I like your your views and skepticism, its great that your speaking out against the pledge when everyone else just goes along with it, but America as destructive as the Nazis, really? Too far, think about the holocaust etc.
I agree with you 100%. When I was in highschool, I hated saying the pledge, not for any of the reasons you stated, but simply just because I didn't feel like standing. Laziness? Sure. But, now that I think about it I think its stupid, and how the teachers would always "force" you to say it, even though they have no legal standing to do so. I hate how people say we our a Nation under God, whne the Treay of Trippoli, explictitly states we are not.
@SmackaBeta Okay then, question whom really controls this country. You question all and never seek truth. I don't agree with our government and carrying for founding and original idea of America. So,if you truly understand the truth purpose of this country, which isn't the perversion of what we live in today. So what's the big contend against the Pledge for your Nation?
@whiteguy212006 I literally just shook my head at the current state of our country you are sadly portraying. Not caring for a corrupt, 20 second saying, does NOT in any way make one "unpatriotic" or "unmanly". Your comments on us being "brainwashed" only serves to make you appear foolish, mr. "Whiteguy212006".
In fact for stating that those against the pledge are "unpatriotic little shits" is making YOU the one less American. The true Americans are the ones who will continue to question all.
As a kid, I didn't like saying the pledge of allegiance to the flag for much the same reason I didn't like it when my parents made me pray in front of a statue of the virgin mary. There's something fundamentally wrong about making somebody venerate an object and robotically chant to it. It's a secular prayer, of sorts.
@snyd3rcg dude u commented on my video too.. do you just go around trolling any video that contradicts your opinions??.. theres a difference between embracing the rights you fought for (including the right not to stand for the pledge) and disrespecting you fighting
I can understand your reasons for not reciting the pledge. Your reasons for not standing out of respect for the playing of the national anthem are less clear.
@KingmanOldDude I usually stand up for the anthem, but I don't put my hand over my heart or anything. I actually don't mind the anthem that much. It does say "home of the free" though, which America is not really. Thanks for watching. :)
All throughout elementary, middle, and high school, I was indoctrinated by my teachers to believe we were in a democracy. I still don't get why they'd do that. I also don't get why people would bash you for not reciting the Pledge when it's not even mandatory. I don't recite it because "liberty and justice for all" doesn't exist and neither does the concept of "indivisible". I understand Under God was an anti-communist thing but we can take it out now. We've changed it several times before ^_^
great video. but pledging allegience to the united states flag just means to me i will put this country before all others within reasonable standards. not that i will follow it into the next nazi regime
as for your teacher and dad. fuck that ignorant bullshit. i hate when people try to make others feel bad about themselves because their beliefs were offended.
@DoomShallot Pledging your allegiance means you'll sick to something no matter what. I was trying to make the point that if some one REALLY pledged their allegiance and the US became nazi-like, that they would stay with the US. Of course most people wouldn't do this (hopefully). So they're hypocrites. They say they pledge allegiance but they don't really mean it. And if the do, then they're really kind of dumb.
the seperation of church and state originaly was to prevent the government from taxing churches, and to stop churches from having any legual power, but no one seems to rember that,
@PIKAMONjake It's actually a term coined by John Locke. He used it when he talked about social contract and religious tolerance. Basically saying that government had to stay neutral. A lot of our country was formed on religious freedom. People like Anne Hutchinson and William Penn fought for religious freedom.
But the separation of church and state was only acknowledged in 1947. It had nothing to do with taxation. Churches have lots of legal power and lots of money.
The civilian salute is stupid anyway. The Pledge of Allegiance is stupid and contradictory anyway. The United States are really the Divided States. Liberty and justice for who? Not everyone.
@barneysixx I said in my video that it kind of is a democracy. But it's not. It's mainly a republic, but citizens do get to vote on some individual things but we don't have popular sovereignty on everything. A democracy doesn't work well on a big scale.
And a representative democracy is only used in the UK and Germany, not in the US. Don't believe me? Look it up.
@EnhanceTheTruth the funny thing is ,is that i noticed this is a response to tjs videos and i found this by searching it not looking at video responses btw its ok if i make a video about this and put parts of your vid into mine?
