No, it's a pledge to some vague idea or arrogance. Real patriotism is protecting the rights of all Americans. Real patriotism is improving the lives of Americans. The pledge is lazy faux patriotism that conservatives lap up.
That's because you are used to it. But just switch little White Kids to little Asian Kids in North Korea, instantly you think those poor kids are being brainwashed.
My mother used to pay attention to the drug ads. Once she decided she absolutely needed something to help with prostate problems...she wouldn't listen to me that she didn't even HAVE a prostate. Fortunately the doctor still gets to make the decision on drugs.
@@BTinSF bro, he's not going to prescribe a drug for a woman's prostate. If he gives you a drug it's because it's his considered medical opinion that you need it.
It was a routine part of the beginning of the school day. Kids hardly paid attention or noticed what it meant. They just did it. By the way, they can force you to stand up if they insist (I doubt they do any more) but they can't force you to say the words. You can stand there silently if you are the kind of kid who actually thinks about the issue.
I am 68 and yes it was the beginning of each school day. All stood, placed our right hand over our heart and recited the "Pledge of Allegiance ". I think it was a good thing to instill patriotism
I have a problem with the pledge myself. But not because it’s not honorable to pledge loyalty to your country. Unlike the comment above mine who likely has a problem with loving your country. My problem is in the wording of the pledge. The very first words in fact… “i pledge allegiance to THE FLAG”… I don’t think we should be pledging loyalty to a piece of cloth. lol
@@KatyS96 - and that’s one of the main points of the pledge and nationalism in general. A lot of American academic college commies and champagne socialists love to hate the US and view nationalism as synonymous with xenophobia. However the point of nationalism and patriotism and pledging allegiance and singing national anthems is because a functioning society requires a core unifying fabric holding it together. The love of one’s country and the values and principles of your country were always something that should bring everyone together. It used to be things like religion and cultural homogeneity but in a free society those values are less consistently shared. These days even that core principle of country that everyone in the world used to be able to rally behind is being undermined in the west. So it’s good to see that that you and the op are proud and feel included by things like the pledge. People like you give me hope unlike the guy up there who shames people for feeling honored and connected to a unifying social fabric.
In the 80's we had to say it every day in the morning before class started. They stopped doing that sometime later, I can't remember when. I was pretty young. I do know if you join Boy and Girl Scouts, they make you always recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Scouts honor and taps at the Flag ceremony. I was a camp counselor for a Girl Scout Camp for the Summer, You had Flag, every morning and evening. Taps was sung in the evening.
I’m 36 and nothing gave me more pride than pledging allegiance and singing the national anthem. My immigrant parents instilled in me a love for America.
Glad it worked for you. For me, it was an insult. Having to promise, and keep promising to do something. Like, why? I said it once, why do you doubt I'll follow through?
I’m of an older generation. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance meant that you were showing respect for your country. I was and am very proud of saying it. We also say it at sporting events.i love it.
Even more ironic, is that as a University graduate, Lewis doesn't even know what it means! Makes me question the quality of his University education in the UK.
Right! They just had a police commissioner threaten to extradite and imprison Americans for things said on social media, so his not understanding what tyranny is shouldn't surprise anyone. smh
@@ArchimGregorios I don't think the Brits want to dwell on that little bit of 18th century unpleasantness and why should they? They gave up on us and went and conquered India.
As an American, I can confirm drug adverts are the worst. They are so long, overdone, and annoying. The fact they have to say “if you’re allergic to any of the ingredients, you should not take this medication” makes me want to lay face down on the floor. Plus, the actors are always wearing clothing you’d find at JCPenney or Kohl’s and it’s a disturbing mix of pastel polo shirts and capri pants. Freaky.
@@traciemcdaniel3660 Because of the really bad side effects of the current batch of latest and greatest medicines, not to mention the outrageous cost, I always try to steer my doctors to the older tried and true ones. Not only are there fewer side effects, the effects long term use are also known. An added bonus is they cost almost nothing.
They are actually wearing the colors of the drug logo. I have started watching commercials trying to match all the colors in the logo to the clothes and scenery. I find it amusing. There's a dishwasher detergent ad that is so green and purple like the logo its pretty obvious. But a fun one is the Oh Oh Ozempic one where the people are dancing in the street and the lead woman changes clothes for another scene. I love that one because if you pay attention to the background, its the city streets area of the Universal Orlando theme park! It's the little things that entertain me. 😂😅
I stated in another post that I think it is ok and maybe even beneficial to have them but damn are they ever overdone, annoying and too freaking abundant. As a matter of fact advertising in general may be more tolerable if there were a variety of different ads for products and not the same 2 damn drug commercials repeating for 5 minutes every break.
No one is forced to do it. In the 80s, we had kids that didn’t want to do it and they didn’t have to. I was raised by military parents so I’m proud to say it.
Really just depends tbh. I had a teacher who would write us up if we didn’t do the pledge but then I also had a teacher who said to at least stand for it.
The US Constitution gave us "the right to bear arms" because they had just fought a war to break away from another country and knew that if we hadn't been able to defend ourselves, we'd still be British citizens. We really (maybe my sarcasm wasn't as obvious as intended with that "sorta") like being Americans, so we value our guns! 🇺🇸 Most of us also like being able to defend our selves and our homes without waiting for the cops to find us (A LOT of us don't live near a town).
