishment would surely follow. Children must learn in the school accepted ways. Children must stand every morning for the pledge. Children must fit in and confide in their peers. And Children must believe the religion they are fed. They don't have a choice; this is all what they are conditioned to believe. Just as the belief that everyone is important is conditioned in infants in Brave New World by a speaker repeating it in their sleep. Children aren't as free as perceived from the outside.
The Pledge of Allegiance has become a major issue for students, teachers, parents and lawmakers. The original intention of the pledge was not to stir up trouble, but for a celebration of Christopher Columbus discovery of the new world. The pledge is no longer thought of as a celebration, but an infringement on children's religious beliefs. Do you believe that children's rights are being infringed on? Some people believe that the pledge is a great honor for our country. It has shown, and provided us with great pride just like our American flag. The Pledge of Allegiance being recited in the public school system does not infringe on the students religious beliefs, but is a way for us to honor our country and everything that we have done to get to this point in history.
Many parents, educators, and school officials defend the Pledge of Allegiance and other rituals and symbols for the themes of ...
I’ve lol been standing for the pledge of allegiance since I was in elementary and never really understood why. Freedom of speech, you say what you want, when you want, and how you want to. It’s your right to stand up or not. “People die for our country.” “Sign of respect for the country we live in.” “Take pride in being an American.” How can we be proud to be American if it only brings negative stereotypes to everyone’s head, it has never been what it preaches to be. Being American is actually embarrassing. Just because I was born here doesn 't mean I have undying loyalty to America, being American means nothing to me, to be truthful.