Oof

Yeah it’s a weird fucking ritual isn’t it? It made a couple of my teachers mad in highschool that I refused to stand and pledge. It sounds edgy, but it’s such a weird brainwashy thing to do that

Looking back, it is really weird. Do they still do "one nation, under god?" As someone who is no longer religious at all, I find this weird, too.
- It wasn't always like that, either. The "under god" part was added by Eisenhower in the 50s during the red scare. He added the "In God We Trust" thing to the money around the same time.
I just lied and said I was Jehovah's Witnesses so I could sit out in the hall with the others. That was socially acceptable.
- "Sit out int the hall with the others"... eh, who are the others that gets sent to the hallway during the pledge? The pledge is fucked up in it self, so are some people sent to the hallway like "well, if you want to be a traitor you have to leave"?
- I did the same thing except I wasn't lying. Ironically that cult is even nuttier than the cult of the flag. It was like I dodged a bullet by getting blown apart by artillery before it could hit me.

As a teacher, this is our daily ritual. They think we indoctrinate students, but by law we have to say this every morning. If students want to abstain, they just sit quietly. When asked if I can demonstrate that as a teacher, the school lawyers said I have that right, but they can't defend me if a parent complains...

I love to remind people it was invented by a flag salesman to sell more flags. Are you allowed to mention that?
- Holy shit, is that true? (Source?)
As a student, I was called to the principal's office for remaining seated. I was strongly told I should stand and didn't care that the other students were throwing garbage at me. They wonder why I tried getting my diploma voided.

Wait. Is this (still) a real thing?

"I pledge allegiance

To the flag

Of the United States of America..."

Yeah, kids still do this in schools across the US.
- My wife is an elementary school teacher and she lets her students choose whether they want to participate or not each day.
  
  Most kids do it because they are following along with the rest, but some do actually sit out during the pledge
- WTF
- Okay but why the Flag? Wouldn't be the Constitution better? (I'm from Europe and actual curios because I thought that was more a stereotype than something people really do)
- No no no it's like this: "I pledge al-leg-iance to the flag
  
  Of theuni-ted States Ofamerica"

And who the FUCK is “Wichet Stands”??

It's like a grocery list:

2 The Republic
4 Wichet Stands
1 Nation Under God
- Ah fuck they're out of nations under God so I bought a nation under Cathullu instead.

I pledge allegiance to the trans pride flag

Has the council decided on a proper formal pledge yet?

Canadian here. I still sing my national anthem and I do pledge allegiance. I see my country men and women as brothers and sisters in this freezing hellscape of a country. I need to. They Jumpstart my truck for me when is -40c

We have a pledge of Allegiance?

I hope we can evolve past borders and see all humans as brothers. I think it's more likely to be a goal domination or catastrophe that could actually bring that around though.
- I stand on guard for thee.

4th grade was when I was taught about separation of church and state, and used the "no false idols" commandment from Christianity to get out of doing the pledge of allegiance every morning. Put in that way, no one ever gave me shit for not participating.

Oh please, Dear? For your information The Bellamy Salute preceeded Nazism by at least thirty years and definitely wasn't the creepiest motherfucking shit you ever saw.

Also, on a personal level, we're just enormous fans of this country. The Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution, especially the more appropriate amendments are an enormous source of inspiration. I say the pledge with no problems (well, tbh I'm not a fan of the under God part but until Congress does something we're stuck either listening to everyone else do it while we skip it or just doing it for shits 'n giggles), and I hold my hand over my heart. I love the flag. And I'll burn that motherfucker in protest if I want to, okay? America is an ideal and we'll never reach it but we have to keep on moving forward to make it the best it can be. Whenever the pledge fades away I won't miss it, but it's a time-and-place thing that's fine by me.

Nationalism and borders are dumb tho
- They are
Also, on a personal level, we're just enormous fans of this country.

fans

of a country

Cringe
- it's a Lebowski quote