@@VisualAssault2011 "...the right to bear arms shall not be infringed." sounds like a pretty clear statement to me. Yeah a lot of blood guy she'd to actually GIVE us the right, but this is the statement that "makes it official."
If we lose the first and second amendments (free speech and right to bear arms) the USA ceases to exist. That’s what keeps the “people” with the power to keep the country free.
Drive through pharmacy is one of the best inventions EVER. For some bizarre reasons, the pharmacy in most places is located to the back of the store. I've actually chosen a pharmacy based on foot print of the store because I was so sick and had to get my own medication. The being able to drive through means someone who is sick/injured doesn't have to navigate the massive distance from the door to the pharmacy and then back. It also means exposure to contagious illnesses is largely contained.
I feel this. I have asthma and had just left the hospital one day due to breathing problems. I then had to walk all the way to the back of the store to get my prescription for my inhaler. It was horrible having to walk that far not being able to breathe properly.
Pharmacy's I believe, I happen to work in one, are in the back so you have to walk thru the store and therefore more likely to do some impulse buying on the way there. 3:33
I still stand and put my hand on my heart when I hear the pledge and National Anthem. I was a. Classroom teacher for 4 decades and my kids loved it too, we had to take turns holding the flag. I taught my boys to remove their hats or caps during it as a matter of respect for our country. They told me they stood and took their hats odd during the parade, but many people didn’t. They saw…
No. Fir two reasons - 1. No mere child has any real understanding of what it even means. 2. The way it is worded is as an oath, and there is literally NO instance, outside that pledge, in which anyone, civilian, political, or military, which REQUIRES daily repeating ones oath/pledge. Well, in a free country anyway...
@@patrickelliott2169when you love your country and respect those who fought and still fight for AND honor those who died fighting for the country that you love then you don't look at it as something you HAVE to do.. its an honor to do it and shows the pride you have in your country.
@@roseannburgess20the pledge doesn’t rep the people who fight for us it’s repping the government. The anthem reps the military and everyone who fight for our freedom. The pledge feels like tyranny and the anthem inspires. Two very different things.
@@roseannburgess20 This country doesn't love some people who fought for it, built it, and still fighting for it, especially when the 3rd verse of the anthem was written in a negative light. Children should not be pledging to anything. I am an Army Vet.
Most of we older Americans will take home the food we have left over at a restaurant because we were taught not to waste food. Also I paid for it and I intend to eat every bite. If I get to eat it twice then I pretty much just got 2 meals for the price of 1. Can't beat that deal.
Maybe that's where the patriotism comes from, every M-F morning, for 12 years of school, I pledged allegiance to the flag. But I never felt forced or uncomfortable doing it. It was just part of our daily routine. 🗽
Patriotism is respecting all the amendments and the Declaration of Independence that states that we have the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Using religious rhetoric to deny women and LGBTQIA of their unalienable rights is NOT patriotism.
after 1st grade when i started thinking for myself it felt very forced and i just stopped participating in it and would just keep in my seat and read. slept through it a few times as well because i couldnt care less about it. its just useless words to me.
Our portions in the USA are so large that I ask for a box right after the waitress brings my food. I put 1/2 the food to take home so that I don't overeat, plus it can be another meal for later.
“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.” That's the pledge. Every morning in school we'd stand and put our right hand across our chest and recite this. I'm 29 and from West Virginia. I'll never forget it lol
i for one did forget it, and now that im older wow it sure is pretentious. especially the "One nation under god" part. but im not shocked as america was founded on the made up ideals of a make believe highly narcissistic diety.
I remember this as a kid. And I’m from Texas so we had our own pledge we said after the US pledge. “Honor the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to thee. Texas, one state under god, one and indivisible.”
I'm proud to be an American! We taught the pledge at young age to install A love of our country . nearly everyone who said it as a child remembers it or most of it . I was proud to put my hand on my heart and say it and then sing the national anthem. Still am I will always stand in respect to our flag . its a privilege not a forced thing .
I'm 56 yrs old and was never FORCED to say anything in school. We WANTED to say the pledge. Every morning we said the pledge and EVERY morning we sang our National Anthem as the music played over the loud speaker. We LOVED every minute of it.
53-year-old American here. Speak for yourself. I said the pledge because I was an impressionable child and the adults told me to, not because I wanted to. We also sang (in elementary) after the pledge. I didn't *hate* it, but also would not have been remotely disappointed if they discontinued it.
It was never forced and by high school they stopped doing it as you just went in and straight to first class like college. if you didn't want to do it, you just napped or goofed off as long as you were quiet.
It's sad that we don't have maternity leave. It's all over the place depending on where you work. You have to rely on your employer to be decent people. Luckily, my employer is a small business and I got 8 weeks paid. But the majority of women here barely get a week or two, and usually not paid. There's this thing called family leave act that means the employer cannot fire you for leaving for a family emergency, like giving birth, but they are not legally required to pay you while you're out. FMLA only protects your job, that you'll have one still when you get back. It's f*cking ridiculous that we in America don't have a paid maternity leave act on the books.
