THE PLEDGE OF ALEGANCE(duh duh) Ok, well my name is Ashlynne Erickson,I am one of Jehovah's witness's and as such we do not say the pledge of alegance,whether it be in school, at a baseball game,or anywhere.Our reason for this is that we do not pledge our alligance to anything or but God. Some people say" it is under God " in the pledge it says " i pledge my allingance to THE FLAG of the United States of America " But we still show respect for the flag and stand up while it is being said.
Since I moved away all through Middle School, my first day of High School was really fun. I got to see all of my Elementary School friends grown up, which is really weird for some people.
the world is too connected via internet and technology to really be proud of your own country because we hear about everyone else...or something like that.
as a 16 year old american im going to say that being patriotic is kind of....hate to say it but...dorky...
I think reciting the Pledge has lost it's importance in our generation (for the most part). When I was in high school people had stopped saying it when they stood up, and most people didn't even stand anymore.
As for the "Under God" part...I'm not even sure why it's in there. Because Lincoln said it in his Address and that's what set it apart from any other address? That's what I got from the wiki entry but I don't know.
The idea of a pledge is foreign to me, and the "under God" part would never work in Sweden, as we by law arn't allowed to mix religion with government and school.
Swedes love to complain about Sweden and everything about the country but we all turn patriotic in discusssions like this.
I don't have a problem with the pledge, but I think it should be a little more rare so it will be considered more important.
I think that this generation is meerly different in expressing it's patriotism, even to the extent of riduculing using the term patriotism while still living up to it. Whether the previous generation would consider this to be contrary to what they call patriotic is something you would have to ask them.
I think I am patriotic but just in a totally different way than my grand/parents. I care more about idealism and IDEAS than actions and trying to fix a situation. That might change as I get older. That's why I vote third party, which my parents totally can't understand. For me, that's patriotism. Like the USA well enough and speaking up when we screw up and speaking my mind by voting third party.
As per the "under God" part, well, I think we are under God but I know most of my friends would disagree or be uncomfortable with that idea. Why can't some of us say "under God" and some of us not?
I am currently in high school, and I choose not to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Not because I'm too lazy to haul my ass out of my chair, but because I feel that enforced and strictly routine acts of patriotism take away from the desired impact. If I want to show that I love my country, I'll find my own ways to do so instead of by blandly reciting words that have been drilled into my head since the first grade.
i think real patriotism is fine. Like the real patriots when the word first got coined. Patriots were people who fought for THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS, not for the betterment of the government but for the betterment of themselves and their fellowman.
Now a days being a patriot means having a 1000 foot flag pool outside your house and believe whatever your backwards government tells you to believe. I don't think that kind of patriotism is the kind I'd like to be associated with.
I've found in recent years that I'm more bothered by my generations lack of patriotism than I used to be. In fact I didn't used to be very patriotic. Me being patriotic has nothing to do with blindness of its faults, how it was founded or what kind of people it holds. Now that I no longer live in the US I've found that this popular nonpatriotism is really very trite and it's own form of blindness. Being patriotic is about loving and wanting to better your country, community and fellow people.
cont..."One Nation Under God" will not be abolished I believe because 76.5% (159 million) identify themselves as Christian in the United States. Some polls even show up to 85% of the population. However I do believe that with all the anti- Christian beliefs growing, the Christian population will decrease. You can't go by what you hear from the entertainment industry concerning their beliefs either. The entertainment population tends to be more liberal.
If you look up the word "Patriotism" in the dictionary it means: The love of one's country. So you would hope most American's love the country that they live in. I know I do. Just like people from other countries love theirs. I don't think that this generation is any different than past generations concerning patriotism. You have those who show their patriotism through actions and those who go along with what seems cool at the moment. But every generation has its own.
I think that I am definitely less patriotic than, at least, my Grandparents were at my age. I think taking pride in your country is fine, but when put above all other countries, it can cause some problems. Patriotism, or really devotion to any large group, makes conflict more likely, as the group will usually feel the need to improve themselves more than to help others.
I don't feel comfortable saying the pledge of allegiance, so I don't. It wouldn't be true if I said it.
I don't feel less patriotic, but I feel more respectful of other beliefs. It's not that I don't support my country, but it doesn't mean other countries don't deserve support, too. Same with religion.
Personally, I don't feel any sort of connection between my country and myself. I never really understood if there was a "deeper meaning" or purpose to being patriotic. It's almost like supporting your favorite football team. Sure, I like the U.S and I care about its affairs, but I certainly don't see any point in requiring schools to recite the pledge of allegiance every monday morning. The Pledge holds no meaning to me, nor do the borders that separate one country from another.
#1- I think our generation is generally less patriotic than the ones that came before us. Because of our more globalized view, we tend to look beyond our geo-political borders and be open to new cultures, ideas and ideals. I like to think and hope that our generation is starting to break down the 'Us vs. Them' mentality and I'm hoping that patriotism stays at a healthy level where we will not be hesitant to reach out to the less fortunate, no matter what country they come from.
I think patriotism is a good thing, but it is hard to feel patriotic when it's hard for our us to find jobs out of college. I think the people who are most patriotic are those who work hard and see the American system work for them and their families. Our generation hasn't really been successful with this yet because of the current economy and our youth.
people stand up for the pledge when it comes on the morning announcments but nobody is very enthusiastic about it. I think now its more like a rountine than anything else. Everyone says it but they don't understand what the words mean, its just something they do.
And I think that patriotism was more of a stronger feeling and word when at time of wars. Like the world wars or even before when the countries that we know now didn't even exist yet.
Now, oblivious to some sad things that are happening in some parts of the world, we have more of a global view and we connect to foreigners easier and so we don't have that urge to hate whoever isn't from our country or love only ours and its ways etc.
I consider myself to be very patriotic. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy other countries and other ways of living. I'm portuguese, and we have that love hate thing about our country. We say we hate everything about it but deep down we love it and we can unite to become better. I've experienced that already many times and that's what I love about patriotism.
I am German, and for us Germans, patriotism is a really delicate subject. I've never learned the national anthem of Germany nor do I know of any pledge of alligiance. I don't think that I ever felt patriotic, I am excited when Germany does good in sporting events and I care about what is going on, but I never felt any kind of pride for being German. I believe it doesn't matter where someone was born, it matters what a person does.
I think that our Pledge of Alligiance is only a little bit outdated, but still is very beautiful in language and notion. I think that we haven't really changed it because it somewhat symbolizes what we were and are now. I'm pretty patriotic. I love my country and consider myself extremely lucky to live here. And honestly, I have noticed a difference in patriotism, but I can't really find a reason why we are not as inclined to be outwardly patriotic. Still, I think America is pretty darn cute.
