If you do what form do you teach it in? A lady at the library today was talking to a group of parents about how her child got in trouble last year for refusing to repeat the pledge of allegiance properly. Apparently they wanted this version from 1954 the one most use today... "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." And her child refused to say it instead using the original version from 1892.... "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
I teach it the way I was taught, "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."
This is the way we say it---we WANT to include God in it! We did the pledge when the kids were young, but haven't for awhile now.
We still say it once in a while so Babyboy will learn it. We use the 1954 version because that is the way I was taught and it is the way we say it in VBS.
I don't teach it, but my kids know it from AWANA. We say the first one. Or they say the first one since that's the one taught to them in AWANA. (I don't refuse to teach it or have anything against it...I just don't do it...since my kids know it, I just don't think much about it. I'm sure some will say that makes me a bad American but oh well.)
We haven't worked on it at home, but my boys are learning the 1954 version at our church kids club and things like VBS.
I think I'll display all three versions but I think I'm only going to teach the original version seeing how it was how it was meant to be said that way. I've not decided yet.
I honestly didn't know there were different versions. I know when I was a kid there was a rumor going around that the government was anti-God and wanted to remove that little phrase, but I think someone was probably truth-stretching a bit just to scare us kids?? Who knows! Anyway, I would've taught it this year, but I don't need to... it, along with counting to 10 in Spanish, are the ONLY two things he learned in his 4 MONTHS at preschool. LOL!!
It has been changed twice since the first was written. Also it wasn't until 1954 that section 4 of the flag code stated, "should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute." I mistyped earlier it was 1954 that the plege was changed. The reason for adding "one nation under god" into it was the following. "In 1954, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today. Bellamy's daughter objected to this alteration." http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm
I seem to be the only one who takes issue with repeating this at all. I said it all through ps and it wasn't until 8th grade that I noticed some people because of religious beliefs didn't say it. Let me break it down and tell you why I have a problem with it. I pledge allegiance to the flag, Um....shouldn't we pledge our allegiance to God not to a flag? I have no problem with our flag I just don't think we should pledge our allegiance to it. of the United States of America and to the republic we aren't a republic and haven't been for a loooonnnngggg time. for which it stands one nation under God hasn't the government removed God from us so that he really doesn't exist in "public"? How is our nation under God if we aren't allowed to discuss him in schools and other places? Why is it that we are not allowed to read the bible in schools but we can read it in prison? indivisible there are several states that are looking to secede from this nation because of what is happening to it. It's not indivisible. for liberty we don't have liberty. Sorry if that offends some of you but I really couldn't find a way to sugar coat it. and justice for all. What? Where is the justice? Don't get me wrong, I L-O-V-E this country. I just don't see why we need to say the pledge of allegiance. I don't teach it to my kids, but my son learned it in cub scouts. I don't have a problem with him learning it or people who say it. I just personally can't say it.
I have no problem saying the pledge of allegiance and I will continue to do so. I respect anyones decision not to say it, I just don't understand it.
I know there were alot of kids that said it and alot of kids that didn't some for religious purposes some because they thought it was against god some becaues it mentions god. I will teach my child the form in which it was intended. We are not religious so the involvement of god comes down to the individual person. If at a later date she feels that religion is something she needs in her life then we will pursue that path. Until then my job is to guide her academically and make sure she is a good person. JMO
Probably those that you noticed in school that did not say the Pledge of Allegiance were mostly Jehovah’s Witnesses with a few exceptions. As a Jehovah’s Witness, I will explain to my child what the Pledge is and why people say it but will not ask her to memorize it or anything like that. Here is some information on why we don’t say the Pledge of Allegiance in case you are wondering: Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that bowing down to a flag or saluting it, often in conjunction with an anthem, is a religious act that ascribes salvation, not to God, but to the State or to its leaders. (Isaiah 43:11; 1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21) One such leader was King Nebuchadnezzar of ancient Babylon. To impress the people with his majesty and religious ardor, this powerful monarch erected a great image and compelled his subjects to bow down to it while music, like an anthem, was being played. However, three Hebrews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—refused to bow to the image, even on pain of death.—Daniel, chapter 3. In our age, “nationalism’s chief symbol of faith and central object of worship is the flag,” wrote historian Carlton Hayes. “Men bare their heads when the flag passes by; and in praise of the flag poets write odes and children sing hymns.” Nationalism, he added, also has its “holy days,” such as the Fourth of July in the United States, as well as its “saints and heroes” and its “temples,” or shrines. In a public ceremony in Brazil, the minister general of the army acknowledged: “The flag is venerated and worshiped . . . just as the Fatherland is worshiped.” Yes, “the flag, like the cross, is sacred,” The Encyclopedia Americana once observed. The aforementioned encyclopedia more recently noted that national anthems “are expressions of patriotic feeling and often include an invocation for divine guidance and protection of the people or their rulers.” Jehovah’s servants are not being unreasonable, therefore, when they view patriotic ceremonies involving the flag salute and national anthems as religious. In fact, when commenting on the refusal of children of Jehovah’s Witnesses to give homage to the flag or to swear the oath of allegiance in U.S. schools, the book The American Character stated: “That these daily rituals are religious has been at last affirmed by the Supreme Court in a series of cases.” While not joining in ceremonies that they view as unscriptural, Jehovah’s people certainly respect the right of others to do so. They also respect national flags as emblems and recognize duly constituted governments as “superior authorities” serving as “God’s minister.” (Romans 13:1-4) Hence, Jehovah’s Witnesses heed the exhortation to pray “concerning kings and all those who are in high station.” Our motive, though, is “in order that we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with full godly devotion and seriousness.”—1 Timothy 2:2.
In our school it was Muslims who did not say it. We had a large Muslim population which became a problem when things like that were said. When I refused to stand and say (I'm not Muslim by the way) it I was sent to the office and given detention, which I refused to go to. I refused to say it because I don't believe in the "one nation under god" part. I want my child to have respect for her country and for the way things such as the pledge were intended. The "one nation under god" part was a reaction to the cold war and rise of communism in other countries. I think it has no place in our pledge of allegiance. I know that many disagree with me and that is fine. The gentleman that wrote it was a man of god and even he didn't add in the part about god. He didn't find it necessary. The relationship one has with their maker is a bond that is personal and I personally feel doesn't have a place in the pledge one takes with their country. JMO
My kids say it. We do the 1954 version. We have a small flag in our classroom, and the kids stand, cover their hearts, and recite the pledge. I have explained to them what the pledge means and why we recite it.
our girls know it and say it but we also say the Christian flag, and pledge to the Bible as well, I do respect others who do not.
We taught the Pledge of Allegience back in the begining, because it was part of our us history curriculuim. We have since lagged from it and do it at assemblies or with the rest of the people at events we go to. We did teach our kids that this is likepromising to stand up for our country, which I think God would agree is a good thing to do. especially when our civil liberties get threatened. and it does say one nation UNDER GOD, for a pupose, it keeps things in perspective if it is taught correctly. I think my kids understand that it is just a symbol that stands for freedom in our country, tells what our nation is all about and represents to the rest of the world our team colors so to speak.