I grew up in the 80s and 90s and have zero childhood trauma about being "forced" to say the pledge. We would come in to class, the teacher would ask us to rise, and we would say both the US and the Texas pledge, and sit back down. After elementary school (after age 10), we never had to do it again. No one complained, no one filed lawsuits, no teacher ever threatened us to say it. It was just another part of your day. Years ago they had a podcast about whether people thought it was wrong, and everyone calling in was not even phased. It did make you feel this bit of patriotism and respect for your own country but it wasn't about brainwashing us or recruitment into some organization where we had to worship our leader or else.
I had a classmate who was a Jehovah's Witness, and did not recite the pledge because of his religion. As far as I know, no one ever game him grief about it - not the adults, anyway.
That’s because all the lawsuits about it were made in the 1940s. And the supreme court ruled that public schools couldn’t force students. That’s why they would do the pledge but you were not in trouble if you didn’t participate.
@@Alannaryshati That's not entirely true. The first lawsuit in the 40s was about a Jehovah Witnesses request not to salute the flag/say the pledge, but the Supreme Court ruled against it, before reversing a few years later. This was prior to the addition of the phrase "under God" that was not added until '54 under Eisenhower. There have been several lawsuits made in the 2000s+ regarding both the use of the phrase "under God" (this case was lost) and the ability of school districts to even require students to stand and say the pledge if they don't want to. It's basically now boiled down to this. Students are not required to stand/say the pledge (in some states only with parental permission signed with their school). This does NOT apply to private schools as they aren't bound by the first amendment.
I’m 67 and I was always proud to recite the pledge of allegiance and I never felt like we were forced to do it, it was just what we did everyday to start the school day off.
Pledge of allegiance. My 7th grade year, I would stand but not recite the pledge. My English teacher asked why I stopped. I explained that the verse, *_”…one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”_* felt like a lie because of all of the social injustice. She explained to me that it’s not an expression of what is, but a “solemn oath” for each of us strive toward creating that world every day. From then on I felt proud and like it was my civic duty to remember that every day.
I remember people didn’t have to say the God portion if it was against religious beliefs. Many complained in our state at least but it’s on purpose money and I always said are they going to refuse to spend cash too?
I am an immigrant who became US citizen and never felt forced to Pledge allegiance but felt privileged and honored to do it. I love America and am proud to be an American!
I think teaching children that we pledge our allegiance to our country, not because we are being tyrants but because we are showing that we are proud to be an American and proud to live in a free country. Children need to be taught what those words they are saying truly mean and what the benefits we gained from the fight our founding fathers did to give us our freedom from tyranny
The flag and the Pledge of Allegiance took on a whole new meaning when I grew up. My dad was drafted and survived the Battle of the Bulge. He went on to be very successful.
I had no idea what the pledge meant until at least college because the meaning was never taught to us and by the time I would’ve understood it (like 3rd or 4th grade?) it was something so ingrained and routine that the words meant nothing. After grade school I never thought of it again, until it crossed my mind totally randomly and I suddenly realized those words meant something and it wasn’t just word salad. Now I think it’s just as weird as any foreigner does that we were made to say that every single morning with no explanation as to why. To me only people applying for citizenship should say it. I was born American, pledging my allegiance to the flag almost everyday from ages 5-14 is just silly and wastes time.
Jury duty - the last time I was called for jury duty, it was for a murder trial. I was asked if I had a problem with such a case. I replied "do you have a problem with someone who believes in the death penalty with no appeals? After all, the victim got no appeals." The lawyers gasped, then the judge dismissed me. I've never been called again!
I completely get this reaction to people who murder others … however, we still need civic minded people to do their duty, otherwise if everyone refused to be on juries, then no one would ever have a trial by their peers. It would be only judges making the decisions, and we all know how most of them would rule, be-damned the evidence. JS. However, having said this, having served on a jury a few times it is frustrating to serve with people with no damn common sense, who don’t follow the evidence, but go by FEELINGS 🤦♀️
One of the radio stations I listen to does the Pledge of Allegiance at noon every day! Coming from a family with a lot of people that have served in the military, we absolutely respect the flag and stop for the pledge EVERY time!
What was craziest to me the first time I explored Europe (food wise) was that no one uses ice in their drinks! You have to specifically request it and you are lucky if they have it.
Y'all are getting screwed with the drinks. I saw a documentary years ago that it cost less than a quarter (25 cents) to make a gallon of soda by the soda companies, and they sell it to the restaurants for dollars and the restaurants mark it up several hundred percent for each glass they sell. That's why we get free refills, because it barely costs the seller to give refills and it makes the customers happy.
@@mbourque And exactly how does that show that we're getting screwed. We're still getting free refills, and you're not. And btw, did you also research how much cups cost and how much it costs to make ice and to keep it frozen? Your logic that we're the ones getting screwed is highly illogical. I guess you're the really lucky ones because you don't have to tolerate free refills. 🙄
I have a video of my niece saying the Pledge of Allegiance when she was maybe 4 or 5 and it's so adorable. It was a big part of every school day and we got to put our flag up each morning when we were in 5th grade. We learned how to fold the flag and how to respect the flag and NEVER letting the flag touch the ground. Nobody was forced to say the Pledge.