I don't really think much about the pledge besides the fact that I used to think it was against the law to not do it. Since starting
highschool I've learned that it's not actually required to do it anymore, so whenever the pledge comes on during homeroom I stayed seated and don't bother getting up along with the rest of my homeroom. I being totally serious when I say that NO ONE stands for the pledge in my homeroom at all. .
Along with that our homeroom teacher doesn't even enforce us to stand or say the pledge, too. She just sits at her desk and is preoccupied with whatever she's working on on her computer.
Now with that said, I guess you could say that my homeroom of 30 highschool juniors isn't very patriotic at all. I don't think it's very fair for me to say this, but I think my generation as a whole does lack patriotism. The reason why I say it's not fair is I'm just baseing it off of how my homeroom acts when the pladge comes on. Only it's not like 9yrs ago after 9/11 when everyone was waving american flags around everplace you went to.
It's seems like the all the patriotism we had back then has faded over the past couple of years. Now it's as if it only makes an appearance every 4th of July.
Being Canadian we dont have a pledge, however, living in America and watching some people argue over a three letter word is quite sad.
Many people believe that the word God goes hand in hand with Christianity and it does but it doesnt. The right to say the pledge or not is what people forget, you dont have to say it. People dont mind sining God Bless America but have trouble saying Under God or In God We trust, you dont have to say it, Freedom of Speach.
here here *raises mug* That is what I say, people complain too much about the term God because they form some concrete definition in their own mind and totally forget the fact that other people have other definitions for the word, then they argue over semantics and meanings and claim that the other side is brainwashing yadda yadda yadda..
I doubt it's no coincidence that americans have been dumbed down over the years when it comes to those matters.
In regards to hs, Ayala = teh huge. Oddly enough, I started there a few months before you did, and I was moving in from out of state. That was interesting... But at my last HS, I did what you did, and was involved in sports before I started. Getting involved helps so much when starting out in school like that. Sports/extracurricular = good for many reasons.
Pledge of allegiance- just take out "under god," already. Less hassle. However, it's not 1950 anymore, and the red scare is gone, so there's no need to pledge allegiance to the flag, as far as I'm concerned. I could get into more on it, but I'll leave it at that.
I agree with what was mentioned before. Younger generations seem to be more passive as in what the gov't is doing and just sort of roll on over, and I blame that mostly on the ignorance in indoctrination that schools are, now.
I believe that we are differently patriotic. Patriotism is good in many ways (unity) while it also can lead to many negative concepts (supernationalism). I believe that instead of hating our country we should just strive to make it better.
It's not that most people of our generation are unpatriotic, it's just that a lot of them are quick to express dissatisfaction with the government and the decisions our elected officials make. I'm the same way, but aside from any qualms I have with the way things are run, I'm pretty pleased with America, and I'd say I'm pretty patriotic.
Its quite interesting how America links patrotism and religion so freely, the 'Civil Religion' that occurs in america is really unlike that of anywhere else. In england society is becoming much more secular and I think, as do many others, that its wrong to make primary school kids pray to god at the end of assemblies but i suppose in america they dont pray to just god they pray to America as a god... hmmm....
The bad part or patriotism is blindly following and agreeing with our country's leaders no matter what. The good part is realizing how lucky you are to live in a country with a much higher quality of life than most other countries.
I also don't like the "under god" line added to the pledge. The separation of church and state and freedom of religious beliefs (or lack thereof) is violated by adding it.
the pledge is an odd one. I've never felt comfortable saying it and whether that's because of my upbringing or b/c of the shit I was aware of and witnessing at a young age that was going on with the gov't, I don't know (though it does seem all connected. I mean, how else would I become aware of it other than a talkative mother? thanks mom). in any case, middle school was the first place it was required of me to say it everyday. to make a not very long story shorter, I ended up having to go ...
... through legal riggermerol with the principal so I didn't have to stand. it was all rather pathetic. I guess part of my issue with it was not really knowing a gov't without a bush... and ~really~ not wanting to be a part of that.
I think as a citizen of the world I reserve the right to form an opinion on the country I happen to reside in, be it my choice or not (in my case, I was born here). I feel that something like the Pledge of Allegiance strongly insists that I should just love the country, regardless of said right that I believe I deserve to have.
As for the critically acclaimed "under god" that comes attached to the pledge, I feel it to be rude. There are people who believe in god, and there are people who don't.
@TheDevCamExperience I'm in 100% agreement that we have the right to form opinions, but doesn't the Pledge say more than what you've pointed out?
To me, it is a pledge to the Republic, and therefore to the people. THAT's what I'm invested in -- loving my fellow citizens -- not blindly loving a government I don't always agree with. I guess I just don't understand where you're coming from, and how you see what you do in the Pledge. I'm sincerely curious though.
Well, as a matter of fact in my first grade class I asked the teacher why we say under god (i had a crush on a girl that had an atheist family, so I recognized at an early age that there were other kinds of religious beliefs outside my household), and my first grade teacher criticized me and just said "I think you should just show everyone that you love the country and not wonder about those kind of things". I think that might contribute to why I instinctively view the pledge like that.
Wow, that's quite a crappy teacher. The beauty of the Pledge as I see it is that it's meant to uphold the ideals of a liberated republic, even if our government really sucks at upholding those itself sometimes. And that means ALWAYS wondering about those things, and always questioning them and the leaders who put them in place.
I don't think that line should be in the Pledge by any means, but I think it's worth it to look at the rest of the credo as well. It's what you make of it, I guess.
I don't think in god we trust should be in the pledge, since government and religion are supposed to be separate and we represent many different religions and cultures in America. Overall I think this generation is less patriotic but in the sense that we represent more of a global community then our parents did before us. Less of a America rocks everyone else sucks attitude I think we saw a lot. Patriotism is great unless you start thinking down on others simply because they dont come from here.
How about we replace in god we trust with, in morality and good will we trust, or something to that effect, in altruism we trust? That way we still have the desires to be good (which God is supposed to represent, but now there are so many other ideas about God out there.) without stepping on the toes of all those who don't believe in "God"
I just read your comment and I kinda understand what you mean. I'm not english but i was born in England and I'm very much brithish; the whole patriotism thing has always confused me.
I think you have to feel like you belong to be patriotic and i'v never had that. The only time I'v felt patriotic is when I watch an England football (soccer) game.
And england in general sees patriotism as a little bit cheesy to be honest! (IMO anyway).
Yeah one definitely has to FEEL like you belong in a country and more and more people are living in countries they don't come from. Maybe patriotism to your family is overtaking the old patriotism!? In sports well football anyway its not always English people playing for England anyways is it? Well that's what I thought I'm not sure anyways its all slightly more complex these days I think.
I like that way of looking at things, feel like you belong to a country, or a group, that would be patriotic enough for me. I am a Patriotic NerdFighter. Niftywootawesomeface.
