Replies

The Pledge should be recited every day, but once a week is better than never.
Why? I don't believe that reciting the pledge actually accomplishes anything, except getting people riled up on both sides.

Compulsory patriotism is the best way for kids to grow up NOT loving their county. Teaching them to appreciate the vision of the Founders is better than reciting any pledge.

This is the equivalent of saying that children shouldh't be compelled (by their parents) to attend religious services and classes, because that's "shoving religion down their throats." The problem with that sort of thinking is that children MUST be taught these things, and if not compelled, they will be out doing other stuff! Children can not make their own decisions about these things, since they simply don't know any better. Reciting the Pledge, along with a discussion of what makes this country better than others (i.e., why you are saying the Pledge) will instill an understanding of the responsibilities that come along with the privaliges that living in this country give us all.

Mark

This is the equivalent of saying that children shouldh't be compelled (by their parents) to attend religious services and classes, because that's "shoving religion down their throats."

No it's not.

First of all, attending religious services itself is an act that requires some sort of commitment of time and energy. Along with that is the teachings of the religion's history and how to act.

Simply standing to recite the pledge in school accompished nothing. A vow or oath without an accompanying commitment is empty, just as reciting a baptismal oath is without the baptism, just as empty as the enlistment oath without the haircut, just as empty as a Boy Scout oath witout joining the Boy Scouts.

Reciting the oath doesn't require any act on the part of those reciting and there is no penalty for breaking it.

I place my oath to support and defend the Constitution on a much higher plane that the Pledge. Besides, the Pledge is a 'my country right or wrong' type of oath, and I won't do that. When the acts of my country violate the Constitution, I will support and defend the Constitution from my country, if necessary. The authors of the oath of office and enlistment must have anticipated possible conflicts or else they wouldn't have made the provision fro defending the Constitution from all enemies foreign AND DOMESTIC.

Continue pledging if you wish. But compelling anyone, especially children to recite loyalty oaths seems to fly in the face of true honor for freedom and love of country.