While I was in college, I also was a substitute teacher in middle school. One day the Social Studies teacher left instructions for the students to read silently for the entire period. When I told the students they groaned, so I offered instead to read them what I needed to study for that evening's test, and they jumped at it! I then told them that I needed to explain the Preamble to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They groaned again, but we went through it line by line and amendment by amendment. They learned a lot, I aced the test, and their teacher called me the next day to laughingly thank me. 🤠
We cannot walk into our doctor's office and ask for a certain drug just because we saw the ad on TV. The ad is made so that each person can talk to their doctor about their health. I have asked about a certain drug with my doctor and he or she has informed me why or why not that drug will or will not work in my case. It's all about giving more info to the public. When a family member was ill, my family asked the doctor about a bunch of drugs to help our sick family member. After talking about the issue, the doctor found a drug which worked wonders for our family. Sometime questions lead to better answers.
"We cannot walk into our doctor's office and ask for a certain drug just because we saw the ad on TV" WTF do you mean yes you can, will the doctor give them to you, likely not. What those ads are meant for is if you have what the med is meant to treat and you are on something and you feel like its not working, or if you had no clue theres something that might help you and your doctor hasnt helped you. Many people find help and relief from these ads.
The adds on television for prescription drugs are unhealthy and misleading. Singing songs, carrying a happy sign, and all of a sudden I can see...just to mention some, but there's more. Are not a healthy way to get healthier. Going to your PCP before anything is wrong, establishing a base line and utilizing preventative care, leads to a healthier lifestyle. Pills are band aides that lead to more pills. Diet and exercise and living a modest lifestyle is key. I am not talking about people who have disabilities or sudden mishaps, that are incurable or an emergency, which may require prescription meds I am talking about personal health that is controlled by the actions you take.
I grew up with the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of the school day and am 76. We were all very patriotic then and I still am. I had an academic scholarship for tuition and books and worked in high school through college to pay for room and board.
I’m 71 and we did the pledge of allegiance every year at my elementary and middle school. It wasn’t forced, it was just something we did. Being a Baby Boomer, I think most American adults would say it was a privilege to be in a free country that we could show our respect of our flag and what it stands for. I mean WW2 had just ended 7 yrs. before I was born. We also started the school day with scripture reading and prayer over the PA system.
There's truth here. It united us under a common goal. We get to join together, no matter your background, and honor the country and the men and women who have given us so much.
No, the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance is not forced on students. While it is customary for it to be recited in class every day, students are not required to participate. Mandating recitation was ruled unconstitutional in the 1940's.
In my school you had to stand up and be quiet, but you didn't have to say the pledge if you didn't want to. I was always happy to say it...even as a child I was proud of my country.
Same here , I grew up in the 70s-80s . I remember standing in class , hand over heart ❤️ and saying pledge of allegiance. Then, in roughly 4th grade 1980s . It stopped or phased out . Kids didn't have to stand or say it , then it was taken out of public schools . Now as adult , I kinda wish they still have the kids say the pledge of allegiance to flag 🇺🇸🫶❤️
They still say it here. I grew up in the 90s, and I don't ever remember anyone questioning the pledge. We were raised with patriotism and we were proud to say it.
my son, in kindergarten, thought it was "for widget stands" instead of "for which it stands". I didn't even realize it until he asked me what a widget was.... I never felt forced to say the pledge of allegience. It just was what we did every morning.
Aw, that is so sweet. "Widget stands" 😅. I grew up saying the Pledge 🇺🇸. I think kids should still learn the pledge and for what our flag stands for 🫶🇺🇸❤
The pledge of allegiance was started in 1893, to celebrate the opening of the 1893 Colombian Exhibition World Fair in Chicago. The poem was distributed to schools throughout the nation to be recited at the same time as the fair was opened by Grover Cleveland.
I just retired after 42 years of teaching. No, we did not ever in all those years force students to say the pledge. I had several students who would just sit quietly at their desks or took a step out into the hall. It is required in our state that all classes recite the pledge but not individual students. Maybe it is different in other states.
@@lethe5683 I am 70 years old and I was never forced. We didn’t even say it when I was in middle school or high school except at assemblies and not all of those. Certainly never in college.
I’m 50 and the Pledge of Allegiance was simply how we started our day. I remember a girl whose family was Jehovah’s witness and she had to step out the class to the hallway because her religion didn’t allow her to say it.
I'm 59. When I was in grade school, we had to say the pledge followed by singing the first verse of either 'My Country Tis of Thee' or 'America the Beautiful'. As children, we didn't think anything of it. It was just part of school.
1:28 when I see an ad for a prescription medication that is for something that I have, I'll go and start doing research and then I'll also ask the doctor about it, if it's better than what I'm taking or not and then I take the doctor's advice. About 20 25% of the time he has me switch medications, but if I hadn't asked I would still be taking the same stuff.
Thank you, as a retired med lab tech and later a dentist. When ever a patient came in I would review their meds, from my day as a lab tech I did alot of the drug analysis and cultures for bacteria. Was always amazed how so many patients never question their doctors. I'm so bad , my doctor has my medical chart stamped- Non- compliant patient, cause you will get told what test is useless, what drug doesn't work for me. If they try to prescribe something new on the market, you can bet he better know something about the drug outside of what the sales representative said.