I think people can be patriotic in different ways. However, it's hard for me to compare myself to those that came before, as I learned my version of patriotism from my 60's activist father and my very liberal WWII soldier and P.O.W. grandfather. We all tend to think the pledge is a rather silly thing. It's silly to insist that it be said (with or without "under God") and its silly to get so very heated up over it either way. It's a non-issue argument that distracts from more important things.
That was pretty much my experience going into high school, too. That's just one of the reasons why band is awesome. =)
I'm not really crazy about the word "patriotism." I think it's one of those words that has lost meaning over time. I love my country and want what's best for it. But I'm not big on the whole flag-waving pledge-saying patriotism that we seem really into these days. That seems to reflect a rather narrow definition of the word, adverse to debate on how to make the country better.
I think that our generation is patriotic in a different way. Or, at least, some of us are. I have met quite a few who don't care, but excluding them, the situation is best summarized with a quote by Howard Zinn,
"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
I've seen this generation criticize and be outright angry at what politicians have done. I believe this comes from how much we care.
Yeah, I'm not a fan of the pledge, I refuse to do it in the mornings of my school day, it's not that I don't like this country, it's just that the pledge is poorly written, and very narrow minded.
The biggest part about it that should be changed/removed is the "under god" part, not everyone who goes to school believe in a god, so you shouldn't have to speak of him/her/it.
I don't exactly think being patriotic is good, it kinda makes it seem like you only care for your own place.postlimitreach
Im all about respect. If you dont want to say the pledge that is fine, but be respectful and sit quietly while it is being done.
I love the US and I get upset when people from other countries bash on us. I get upset because I respect their countries and who they are, so why cant they respect mine. People have this image of Americans being evil and extremely stupid at the same time. But I dont generalize stereotypes of other countries onto people I meet from those countries.
Personally, from the looks of the comments already here, It looks like there are many varying definitions of the word patriotism and the concept of being a patriot or being patriotic. Keeping this in mind, I can understand and agree with the reasons why people say what they have said. Also, because I can understand other people's view of the Phrase "Under God" and the connotation that comes with the Word "God" I can understand their reasons for not liking the part "Under God" in the Pledge.
However, and that is a big However, I have different understandings and connotations attached to the terms, Patriotic and God. Because of my understanding of these two terms, I cannot agree with everything said.
So first off... Patriotism. In my mind, Patriotism is not blind obedience and obsequiousness to the government, nor is it saying, My country is better than your country. I call those kinds of attitudes ignorant pride.
In my mind, Patriotism is standing for ideals. We have a pretty good document full of Ideals, it is called the Constitution. In my mind, because I stand for that constitution and for the ideals that it holds, I am a patriot and I am patriotic. When I wave the flag, I am not waving it for the president of the united states, or the local governor, I wave it for the ideals that it stands for.
I try to help people become better, and to stop being hateful and hurtful to their neighbors, friends, brothers and sisters. I am trying to make the place I live a better place to live. I try to support and defend the ideals that I believe in. Therefor I am patriotic in my mind.
Second off... I have a slightly different understanding of the term God then most people. Since the semantics have changed, they might as well have changed that phrase to Under a Belief in Goodness. But I am not offended by the phrase Under God, because to me God is just a general term of what you believe, and for some, what you believe to be perfect.
Some people believe in science, so, science is in essence their God, (please don't take that phrase to be offensive.) Some people believe in Allah, Allah is their God. Some people believe in themselves, they are their own God. But hey, I am just one person, and I don't really care what you all do with the pledge, as long as you continue to strive to live according to a clean conscience, then that is pretty good by me.
I think a person ought to be proud of themselves, not the group/country they belong to. Being proud of your group pits you against others who are not in your group. We see this in countries, religions, and political parties. Plus, liking yourself purely for yourself feels so much better than liking yourself for inclusion in a group.
I'm British, we don't have to pledge any kind of allegiance, and I think it makes a difference. Because we're not really obliged to feel patriotic, often we do anyway. Also, the UK being comprised of a number of different countries, there's a certain level of competition involved. Scotland (my country) and England being the best examples.
If we were all told that we HAD to love our country, I imagine we'd feel less inclined to.
Also, a factor... we don't mix religion with politics. Period.
I would say that our generation is more patriotic or seems to be more patriotic because of the attacks nine years ago come September.
I personally stopped saying the Pledge back in high school because I was displeased with the policies of the administration that was representing the US abroad.
I, sir, am not a narrow demographic. But I digress, I think we as a nation have evolved away from the flag waving outwardly symbolic forms of patriotism. I see nothing wrong with the pledge as its a tradition but we're still evolving and becoming more subtle.
i dont like saying the pledge; i also disagree with the "under God" part. as a nation we should be more open to other religions, counties, and cultures. So patriotism isnt really that important to me, i like to look more at the bigger picture of the world. But i do have opinions about issues going on here.but we really should be working more together
Besides the whole "Under God" part, which even then, I'm fine with, I've always thought reciting the Pledge of Allegiance was a good thing. In my homeroom class one year, only me and my teacher would ever stand and actually put our hands over our hearts. I think it just shows respect for the country I live in. I do notice that a lot of people around me don't really show patriotism, and I think that's a little sad. But such is life.
I realize that people in the comments section are saying that patriotism is racism, extremism, hatred, ...etc, but the fact remains that America was formed out of a desire to make a community that freed people to worship God or any religious system that is out there. It seems to me that Christianity is being muscled out of our society. The fact remains that the builders of this country were religious men of different colors and to try to erase that is the same as saying slavery never happened...
Well, I define a patriot as someone who will actively and strongly support their country and be willing to defend it. Defending things based on where you were born is stupid and borderline racist, but defending ideals isn't. It is good to defend what you believe in (within reason) but nationality shouldn't be one of those things.
Also, as a UK citizen I think the pledge of elegience is stupid in general, and "under god" is wrong. A pledge has a place though - the military.
I am Swedish and very happy to live in a somewhat socialist country. Protecting the country if someone were to try and change that is something I can agree with, while attacking a country for its oil etc, and calling that patriotism is nothing short of idiotic.
And I don't think god should ever have anything to do with politics. Or war.
The pledge must have sounded different to different generations. Imagine you were a southern survivor of the Civil war. (one nation indivisible?) or a recent immigrant from Poland (to the flag of the United States).
I remember a few people used to get on my case when I refused to do the pledge of allegiance at school. Not only does the "under god" bother me (being an atheist & knowing we are in a diverse country), but the "with justice and liberty for all". The hypocrisy kills me.
Am I patriotic? Hmm, tough question. I was born & raised in the US and have been living in my parents' home country for 2 and a half years. I feel like I have sort of a split personality.
I think its unhealthy to associate ourselves so strongly to a country. Its tough to describe what I mean by this, but heres an example: my father is very patriotic when it comes to his country (Portugal). He goes to the point of insulting Spain, constantly talking about the wars weve been through with them, etc. This is ridiculous. It is not okay.