@1simplysub Yeah, he doesn't have to approve the responses so it's like free publicity. But I'm glad you found it by searching. I couldn't find any myself so I chose to make one. :P
Yes, yes! Feel free to use anything as long as you don't twist my words around. Though I trust you wouldn't do that anyway.
Thanks for spreading the word about this topic. It really needs to get out there. :)
@EnhanceTheTruth Nice video, I agree with everything you said about the pledge. Although I just want to say that it really doesn't make sense to say that Caesar "unfairly" gained power. He gained power because not only did his troops love him but the people of Rome loved him too and wanted him to be king. He was like their champion while the senate was hated and corrupt.
@EnhanceTheTruth During the battle of Alesia in Gaul when his troops were retreating Caesar supposedly got on horse back and rode to the middle of the battle field, sword in hand ready to fight, screaming "WHO WILL FIGHT FOR ME!?" which gave his troops the spirit to fight on and win the battle. I'd like to see a general now a days do something like that.
@5StarGeneralXenoCO One thing you have to understand is the difference between moral and unquestioning dedication. For troops, I can understand moral. But for whole countries the dedication to the leaser is not good. That kind of dedication leads to the formations of societies like Nazi Germany.
There is a time and place when the dedication is needed. In battle, yes. In government, no.
I hope you understand my point. Thanks for commenting :)
@Acquiesce16 Meh. Look at the childish moron who lacks the attention span to listen to some one speak and instead focuses on their looks and makes an ad hominem attack.
If anyone says "If you don't like the pledge, why don't you go live somewhere else?" you should respond "If you like socialism, authoritarianism and robotic chanting of pledges so much, why don't YOU go live somewhere else (e.g. China, Russia, Cuba, et cetera)?" If necessary, add "I am the one who supports freedom. Not you."
@bigmancoolguy Thanks for the recommendation. I just watched the whole video, but it's virtually meaningless. The man makes argument from emotion, not logic. If you followed the same sense of thinking you could justify killing innocent people. He only remarks on how the the flag stands for good things, he doesn't actually make any critical remark about the implications of the words.
And that video is very old. At that time, gay marriage and things like that weren't as recognized.
I agree with all the points in this video. I tried to stop standing for the pledge because I didn't stand for anything that America stands for. I got some shit for it so I just decide to stand up anyways. I just was say the anthem. It is not worth the frustration.
@MrSpockZilla1 Yeah, sometimes people just like to be dicks and not really care about WHY you're not standing. In my opinion, if you see something wrong and you don't stand up (I guess it's the opposite in this case) just because others give you crap then that's pretty weak. I can understand that it's hard, I live in the deep south with a bunch of redneck nationalists and they go crazy sometimes. But what's the point in being intelligent enough to see this, but not strong enough to act? :/
Very nicely said. I've been trying to get this through to some of my friends, but they all tell me the same thing. "Why don't you go live in Pakistan or something if you don't like the country, huh?" I truly believe that I'm the only rational person in my school...
@puffyreptar I know how you feel! One good thing to retort with is something along the lines of "America doesn't try to force me to say the pledge, the government does."
Pointing out that it's the government putting the pledge where it is emphasizes that they're trying to control you. It's hard to talk about this without seeming like a conspiracy nut, but it makes sense. Good luck with your friends. I know it can be hard. :)
Great post. The Pledge was the origin of the salute of German National Socialism (See the work of the symbologist Dr. Rex Curry). Francis Bellamy and Edward Bellamy influenced the NSDAP, its rituals, dogma and symbolism. America was and is a NSDAP type nation, and the Pledge is part of it. There are more youtube videos about Curry's amazing work. No one would pledge if government schools taught the truth (and they won't).
@news2journalism Thanks for the extra info! The tie to the Nazi salute is pretty interesting. The US also used a lot of swastikas before Hitler did. I'll most likely make a video about that in the future. :)
1. You misspelled performed as "prefomed". 2. The U.S. is indivisible because we are a union (hence *united* states), not because we all agree on everything. 3. I agree with most of what you said, but I think true patriotism is when you actively work to reform the juxtaposition between our government's various freedom clauses and the injustice/imperialism/prejudice our government actually perpetuates, not when you willingly recite some pledge. Dissent can be patriotic.