@@johnsomn2148 I have many many medical issues, I don't have any experience working in a lab or anything like that but I do know more (medically speaking) than most of the general public. And when I get a new medication, I actually read the information sheet that comes in the box with the medication, if the pharmacy does not give me that page I ask for it. The only things I've ever had a problem getting the info sheet on are things that have been out for a very long time and that information is usually online at the companies website, I am sure you know the sheets I'm talking about, the ridiculously large sheet sometimes 23"×35", that is printed in 6pt or 8pt text. My doctor used to basically tell me to shut up, he has 20+ years experience and he will let me know what I need to know, bla, bla, bla... I argued with him, I had several appointments where a nurse came in to make sure everything was alright, because we were both literally yelling at each other. We now get along and respect each other, enough that, I have his personal cellphone number and have been told to call anytime if it's an emergency, if not emergency try to keep it between 8am and 8pm
I love the pledge of allegiance. It was a good reminder each morning to have respect for my country. That’s how I learned left and right. We all stood up for the pledge each morning in first grade (maybe second) and put our right hands over our hearts. That’s how I remembered my left from my right lol
@@MJ-oe1wj You should not respect your country because you were brainwashed to from a young age. It should come from your real life organic experience. So many people are afraid to admit it is brainwashing when it is the literal definition of brainwashing.
I don’t understand why people complain about our portion sizes. If you’re eating at a fast food place, you don’t have to get the largest size meal. Heck, you don’t even have to buy a meal - just get a sandwich and a glass of ice water. If you go out to eat anywhere nicer and the portion sizes are large, split your meal with a friend or take the food home and eat it the next day. Heat it up in the microwave, stick it in the oven or cook it in the air fryer. Good as new.
most people are greedy and will eat as much as they are served, so people think it's irresponsible of the industry to serve portion sizes that are guaranteed to cause a coronary later in life. on the one hand, everyone should practice personal responsibility and not over-feed themselves, but on the other hand, it is clear that the vast majority is incapable of it.
India, Middle East, most of South America, many other places have massive portion sizes also, you order something and they bring you a massive plateful.
Im proud to be an American. Im proud of my country and no one is forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance. The history of the national anthem is a tear jerker and honestly i am proud to know my ancestors had such strength and conviction.
It was brainwashing. It was forced on us. That's communism, not democracy. And that whole part about liberty and justice for all, yeah, give me a break.
In the US you pledge allegiance to the flag and to America. In N Korea, they likely pledge allegiance to the "Supreme Leader". Patriotism is about pride in your country. It is important that we all be united in freedom.
we done that in former yugoslavia, germans done that during hitler's rule, russia still have it, china too... even when i was a kid it was disturbing, like in a cult, at the end all the pledge generations had to do every morning before school started for decades meant nothing. country was torn apart in flames and genocidal wars. it is a brain washing, there is a line about god, not all americans are belivers and yet their kids have to say that line. it is hillarious. the only countries which do that are countries who wants to brain wash their citizens while they ae still kids, so when they are adults have strong patrioti sense and go to wars and stuff without any question it is also done to raise a belife in people since their young age about some kind of supremacy over others, like oh pour country is the best and greatest while in reality US had segregation laws still in 60ties, while in europe that did not exist even before ww1, only when ww2 started europe had it, but forcufly. not to mention how american eneral in 1946 in uk demanded that sgregation laws must be proccessed coz he was angry that local people in their own country sits and drinks and dance in same bars with black people. at the end locals put a sign only for blacks, wich pis** him of so much that he took a squad and shot bunch of people, including 2 african american soldiers. so us pledge served and servse the purpouses i already mentioned...
It’s just your not as free as you think and things to be proud of I don’t know look around your city’s people living on the streets and people stoned out of there mind other city’s theft so high stores are closing because they can’t survive places we’re people can’t get clean water health insurance that many people cant pay and even if you can you can still go brock if you get a serious illness and I could go on forever so i don’t know what are you so proud of i used to be proud to until I started traveling around the world sure no country is perfect but believe me the US is far from perfect and there are county’s were your just as free or even have more freedom than you do in the states and there are a lot of country’s were people sure are happier than Americans are that’s fact and a lot of country’s are proud to but they show it in different ways
I went to a private school in the 90s and we did the pledge of allegiance daily until about 7th grade (12 years old). By high school, I think most of us sat through the reading of it over the intercom. Something that I think separates us from authoritarian run nations is that most kids understand it to be a “motivational” day starter, rather than an actual pledge. Saying “liberty and justice for all!” Is more of a reminder of good values than a statement of obedience. It’s kinda just saying “I promise to uphold the values on which this country was founded, and those values are: we’re all equal and we all deserve our rights. Also, I’m not gonna be a traitor as long as those are the values.”
I'm 67 now, military 3rd generation, Thanks to this, I just recited the pledge of allegiance, haven't thought about it in over 55 years. But yes, in school we stood by our desks and said the pledge out loud all together before classes started. I do not recall anything about being 'forced' as you asked. But my guess some of the others kids would probably give you a hard time on the playground if you didnt😊
I am a American who lived in England from the ages 3 thru 12. We would sing God Bless The Queen every morning. We did do the Pledge of Allegiance for the first 2 years after I moved back to the U.S. but my children only did it in primary grades.