To be patriotic, in my eyes, is not to talk shit of other countries and think your own is the greatest, etc. Theres no need to wave your flag around in others faces. If one is truly patriotic, then one does his best to make his country a better place in his eyes. Im referring more to Americans here: if Americans want to be patriotic then they better vote, they better fight for this equality and liberty they say they believe in.
I hope this is coherent, Im not very used to discussing things like this. Sometimes my ideas are very blurry and I cant get them across too well, so I hope this makes some sense.
(Jesus, Michael, I've never left a comment..er, comments... like this before and I've never even thought of some of these things. Thanks for the discussion, I guess? XD)
I am one of the only people in my school who voluntarily stand up with their hand on their heart and recite the pledge. (While I say the words, I don't believe "under G-d" should be included.)
I think that much of our youth doesn't recite the pledge because they feel a sort of animosity toward government. And rightfully so; I feel the same way. But I don't think we can move forward if we don't work together as a united nation. I guess my patriotism lies more in the people than the government.
I think the meaning of patriotism at least in the USA is to question government and want to change government for the better in order to serve the people. Over the last 80+ years the perception of USA patriotism has been twisted into blindly loving and following your government.
I personally feel patriotism is just another path that leads to racism and conflict, we're all on this world for a temporary time, so why be proud of some earth and dirt labelled a country??
Isn't there a difference between patriotism and nationalism, though? I'm patriotic, but I feel no reason for that to cause conflict with other countries.
The label of "country," regarding patriotism, refers more to the citizens than to the earth they live on. I love "my people," not the land mass that makes up America. Patriotism can be a way to unite a population to get things done more efficiently and effectively. And if we've got limited time on this world, isn't that worth it?
trust me patriotism causes conflict, if it isn't thru ownership of land arnd country borders with another country then its about football or some other pathetic reason.
wen u say ur "people" that only is prtty biased and racist, i mean, so ud love ur "ppl" regardless of whether theyre criminals and rapist and wat not?
I am not a citizen of the United States of America so I cannot speak about the idea of patriotism you guys up there in the north have (Which is kind of obsesive and extremist as some people here view it) but about the words "Under God"... I found that those words are kind of discriminatory to people who either dont believe in a god or believe in another type of god...
So I am half Danish half Swiss born in Germany and lived in England the majority of my life. Since I've always planned to move country I don't think I get patriotism at all. Although I'm proud of certain things in England I seriously think patriotism has completely died out for mixed nationality people like me
I wish I could feel comfortable being patriotic and know which country to believe in but I don't belong to any of them properly ?! I think that is kindof the truth for people in similar situations
I think its crazy how people talk right through the pledge in school. I say it, and I think I'm patriotic, but I can't say so for the people I go to school with.
Hehe...marching band...
NinjaPotato01 3 months ago
I'm in marching band ♥
Gamerlol22 5 months ago
your hair looks really cool in this vid:)
samwow10v3 6 months ago
How much would i have to pay you for those awesometastic Mike Shinoda paintings!!! Would really like them!! ♥♥♥
MyrandaIsSoAwesome 7 months ago
Comment removed
charlieismylovelike 1 year ago
THE PLEDGE OF ALEGANCE(duh duh) Ok, well my name is Ashlynne Erickson,I am one of Jehovah's witness's and as such we do not say the pledge of alegance,whether it be in school, at a baseball game,or anywhere.Our reason for this is that we do not pledge our alligance to anything or but God. Some people say" it is under God " in the pledge it says " i pledge my allingance to THE FLAG of the United States of America " But we still show respect for the flag and stand up while it is being said.
ashes9able 1 year ago
Since I moved away all through Middle School, my first day of High School was really fun. I got to see all of my Elementary School friends grown up, which is really weird for some people.
BruckThatsMe 1 year ago
What numbers are on your Mike Shinoda giclee prints?
dolphinrlser2 2 years ago
the world is too connected via internet and technology to really be proud of your own country because we hear about everyone else...or something like that.
as a 16 year old american im going to say that being patriotic is kind of....hate to say it but...dorky...
Navs1231 2 years ago
patriotism=good
nationalism=BAD+ one cause of WWI
thepurplequeenling 2 years ago
dont say the word peers.
*shudder*
thepurplequeenling 2 years ago
yeah im not very patriotic at all lol
I don't really care that much about july fourth or anything
BriIsTheFinestCheese 2 years ago
yay for preparedness! haha
BriIsTheFinestCheese 2 years ago
Marching Band FTW!!! What instrument did you play?
animeluvergurl9 2 years ago 5
I think reciting the Pledge has lost it's importance in our generation (for the most part). When I was in high school people had stopped saying it when they stood up, and most people didn't even stand anymore.
As for the "Under God" part...I'm not even sure why it's in there. Because Lincoln said it in his Address and that's what set it apart from any other address? That's what I got from the wiki entry but I don't know.
kaylaTRON 2 years ago
USA!! USA!! USA!!
corkie5555 2 years ago
The idea of a pledge is foreign to me, and the "under God" part would never work in Sweden, as we by law arn't allowed to mix religion with government and school.
Swedes love to complain about Sweden and everything about the country but we all turn patriotic in discusssions like this.
AllyRegins 2 years ago
love the bunny and fish art! amazing! (though all these posts about the background does not mean we're not listening to your video)
Cinderella7865 2 years ago
where did you get your art!! me <3 thumbs up to the artist
xxluvluvalicatxx 2 years ago
They are giclee prints of Mike Shinoda's [from the band Linkin Park] art work. :)
dolphinrlser2 2 years ago
OMG are those Mike Shinoda paintings?
LayneSykora 2 years ago
I don't have a problem with the pledge, but I think it should be a little more rare so it will be considered more important.
I think that this generation is meerly different in expressing it's patriotism, even to the extent of riduculing using the term patriotism while still living up to it. Whether the previous generation would consider this to be contrary to what they call patriotic is something you would have to ask them.
tiailds 2 years ago
I love you hair..but it looks like you have a mild case of ginger..and it's spreading
JoyKathleeen 2 years ago
Love the artwork behind you. Jay Ryan?
I think I am patriotic but just in a totally different way than my grand/parents. I care more about idealism and IDEAS than actions and trying to fix a situation. That might change as I get older. That's why I vote third party, which my parents totally can't understand. For me, that's patriotism. Like the USA well enough and speaking up when we screw up and speaking my mind by voting third party.
sarvigirl 2 years ago
(over the limit :P)
As per the "under God" part, well, I think we are under God but I know most of my friends would disagree or be uncomfortable with that idea. Why can't some of us say "under God" and some of us not?
sarvigirl 2 years ago
In regard to the pledge:
I am currently in high school, and I choose not to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Not because I'm too lazy to haul my ass out of my chair, but because I feel that enforced and strictly routine acts of patriotism take away from the desired impact. If I want to show that I love my country, I'll find my own ways to do so instead of by blandly reciting words that have been drilled into my head since the first grade.
hannahequalsnerd 2 years ago
woo! I have the same deal, minus the marching band, go cross country!
