That’s a pretty amazing amount of historical ignorance you’ve got going on there A. Kat Dennis. Bellamy wrote the poem, he didn’t found the tradition of reciting it. That was an act of Congress a bit later on. The Pledge also isn’t about what our veterans fight for or what we as Americans stand for, it’s a loyalty oath written by a Christian Socialist. Lastly, the fact that people have been doing something for a long time is no reason that it should be continued in the future. Especially if it’s harmful and/or divisive which the Pledge is in its current form.

Seriously, go off and read up on the history and perhaps you won’t sound quite so ignorant next time.

Our children and grand children should be up holding a Tradition founded in 1892 by Francis Bellamy ,The Pledge to The United States of America. this pledge to what our veterans fight for and what we as americans stand for has been around an citizens have been reciting it for 118 years, what the hell is this country comming to . English was the ruling language now we have to push 1. If you are in america Do As The Americans Do!!

Hi, Les!  I couldn’t get the video to play on this computer, but now that you have said that (and I saw the placeholder frame) I think that you are right, and I am wrong.  I was also actually thinking about the Schoolhouse Rock version, rather than the Fraggle Rock version (if there even is one).  Thanks for that correction! 

ElfNinosMom, I’ve never seen the Fraggle Rock version. I was specifically thinking of the Schoolhouse Rock version:

I wonder if they sang the Fraggle Rock version of the preamble?  I’m middle-aged (45 and counting) and I still remember that one well enough to sing it even today.  It is indeed a snappy little tune.

Somehow I have a feeling the pledge was written for ulterior motives. Well my suspicions weren’t too far off according to Wikipedia:

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), a Baptist minister, a Christian Socialist, and the cousin of Socialist Utopian novelist Edward Bellamy (1850-1898). Bellamy’s original “Pledge of Allegiance” was published in the September 8th issue of the popular children’s magazine The Youth’s Companion as part of the National Public-School Celebration of Columbus Day, a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America, conceived by James B. Upham.

Bellamy’s original Pledge read, “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. America”

The pledge was supposed to be quick and to the point. Bellamy designed it to be stated in 15 seconds. He had initially also considered using the words equality and fraternity but decided they were too controversial since many people opposed equal rights for women and blacks. Bellamy said that the purpose of the pledge was to teach obedience to the state as a virtue and that the United States supports the flag.

After a proclamation by President Benjamin Harrison, the Pledge was first used in public schools on October 12, 1892 during Columbus Day observances. This date was also significant as it was the dedication day of the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. Bellamy thought that the pledge itself and the involvement of children across the country would be a fine show of national solidarity.

Very interesting read for historical reasons. Go check it out!

Oh my.. with the state of the education system, maybe the pledge is the only letting the students know what country they are in.  If we take that away from them, they’ll be lost.

The Horror!

The political correctness is killing our country.

Oh fuck off.  Political correctness may have damaged a few careers, but the only thing it’s capable of killing is a joke.

Well I am offended by all the people coming here because we are a FREE nation and wanting to make us like their native country.

Spoken like a true Native American, if a few centuries after the fact.  What tribe are you, by the way?

I mean they could have simply dropped the “under god” part couldn’t they? That would solve the diversity issue.

No, it wouldn’t.  The bible clearly forbids the taking of oaths, whether mentioning god or not, and some Christians actually follow that teaching.

And Debbie, whose country?  Your country?  Gee, I don’t claim ownership of an entire country; it’s more of a commons in which we all have to figure out how to work together.  The constitution solves that conundrum by keeping religion out of the governmental picture.  Unfortunately we’ve increasingly lost our way on that.

If you’re concerned about lack of representation then why don’t YOU leave, Debbie? You’re the one who is offended, so do us all a favor? At the very least, please go back to the kitchen and take your pills.