I grew up saying The Pledge of Allegiance in school (1960s and 1970s), but I don't recall ever being forced to do it. We all did it like it was second nature, with no complaints. Our school principal was very patriotic, and so were many of us, and many men served in the military. Anyway, I've always felt it an honor reciting the pledge, especially knowing and taking to heart what the words really mean. 🇺🇲 ❤
It was just 'what we did' each week, someone different got to be the flag holder. And it was a job everyone liked having. Like being a line leader or line ender (because you were responsible for shutting the door and turning off the lights). Flag holders waved the flag during the pledge of allegiance. And God forbid you got too ridiculous with your waving--that was me--you would lose your job for the rest of the week.😢
I have always said the pledge of allegiance in schools, I am so proud to be able to do that. I was raised on the Military Bases because my dad was in the Air Force (1942-1974) and I knew and understood what that Pledge is all about. I have direct line grandfathers in every skirmish and war that was fought by the founding people since 1607 in Virginia. Every World War to date, Korean, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Desert shield. We will continue to fight for our freedoms.
American students are not forced to do the pledge of allegiance in school. There was a court case back in the early 1940s where the Supreme Court decided that the free speech clause of the first amendment meant that state funded schools could not force students to salute the flag or say the pledge. Of course most schools do not tell students about this aspect of that right and they start reciting the pledge in classes when students are very young so most people will do it.
19:08 if you're pregnant in the US and you give birth, you're going to get a couple weeks of pay from any company but some companies will give up to 3 months, but there's a thing called The family medical leave Act, that makes your employer hold your job for up to a year for you to take off time for medical such as giving birth, then come back and get your job back.
They might give you time off but a lot of the time it’s not paid. Unless you have pto saved up they are not required to pay you anything and most companies will avoid doing anything they aren’t legally required to do.
@@LJBSullivan that sounds about right for America. Before Obama Care there were people I knew that had "Cadillac" insurance plans, the company had to downgrade the insurance or pay big fines for having too good of insurance for their employees. Anyway, back before Obama Care, they got 3 months paid time off for the mothers and 6 weeks paid time off for the fathers, it did not all have to be taken starting with the birth of the baby, it just had to be used during the first year. That was part of the insurance plan, they also got 3 months from the employer for both mothers and fathers, this had to be used all at once so moms would start on the day they went out to give birth or sooner if they got put in bed rest or something like that, the fathers usually started their time when the mother had to go back to work. I know of one of the couples Mom worked for this company and because their insurance was so much better than Dad's company insurance the family was in Mom's company insurance. The Dad's company gave them fathers 1 paid week when a baby was born, then his company said he could take more time but they would not pay him for any additional time off he took, they were shocked when he asked for every third week off starting 3 months after the baby was born. They were even more shocked when he said their medical insurance would be paying him for 6 weeks of time off. So mom paid time off, 3 months, then Dad takes a week, mom 2 weeks, and they alter that way for another 4.5 months before they have to get a babysitter or grandma to stay with the baby. Their 2nd and 3rd kids were after Obama Care so she got the 3 months the company offered, and dad had changed jobs, no leave for him at all. At least they already had a daycare they trusted and knew the kids were well cared for and loved. I know this because it was my mother's daycare and while my mother passed away 2 years ago, the family and 3 girls are like family, even after my mother retired 6 years ago. Many of the daycare kids and families became our family, we have vacationed together, holidays together and several 9 of the kids have been God children of my parents, both parents are gone now, the youngest of the God Kids is 14 now the oldest is 47. The daycare was in business for 55 years.
I think it's funny when people in the UK think the US electoral system is weird. They don't even elect their Prime Minister...they just elect their representatives and whichever party gets the majority of seats gets to pick their own member as Prime Minister. At least the US system somewhat puts the choice in the hands of the people (albeit not a pure democratic popular vote choice). Glad we don't pick our president by whichever party gets majority in Congress.
Yes, and look what is happening in England and London!! The British people are being pushed and ousted completely,I enter if a group who elected a person who is in the way to destroying everything British!
The funny thing is about the electoral college they don't understand that it's 50s for president And as far as the number of votes say you have a basketball final playoffs seven games so a team can score more points over the seven games and still lose the series
The problem with Sales is that they increase the price and then discount it back to the original price or higher, but it LOOKS like its on sale even though its not.
That isn't always true. 😂I do a lot of "window shopping " and can tell if it's true or not. Do your research instead of hit and run believing lies. Jewelry is the WORST offender. Sometimes you can negotiate. Women are easy targets and as a woman I had to learn when a sale is a sale. I love Walmart , but it is an insult to see a markdown sign of- 1 cent or less then 10 cents
@@cordiagabert2573 I didn’t say it was always true. And I do do my own research. If you must know Kohls is probably one of the worst offenders as far as brick and mortar stores in at the very least my region of the country, but Amazon has been caught doing it more and more as well. Not everything is an opportunity for you to show off how high your horse is.
I'm from Massachusetts, we did the pledge of allegiance and also sang the American anthem every morning, my daughter is a junior in high school and they don't do it anymore they don't write cursive either but she still knows it, you're adorable I love your reactions to things we do in America keep up the great work I love your smile❤
Electoral votes are based off your number of congressmen per state. In congress, you have the senate and the house of Representatives. Senate is 2 per state and the house is based off your population, so every state automatically has at least 3 votes. I hope that helped you understand it a little because that's the best I can explain it
Nobody is forced to Pledge Allegiance to the flag. We do it voluntarily, even at club meetings, government meetings, and such. We love our country and want to respect it. (For the most part) But if you don't you don't have to participate. We also sing our national anthem a lot. Most sporting events begin with the National Anthem.