Noobie295 2 years ago
YEAAH cross country!!
yazmiona 2 years ago
I don't like our national anthem particularly because it's so gory, but i guess thats how we got our independence. So yeah.
johnzsinferno 2 years ago
i think real patriotism is fine. Like the real patriots when the word first got coined. Patriots were people who fought for THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS, not for the betterment of the government but for the betterment of themselves and their fellowman.
Now a days being a patriot means having a 1000 foot flag pool outside your house and believe whatever your backwards government tells you to believe. I don't think that kind of patriotism is the kind I'd like to be associated with.
WTFROSE 2 years ago
Email Stefen the intro, he needs it lol
I think we are patriotic in different ways, I think its silly putting a belief in a legislation.
keithzworld 2 years ago
i dont like people who are to patriotic... well, i'm canadian, so i don't know about americans....
MaxLalib 2 years ago
I've found in recent years that I'm more bothered by my generations lack of patriotism than I used to be. In fact I didn't used to be very patriotic. Me being patriotic has nothing to do with blindness of its faults, how it was founded or what kind of people it holds. Now that I no longer live in the US I've found that this popular nonpatriotism is really very trite and it's own form of blindness. Being patriotic is about loving and wanting to better your country, community and fellow people.
VlettersFromAnAuPair 2 years ago
cont..."One Nation Under God" will not be abolished I believe because 76.5% (159 million) identify themselves as Christian in the United States. Some polls even show up to 85% of the population. However I do believe that with all the anti- Christian beliefs growing, the Christian population will decrease. You can't go by what you hear from the entertainment industry concerning their beliefs either. The entertainment population tends to be more liberal.
jeanreiter 2 years ago
If you look up the word "Patriotism" in the dictionary it means: The love of one's country. So you would hope most American's love the country that they live in. I know I do. Just like people from other countries love theirs. I don't think that this generation is any different than past generations concerning patriotism. You have those who show their patriotism through actions and those who go along with what seems cool at the moment. But every generation has its own.
jeanreiter 2 years ago
I think that I am definitely less patriotic than, at least, my Grandparents were at my age. I think taking pride in your country is fine, but when put above all other countries, it can cause some problems. Patriotism, or really devotion to any large group, makes conflict more likely, as the group will usually feel the need to improve themselves more than to help others.
I don't feel comfortable saying the pledge of allegiance, so I don't. It wouldn't be true if I said it.
Sunblam 2 years ago
I don't feel less patriotic, but I feel more respectful of other beliefs. It's not that I don't support my country, but it doesn't mean other countries don't deserve support, too. Same with religion.
Tatamina 2 years ago
@SomeOddlyFairTales In my area we say it every single school morning. Ever. *Dies of forced patriotism*
LuvlyCrazy 2 years ago
patriotism, not nationalism.
laurride288 2 years ago
keep under god in the peldge
thefluffy7 2 years ago
Personally, I don't feel any sort of connection between my country and myself. I never really understood if there was a "deeper meaning" or purpose to being patriotic. It's almost like supporting your favorite football team. Sure, I like the U.S and I care about its affairs, but I certainly don't see any point in requiring schools to recite the pledge of allegiance every monday morning. The Pledge holds no meaning to me, nor do the borders that separate one country from another.
SomeOddlyFairTales 2 years ago
in the year 2000......
xT137 2 years ago
erMICHAEL!WhatHaveYouDonetoEveryoneAaah!so many opinions!
linatina123 2 years ago
#1- I think our generation is generally less patriotic than the ones that came before us. Because of our more globalized view, we tend to look beyond our geo-political borders and be open to new cultures, ideas and ideals. I like to think and hope that our generation is starting to break down the 'Us vs. Them' mentality and I'm hoping that patriotism stays at a healthy level where we will not be hesitant to reach out to the less fortunate, no matter what country they come from.
TheVlogSister 2 years ago
The most patriotic I've ever felt was after 9/11.
I think patriotism is a good thing, but it is hard to feel patriotic when it's hard for our us to find jobs out of college. I think the people who are most patriotic are those who work hard and see the American system work for them and their families. Our generation hasn't really been successful with this yet because of the current economy and our youth.
humiliat3dGrape 2 years ago
people stand up for the pledge when it comes on the morning announcments but nobody is very enthusiastic about it. I think now its more like a rountine than anything else. Everyone says it but they don't understand what the words mean, its just something they do.
ashfangirl 2 years ago
And I think that patriotism was more of a stronger feeling and word when at time of wars. Like the world wars or even before when the countries that we know now didn't even exist yet.
Now, oblivious to some sad things that are happening in some parts of the world, we have more of a global view and we connect to foreigners easier and so we don't have that urge to hate whoever isn't from our country or love only ours and its ways etc.
killursorrow 2 years ago 2
I consider myself to be very patriotic. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy other countries and other ways of living. I'm portuguese, and we have that love hate thing about our country. We say we hate everything about it but deep down we love it and we can unite to become better. I've experienced that already many times and that's what I love about patriotism.
At the same time I can't wait to get out of here.
killursorrow 2 years ago 2
I am German, and for us Germans, patriotism is a really delicate subject. I've never learned the national anthem of Germany nor do I know of any pledge of alligiance. I don't think that I ever felt patriotic, I am excited when Germany does good in sporting events and I care about what is going on, but I never felt any kind of pride for being German. I believe it doesn't matter where someone was born, it matters what a person does.
definitelyoverrated 2 years ago 2
I think that our Pledge of Alligiance is only a little bit outdated, but still is very beautiful in language and notion. I think that we haven't really changed it because it somewhat symbolizes what we were and are now. I'm pretty patriotic. I love my country and consider myself extremely lucky to live here. And honestly, I have noticed a difference in patriotism, but I can't really find a reason why we are not as inclined to be outwardly patriotic. Still, I think America is pretty darn cute.
tinabeaan 2 years ago 2
if I could give you two thumbs up I would. I guess that is a big part of patriotism, to be happy you are alive and thankful for where you are living.
vasniltere 2 years ago
I don't really think much about the pledge besides the fact that I used to think it was against the law to not do it. Since starting
highschool I've learned that it's not actually required to do it anymore, so whenever the pledge comes on during homeroom I stayed seated and don't bother getting up along with the rest of my homeroom. I being totally serious when I say that NO ONE stands for the pledge in my homeroom at all. .
Listhebeastblah 2 years ago
Along with that our homeroom teacher doesn't even enforce us to stand or say the pledge, too. She just sits at her desk and is preoccupied with whatever she's working on on her computer.
Listhebeastblah 2 years ago
Now with that said, I guess you could say that my homeroom of 30 highschool juniors isn't very patriotic at all. I don't think it's very fair for me to say this, but I think my generation as a whole does lack patriotism. The reason why I say it's not fair is I'm just baseing it off of how my homeroom acts when the pladge comes on. Only it's not like 9yrs ago after 9/11 when everyone was waving american flags around everplace you went to.
Listhebeastblah 2 years ago
It's seems like the all the patriotism we had back then has faded over the past couple of years. Now it's as if it only makes an appearance every 4th of July.
Listhebeastblah 2 years ago
Being Canadian we dont have a pledge, however, living in America and watching some people argue over a three letter word is quite sad.
Many people believe that the word God goes hand in hand with Christianity and it does but it doesnt. The right to say the pledge or not is what people forget, you dont have to say it. People dont mind sining God Bless America but have trouble saying Under God or In God We trust, you dont have to say it, Freedom of Speach.
30tmac 2 years ago
here here *raises mug* That is what I say, people complain too much about the term God because they form some concrete definition in their own mind and totally forget the fact that other people have other definitions for the word, then they argue over semantics and meanings and claim that the other side is brainwashing yadda yadda yadda..
vasniltere 2 years ago
I doubt it's no coincidence that americans have been dumbed down over the years when it comes to those matters.
In regards to hs, Ayala = teh huge. Oddly enough, I started there a few months before you did, and I was moving in from out of state. That was interesting... But at my last HS, I did what you did, and was involved in sports before I started. Getting involved helps so much when starting out in school like that. Sports/extracurricular = good for many reasons.
soc2002 2 years ago
Pledge of allegiance- just take out "under god," already. Less hassle. However, it's not 1950 anymore, and the red scare is gone, so there's no need to pledge allegiance to the flag, as far as I'm concerned. I could get into more on it, but I'll leave it at that.
I agree with what was mentioned before. Younger generations seem to be more passive as in what the gov't is doing and just sort of roll on over, and I blame that mostly on the ignorance in indoctrination that schools are, now.
soc2002 2 years ago
I believe that we are differently patriotic. Patriotism is good in many ways (unity) while it also can lead to many negative concepts (supernationalism). I believe that instead of hating our country we should just strive to make it better.
CoveredByRegret 2 years ago
It's not that most people of our generation are unpatriotic, it's just that a lot of them are quick to express dissatisfaction with the government and the decisions our elected officials make. I'm the same way, but aside from any qualms I have with the way things are run, I'm pretty pleased with America, and I'd say I'm pretty patriotic.
So marry me, Michael Aranda!
iman12692 2 years ago
or quick to express dissatisfaction with anything in general for that matter. We have turned into a nation of soft skinned whiners it seems.
vasniltere 2 years ago
And fatties, don't forget! :)
iman12692 2 years ago
except me, I can't gain weight.
vasniltere 2 years ago
can we answer this if we're not american ?
ihearttheplanet 2 years ago
yes
vasniltere 2 years ago
Its quite interesting how America links patrotism and religion so freely, the 'Civil Religion' that occurs in america is really unlike that of anywhere else. In england society is becoming much more secular and I think, as do many others, that its wrong to make primary school kids pray to god at the end of assemblies but i suppose in america they dont pray to just god they pray to America as a god... hmmm....
ShinyStickerz 2 years ago
The bad part or patriotism is blindly following and agreeing with our country's leaders no matter what. The good part is realizing how lucky you are to live in a country with a much higher quality of life than most other countries.
I also don't like the "under god" line added to the pledge. The separation of church and state and freedom of religious beliefs (or lack thereof) is violated by adding it.
astronautjenny 2 years ago 2
hence we re-define patriotism to get rid of the connotations which are negative, no more is patriotism blindly following anyone.
And while you are mentioning religious beliefs, you might as well broaden it to freedom of beliefs whatsoever, religious or otherwise.
vasniltere 2 years ago
the pledge is an odd one. I've never felt comfortable saying it and whether that's because of my upbringing or b/c of the shit I was aware of and witnessing at a young age that was going on with the gov't, I don't know (though it does seem all connected. I mean, how else would I become aware of it other than a talkative mother? thanks mom). in any case, middle school was the first place it was required of me to say it everyday. to make a not very long story shorter, I ended up having to go ...
vulcanbirdbrain 2 years ago
... through legal riggermerol with the principal so I didn't have to stand. it was all rather pathetic. I guess part of my issue with it was not really knowing a gov't without a bush... and ~really~ not wanting to be a part of that.
vulcanbirdbrain 2 years ago
As a European, I'm not obliged to say any pledge of allegiance, but I think that if I was, then I'd be quite reluctant about it.
TheEditingShop 2 years ago
I think as a citizen of the world I reserve the right to form an opinion on the country I happen to reside in, be it my choice or not (in my case, I was born here). I feel that something like the Pledge of Allegiance strongly insists that I should just love the country, regardless of said right that I believe I deserve to have.
As for the critically acclaimed "under god" that comes attached to the pledge, I feel it to be rude. There are people who believe in god, and there are people who don't.
TheDevCamExperience 2 years ago
I agree with this fully.
miceylulu 2 years ago
@TheDevCamExperience I'm in 100% agreement that we have the right to form opinions, but doesn't the Pledge say more than what you've pointed out?
To me, it is a pledge to the Republic, and therefore to the people. THAT's what I'm invested in -- loving my fellow citizens -- not blindly loving a government I don't always agree with. I guess I just don't understand where you're coming from, and how you see what you do in the Pledge. I'm sincerely curious though.
OtherLivingThings 2 years ago
applauds...
vasniltere 2 years ago
Well, as a matter of fact in my first grade class I asked the teacher why we say under god (i had a crush on a girl that had an atheist family, so I recognized at an early age that there were other kinds of religious beliefs outside my household), and my first grade teacher criticized me and just said "I think you should just show everyone that you love the country and not wonder about those kind of things". I think that might contribute to why I instinctively view the pledge like that.
TheDevCamExperience 2 years ago
Wow, that's quite a crappy teacher. The beauty of the Pledge as I see it is that it's meant to uphold the ideals of a liberated republic, even if our government really sucks at upholding those itself sometimes. And that means ALWAYS wondering about those things, and always questioning them and the leaders who put them in place.
I don't think that line should be in the Pledge by any means, but I think it's worth it to look at the rest of the credo as well. It's what you make of it, I guess.