I find the advertisements about prescription drugs annoying because they literally take up half of all advertising on TV. It's not like it affects me though because I haven't had cable in years but it's mostly elderly people still watching TV which is why they have so many commercials.
The right to bear arms is written into the Constitution. It’s possible to change the Constitution, but it’s difficult. A President could not do that on their own. Even basic laws are not made by the President. Congress makes laws and the President then either signs them into law or vetoes them. But changing the Constitution is not the same as making a law.
While it is difficult to change the constitution it's not impossible. If you remember prohibition the 18th amendment (1919) outlawed booze and by 1933 everyone was so pissed that the 21st amendment legalized booze again. It's always been my thought that gun owners (I have several) need to get on board with sensible regulation or the no compromise stance of the gun lobby (manufacturers) will ruin it for everybody.
it's even harder for the first ten since they are considered a part of the Bill of Rights. A set of rights that are believed to be given to us by the Almighty himself or are at least a set of naturally born rights of mankind. Many believe, myself included, that to change or outright remove any Amendment of the Bill of Rights would be the ultimate failure of the Government whose duty is never to provide these rights, but to protect them from all forms of Tyranny.
@@Mike1000 "...sensible regulation.. "?! We have given ground and all the freedom haters want is more. The ultimate goal is complete civilian disarmament and every "sensible regulation" is another step in that direction. What is your idea of a "sensible regulation"?
@@Mike1000 Actually, the Senate proposed Prohibition. It passed in both Houses. The President vetoed it, but Congress was able to override him. They repealed Prohibition because it didn't work. Everything just went underground. And as an American, honestly, doesn't that make it way more fun?
@@everfree4175 Sensible regulation is any that slows down or prevents mass shootings. I believe gun owners (I'm included) are smart enough to fix a problem that we created. If we don't fix this someone will fix it for us.
Nothing wrong with having pride in your country and knowledge of his history. I taught for forty years and my classes not only broke down the pledge line by line but also the national anthem and several other patriotic songs and sayings.
As an American a fully stand for the pledge of allegiance in schools a lot of schools have taken it out and it has had a huge impact on American patriotism it's not that we think we are better than people when we have pride in America which some people will claim it is it's having pride in what we have accomplished and built as a country
I do remember that some kids would stand but not say the pledge because they were Jahova Witnesses. No one ever said anything about it. It was ok that they did this. My parents who were immigrants told us to say it because it was our country and we should be proud that we were born in the US. I remember my mom telling me that it was an honor to say the pledge of allegiance and that I should really think about the words I was saying.
@@MrBigBarrick There's nothing patriotic about forcing people to say the Pledge of Allegiance. It's about indoctrinating children at an early age. I know the Pledge doesn't ultimately mean anything but doing away with anything so inherently suggestive is a good thing in my mind. Just like we shouldn't be quoting the Ten Commandments in school, we shouldn't be saying the Pledge. School should be academic only, not political or religious.
@@bobbydigital8056 okay I'm not religious at all but if all you see is a religion in it there's the problem it's about bringing people together I'm making them feel as one except for what we got nowadays which is everyone at odds with each other hence the reason that one's been thinking of civil war and world war because no one can see eye to eye and I never said Force the kids I said I think it should be in schools now it's up to the parents and the child if they want to join in it doesn't take much to sing a 2-minute song before school
I moved to Okinawa from USA for years (military) and wasn’t concerned or offended by the size of anything. Food, cars, houses etc. it’s called respect~
Honestly, I think all US citizens should spend some time out of the country- respect is a dying art and the amount of people who never even leave their state is astonishing. (I think the stats are like 1/4 of US citizens never leave the country and 10% never leave their home state?) Nevermind the benefits of a second language for all stages of life.
@@megboyd2609 I also lived in Germany for seven years and traveled all of Europe and all of Asia so coming back to the US to me was actually extremely shocking on so many levels!
17:20 The weird health insurance thing is the colleges pull out life insurance on everyone so they can "claim" a loss if you die and don't complete your tuition so they can still get paid for what they assume you're worth to them. What's crazy is depending on the policy, they can actually towards the end, withdraw a large portion of that cash invested (that YOU paid for) and keep it for themselves, effectively sneaking themselves another 5 figures for you going there on top of the tuition you paid. Some large companies lately have been getting caught doing this with their employees.
The reason Americans won't give up that amendment is because they know what happened in other countries that did. Can you imagine how much worse lockdowns would have been without them? It is also a huge deterrent to other countries invading the U.S. and sadly, may be needed soon given all the people in over years and what they may be here to do.
@@monica-vz6xb it's because the guns are already here. If you take them away from law abiding citizens do you think the criminals will turn them in. You can make anything you want illegal but it never goes away it just goes underground.
I gotta cry BULL! I was never forced to say The Pledge of Allegiance. For sure today, no one is forced to say it. I knew kids who would stand up and put their hand over their heart and just stand there not saying anything because they thought it was tough or they were being a rebel. No one cared. It made me swell with pride to stand facing the flag and declaring my Allegiance. Most American businesses will give maternity leave and you do not need permission to go to the doctor you may need to bring in an excuse.
the month day year date format started in the UK and came over here. With this format the numbers get bigger as you go left to right (1-12, 1-31, 1- infinity). Also, the month is really the most important part of a date, as it is tied to the time of year, and thus the seasons. there is also in use, but to a much lesser extend a year/month/day format that is also used around the world. This format is more useful in databases than the other two.