OtherLivingThings 2 years ago
I don't think in god we trust should be in the pledge, since government and religion are supposed to be separate and we represent many different religions and cultures in America. Overall I think this generation is less patriotic but in the sense that we represent more of a global community then our parents did before us. Less of a America rocks everyone else sucks attitude I think we saw a lot. Patriotism is great unless you start thinking down on others simply because they dont come from here.
marine09666 2 years ago
How about we replace in god we trust with, in morality and good will we trust, or something to that effect, in altruism we trust? That way we still have the desires to be good (which God is supposed to represent, but now there are so many other ideas about God out there.) without stepping on the toes of all those who don't believe in "God"
vasniltere 2 years ago
I cant really answer your question cos i live in the UK.
togetherbutlonely 2 years ago
I answered and I live in the UK I just mentioned patriotism in general
linatina123 2 years ago
I just read your comment and I kinda understand what you mean. I'm not english but i was born in England and I'm very much brithish; the whole patriotism thing has always confused me.
I think you have to feel like you belong to be patriotic and i'v never had that. The only time I'v felt patriotic is when I watch an England football (soccer) game.
And england in general sees patriotism as a little bit cheesy to be honest! (IMO anyway).
togetherbutlonely 2 years ago
Yeah one definitely has to FEEL like you belong in a country and more and more people are living in countries they don't come from. Maybe patriotism to your family is overtaking the old patriotism!? In sports well football anyway its not always English people playing for England anyways is it? Well that's what I thought I'm not sure anyways its all slightly more complex these days I think.
linatina123 2 years ago
I like that way of looking at things, feel like you belong to a country, or a group, that would be patriotic enough for me. I am a Patriotic NerdFighter. Niftywootawesomeface.
vasniltere 2 years ago
All england players have to be born in england lol!
Anyway, patriotism for me will always be confusing!
togetherbutlonely 2 years ago 3
I think people can be patriotic in different ways. However, it's hard for me to compare myself to those that came before, as I learned my version of patriotism from my 60's activist father and my very liberal WWII soldier and P.O.W. grandfather. We all tend to think the pledge is a rather silly thing. It's silly to insist that it be said (with or without "under God") and its silly to get so very heated up over it either way. It's a non-issue argument that distracts from more important things.
AdamTheAlien 2 years ago
agreed. Too much semantics and personal emotion (or lack thereof) attached to many of these words to debate over them.
vasniltere 2 years ago
That was pretty much my experience going into high school, too. That's just one of the reasons why band is awesome. =)
I'm not really crazy about the word "patriotism." I think it's one of those words that has lost meaning over time. I love my country and want what's best for it. But I'm not big on the whole flag-waving pledge-saying patriotism that we seem really into these days. That seems to reflect a rather narrow definition of the word, adverse to debate on how to make the country better.
bandgeek8408 2 years ago
oh you opened a can of beans
WorldofGN 2 years ago
can of beans or a can of worms.
vasniltere 2 years ago
I think that our generation is patriotic in a different way. Or, at least, some of us are. I have met quite a few who don't care, but excluding them, the situation is best summarized with a quote by Howard Zinn,
"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
I've seen this generation criticize and be outright angry at what politicians have done. I believe this comes from how much we care.
I really hope I'm right.
Regulus117 2 years ago
Yeah, I'm not a fan of the pledge, I refuse to do it in the mornings of my school day, it's not that I don't like this country, it's just that the pledge is poorly written, and very narrow minded.
The biggest part about it that should be changed/removed is the "under god" part, not everyone who goes to school believe in a god, so you shouldn't have to speak of him/her/it.
I don't exactly think being patriotic is good, it kinda makes it seem like you only care for your own place.postlimitreach
TheMagdiel 2 years ago
Im all about respect. If you dont want to say the pledge that is fine, but be respectful and sit quietly while it is being done.
I love the US and I get upset when people from other countries bash on us. I get upset because I respect their countries and who they are, so why cant they respect mine. People have this image of Americans being evil and extremely stupid at the same time. But I dont generalize stereotypes of other countries onto people I meet from those countries.
SeekingMyGr8Perhaps 2 years ago 2
Personally, from the looks of the comments already here, It looks like there are many varying definitions of the word patriotism and the concept of being a patriot or being patriotic. Keeping this in mind, I can understand and agree with the reasons why people say what they have said. Also, because I can understand other people's view of the Phrase "Under God" and the connotation that comes with the Word "God" I can understand their reasons for not liking the part "Under God" in the Pledge.
vasniltere 2 years ago
However, and that is a big However, I have different understandings and connotations attached to the terms, Patriotic and God. Because of my understanding of these two terms, I cannot agree with everything said.
So first off... Patriotism. In my mind, Patriotism is not blind obedience and obsequiousness to the government, nor is it saying, My country is better than your country. I call those kinds of attitudes ignorant pride.
vasniltere 2 years ago
In my mind, Patriotism is standing for ideals. We have a pretty good document full of Ideals, it is called the Constitution. In my mind, because I stand for that constitution and for the ideals that it holds, I am a patriot and I am patriotic. When I wave the flag, I am not waving it for the president of the united states, or the local governor, I wave it for the ideals that it stands for.
vasniltere 2 years ago
I try to help people become better, and to stop being hateful and hurtful to their neighbors, friends, brothers and sisters. I am trying to make the place I live a better place to live. I try to support and defend the ideals that I believe in. Therefor I am patriotic in my mind.
vasniltere 2 years ago 2
Second off... I have a slightly different understanding of the term God then most people. Since the semantics have changed, they might as well have changed that phrase to Under a Belief in Goodness. But I am not offended by the phrase Under God, because to me God is just a general term of what you believe, and for some, what you believe to be perfect.
vasniltere 2 years ago 2
Some people believe in science, so, science is in essence their God, (please don't take that phrase to be offensive.) Some people believe in Allah, Allah is their God. Some people believe in themselves, they are their own God. But hey, I am just one person, and I don't really care what you all do with the pledge, as long as you continue to strive to live according to a clean conscience, then that is pretty good by me.
vasniltere 2 years ago
I think a person ought to be proud of themselves, not the group/country they belong to. Being proud of your group pits you against others who are not in your group. We see this in countries, religions, and political parties. Plus, liking yourself purely for yourself feels so much better than liking yourself for inclusion in a group.
thepeteris 2 years ago 3
You are my goal weight.
Silver1226 2 years ago
I'm British, we don't have to pledge any kind of allegiance, and I think it makes a difference. Because we're not really obliged to feel patriotic, often we do anyway. Also, the UK being comprised of a number of different countries, there's a certain level of competition involved. Scotland (my country) and England being the best examples.
If we were all told that we HAD to love our country, I imagine we'd feel less inclined to.
Also, a factor... we don't mix religion with politics. Period.
jennyisradd 2 years ago 2
I would say that our generation is more patriotic or seems to be more patriotic because of the attacks nine years ago come September.
I personally stopped saying the Pledge back in high school because I was displeased with the policies of the administration that was representing the US abroad.
crimsong19 2 years ago
I, sir, am not a narrow demographic. But I digress, I think we as a nation have evolved away from the flag waving outwardly symbolic forms of patriotism. I see nothing wrong with the pledge as its a tradition but we're still evolving and becoming more subtle.
Agriking 2 years ago
i dont like saying the pledge; i also disagree with the "under God" part. as a nation we should be more open to other religions, counties, and cultures. So patriotism isnt really that important to me, i like to look more at the bigger picture of the world. But i do have opinions about issues going on here.but we really should be working more together
purplepanda11 2 years ago
Besides the whole "Under God" part, which even then, I'm fine with, I've always thought reciting the Pledge of Allegiance was a good thing. In my homeroom class one year, only me and my teacher would ever stand and actually put our hands over our hearts. I think it just shows respect for the country I live in. I do notice that a lot of people around me don't really show patriotism, and I think that's a little sad. But such is life.
WrittenInDork 2 years ago
183 pounds? That's insane!! :O
Theowest 2 years ago
Insane in a good way or a bad way? :/
michaelaranda 2 years ago
eh.. Good way..! :D
Theowest 2 years ago
Does patriotism really have to have something to do with god, or religion in general?
Rainrosen 2 years ago
Not according to me.
TheVlogSister 2 years ago
I realize that people in the comments section are saying that patriotism is racism, extremism, hatred, ...etc, but the fact remains that America was formed out of a desire to make a community that freed people to worship God or any religious system that is out there. It seems to me that Christianity is being muscled out of our society. The fact remains that the builders of this country were religious men of different colors and to try to erase that is the same as saying slavery never happened...
JohnsHouseofFun 2 years ago 4
@JohnsHouseofFun
I was going to try to come up with a well thought out answer based upon what I believe, but you said it better than I ever could have.
Krasian347 2 years ago
Well, I define a patriot as someone who will actively and strongly support their country and be willing to defend it. Defending things based on where you were born is stupid and borderline racist, but defending ideals isn't. It is good to defend what you believe in (within reason) but nationality shouldn't be one of those things.
Also, as a UK citizen I think the pledge of elegience is stupid in general, and "under god" is wrong. A pledge has a place though - the military.
Alphathon 2 years ago 2
Couldn't agree more.
I am Swedish and very happy to live in a somewhat socialist country. Protecting the country if someone were to try and change that is something I can agree with, while attacking a country for its oil etc, and calling that patriotism is nothing short of idiotic.
And I don't think god should ever have anything to do with politics. Or war.
IdaRuda 2 years ago 2
agree.. I'm also Swedish. :D
Theowest 2 years ago
The pledge must have sounded different to different generations. Imagine you were a southern survivor of the Civil war. (one nation indivisible?) or a recent immigrant from Poland (to the flag of the United States).
mickeleh 2 years ago
I remember a few people used to get on my case when I refused to do the pledge of allegiance at school. Not only does the "under god" bother me (being an atheist & knowing we are in a diverse country), but the "with justice and liberty for all". The hypocrisy kills me.
Am I patriotic? Hmm, tough question. I was born & raised in the US and have been living in my parents' home country for 2 and a half years. I feel like I have sort of a split personality.
(continued...)
japanesecigarette 2 years ago
I think its unhealthy to associate ourselves so strongly to a country. Its tough to describe what I mean by this, but heres an example: my father is very patriotic when it comes to his country (Portugal). He goes to the point of insulting Spain, constantly talking about the wars weve been through with them, etc. This is ridiculous. It is not okay.
(continued, dear god this is long...)
japanesecigarette 2 years ago
To be patriotic, in my eyes, is not to talk shit of other countries and think your own is the greatest, etc. Theres no need to wave your flag around in others faces. If one is truly patriotic, then one does his best to make his country a better place in his eyes. Im referring more to Americans here: if Americans want to be patriotic then they better vote, they better fight for this equality and liberty they say they believe in.
japanesecigarette 2 years ago 2
I hope this is coherent, Im not very used to discussing things like this. Sometimes my ideas are very blurry and I cant get them across too well, so I hope this makes some sense.
(Jesus, Michael, I've never left a comment..er, comments... like this before and I've never even thought of some of these things. Thanks for the discussion, I guess? XD)
japanesecigarette 2 years ago 2
I am one of the only people in my school who voluntarily stand up with their hand on their heart and recite the pledge. (While I say the words, I don't believe "under G-d" should be included.)
I think that much of our youth doesn't recite the pledge because they feel a sort of animosity toward government. And rightfully so; I feel the same way. But I don't think we can move forward if we don't work together as a united nation. I guess my patriotism lies more in the people than the government.
OtherLivingThings 2 years ago
I think the meaning of patriotism at least in the USA is to question government and want to change government for the better in order to serve the people. Over the last 80+ years the perception of USA patriotism has been twisted into blindly loving and following your government.
batmanthe 2 years ago
I personally feel patriotism is just another path that leads to racism and conflict, we're all on this world for a temporary time, so why be proud of some earth and dirt labelled a country??
windu1990 2 years ago
Isn't there a difference between patriotism and nationalism, though? I'm patriotic, but I feel no reason for that to cause conflict with other countries.
The label of "country," regarding patriotism, refers more to the citizens than to the earth they live on. I love "my people," not the land mass that makes up America. Patriotism can be a way to unite a population to get things done more efficiently and effectively. And if we've got limited time on this world, isn't that worth it?
OtherLivingThings 2 years ago
trust me patriotism causes conflict, if it isn't thru ownership of land arnd country borders with another country then its about football or some other pathetic reason.
wen u say ur "people" that only is prtty biased and racist, i mean, so ud love ur "ppl" regardless of whether theyre criminals and rapist and wat not?
windu1990 2 years ago
I am not a citizen of the United States of America so I cannot speak about the idea of patriotism you guys up there in the north have (Which is kind of obsesive and extremist as some people here view it) but about the words "Under God"... I found that those words are kind of discriminatory to people who either dont believe in a god or believe in another type of god...
nyarlotep 2 years ago
So I am half Danish half Swiss born in Germany and lived in England the majority of my life. Since I've always planned to move country I don't think I get patriotism at all. Although I'm proud of certain things in England I seriously think patriotism has completely died out for mixed nationality people like me
linatina123 2 years ago
I wish I could feel comfortable being patriotic and know which country to believe in but I don't belong to any of them properly ?! I think that is kindof the truth for people in similar situations
linatina123 2 years ago
Not many people a patriotic over here in England. I prefer that. Also, some good Punk music came from not being patriotic :)
thepappytube 2 years ago
I think its crazy how people talk right through the pledge in school. I say it, and I think I'm patriotic, but I can't say so for the people I go to school with.
kyle51895 2 years ago
i think its good to be patriotic, but then i understand the displeasure in swearing under god
Yazz98 2 years ago
I live in england,
pledge of allegiance doesnt apply to me
lovely
Yazz98 2 years ago
That doesn't mean you can't have an opinion on Americans and their Pledge. ;)
michaelaranda 2 years ago 3
hm, i shall look into it
then re-comment
Yazz98 2 years ago