It's even considered to count your change in the presence of the clerk. I felt so bad the first time I used Yen on Okinawa, because I got my change and was looking at the coins. I think the guy got I was just looking at the coins, but after looking at them for a minute I thought I made a terrible trespass.
I never hated this country, I just don’t worship it like the “patriotic” flag wavers in the South and West. I very much respect the government and the flag,- I don’t protest or burn the flag-but I don’t put the country on par with my worship of God. No, one cannot do both.
In ‘72 many of us as a protest of the war in VietNam would stand respectfully but not repeat the words to the pledge, we were asked to leave homeroom (a 10 minute pre-class at the start of school) and go the the library, which we peaceably did. We may have been stupid and stubborn kids but the typical high school administration were deeply part of Nixon group think and more than willing to tramp on our rights so that we wouldn’t spread the disease of being anti-war! Nobody has to say the pledge as long as one is willing to take the consequences! By ‘74 the war was lost and nobody gave a damn what we did, probably caused the start of disco music!! 😂
We aren't forced to pledge allegiance in the US but all the kids I went to school with took pride in our country so it was never an issue til recently when people hate our own country. If you want to sit it out they won't force you 😂. That would be a violation of our constitutional rights
Every day at school, not only did we do the pledge, but we also sang the national anthem, mixed with other patriotic songs(my country tis of thee, God bless America) We actually learned the history of why and how the songs were written. Of course there was a bigger emphasis on history, civics, and service
I had to laugh about the "West Virginia couldn't get it together" to incorporate the metric system 😅 because, when I was in 6th grade, I think, we started learning the metric system. Or tried to 🤦♀️ It didn't work, so it disappeared. I remember being very happy that it did
I graduated in 2015 and that I’m aware of yes they do still do the pledge. Yes they do make the kids stand up and say it every morning before school, sometimes you would get lucky and have a teacher let you get away with just standing up and facing the flag. Most teens after awhile find it slightly irritating mostly because it’s done first thing in the morning when they aren’t really awake yet.
The words “under God” were only added to the Pledge in 1954. We recited it every morning in school, hand over heart, while facing the flag (which was in every classroom).
As a classroom teacher in a school that says the pledge everyday, it is most definitely forced on most people. I would venture to add that most Americans could care less if kids say it everyday. It’s not respected when you are forced to say it daily.
[18:35] My first job in the US came with 6 weeks paid leave and every dollar of medical expenses covered. My current job gives me 5 weeks per year, plus an extra week of "wellness days" they added in lieu of a proper COLA last year, but the insurance isn't quite as gold-plated.
The reason we never converted to the Metric system was because it was so prohibitively expensive to retool the automotive and construction industries. Imagine having the 1979 Mustang using 1/4" bolts and the 1980 model using 7mm. Every repair shop would he required to buy 2 of everything. 😊
a lot of industrial stuff did switch to SI. I don't work in the computer industry (which I sometimes feel is a bad decision because I know how to program one), but my dad did, when I was growing up, here in Silicon Valley. He is an engineer, BSEE, and he did the white collar design work on magnetic storage; his name is on a couple patents (no royalties; they instead give you a high salary). I can tell you that for example, HDDs or SSDs are typically marketed as "2.5 inch" but all the blueprints for the drives are measured in mm. 🙂 And of course all scientific papers use SI. 🙂
The US auto industry switched to metric anyway in the ‘80s, for the vast majority of parts that the car is built from. There are a few items such as lug nuts, which ordinary consumers interact with, that stayed on US/imperial units.
They still could have changed it. I’m medical and we use the metric system with out meds and fluid counts. Regardless of the industry they should have changed it. The metric system is wayy easier to use.
I will NEVER vote for someone who wishes to take my right to carry weapons or who wants to censor my speech. I think it's wrong that places like Germany, and what's going on in Brtian right now, to jail someone for saying something others don't like. It's OUTRAGEOUS!
Absolutely 100% Thank you. I said something that offended someone when I was in Scotland and they tried to have me fined or detained. I was very offended by the "c" word that they were using after I said what I said, which was to support a Biblical concept, so their cussing and degrading was just as offensive but no one wanted to detain them. I was ASKED my opinion and gave it - - and they weren't happy. Well...."try that in a small town!"
In schools in my state, the pledge of allegiance is optional. It’s more of a social thing if you don’t do it. You’ll be seen as a disrespectful person or a troublemaker which just ruins your reputation so people just do it.
There’s federal laws against making students say the pledge. No student has to say the pledge if they don’t want to, or it’s a legal nightmare for teachers/administrators.
If you don't mind, what generation/region are you? There's so much discussion of experiences with the pledge in the comments and I'm wildly interested because some are so different from mine! I'm a millennial, did my schooling in Georgia, and sat out the pledge for several years in middle school and highschool because I was a goth and just, "like, didn't want to" lol. As long as I didn't interfere with anyone else doing their thing, I never got in any trouble or had any negative social repercussions. I think after 9/11 everything changed though, and there was definitely a different attitude about "sitting out" the pledge.
@@megboyd2609 I’m Gen Z (Highschool) and I’m from Massachusetts. The teachers and administrators hate when we don’t do the pledge, but if someone decides to not do it, they can’t do anything lol