2. Like I said, the US was literally divided during the Civil War. Although it was the "United States" it was still early America. So I think it's kind of ridiculous to say we're indivisible, when we have been divided. 3. I;m glad you agree on some level. My main point here (that I wasn't able to convey due to time) was that Americans are indoctrinated with the pledge and it's a simple form of manipulation.
@EnhanceTheTruth We went to the Civil War specifically to prevent the Confederacy from seceding. Lincoln never actually acknowledged the south as an entity independent from the U.S.. Technically, then, the U.S. has never actually divided and the pledge reiterates the value of the union. I can see how the pledge can be indoctrinating and I've never taken the pledge seriously- that being said, there are far better ways to fight for social justice than simply abstaining from reciting mere words.
@oniontearz That's debatable. Lincoln only did that as a psychological tactic, which proved highly effective. Whether Lincoln acknowledged it or not, the nation had a war against itself and was split. The Confederacy was it's own thing (I'm reluctant to say country or nation). And America is divided in many more ways, socially, economically, and politically. Not that I think this bad! America is centered on diversity.
Believe me, I do. I protest frequently. Don't forget, this is my FIRST video.
@EnhanceTheTruth Lincoln used it as a political tactic. My point is that, at least policy-wise, the U.S. never acknowledged a legal cessation of states. Again, the fact that nobody has seceded given how divided we are in every other way is a testament to our thus-far indivisible union. I didn't mean to imply that you aren't politically active. I just meant that there are more pressing issues at hand to discuss than the implications of the pledge of allegiance.
@oniontearz "Up until 1860, no one doubted that a state which wanted to get out of the Union was free to do so. It had taken a voluntary act by each of the states to become a part of the Union, so wouldn't the state's people have the right to leave, if they felt being part of the Union no longer met their needs?"
I know they didn't officially leave by the Union's standards. But that was done on purpose. I seriously just finished my college US history class. I'm not talking out of my ass here.
@oniontearz I don't know if we'll agree on that, but from what I know and researched, the South seceded, became the Confederacy (a completely independent structure with a government, land, and currency) but Lincoln always considered them apart of the Union as physiological/political warfare. But they did secede.
I will make a lot more videos on a lot more topics. But in my eyes, any injustice is an injustice and it should be corrected as soon as possible. I'm just (trying to) spreading the word
@oniontearz But you should take the pledge seriously. At the risk of sounding purely rebellious, conforming is just as much a problem. I believe what I am doing is a fair amount of social justice. Refusing to stand will at least get people to think about the meaning behind the pledge's words. Don't forget the Constitution is just words. Words hold a lot of power.
And some times inaction can mean a lot. Though I hold a dim candle to her, think of Rosa Parks' refusal to move.
@EnhanceTheTruth My high school doesn't have a flag and I haven't had to think about it for three years- I never said I "conformed". Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks were very important, brave, and symbolic women, but what really brought about segregation reform was the financial aspect of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Parks was chosen to be the symbol of an otherwise very active social agenda. Wouldn't you rather see gay rights reforms or anti-racism reforms than the abolition of the pledge?
People don't take the time to look into the pledge. You wouldn't agree to any pledge put in front of you (I hope). Nor would you recite it every day from preschool to high school. So why do people mindlessly absorb the pledge? Because it's a simple way of getting people to love America. They don't say "hey it says justice for all, but my gay friend can't marry." In a way it is opposing juxtaposition. It's gov't deception.
Thanks anyway for sharing your view. I appreciate it. :)
@EnhanceTheTruth I guess I see it more like "hey it says justice for all, which is exactly why I'm going to fight until my gay friend *can* marry". I like what the U.S. is supposed to stand for, so I will call out our faults and organize until its theory matches up with its practice. I don't disagree with what you've said- what I'm adding is that refusing to say the pledge is not inherently "un-American", even if it might be interpreted as such, because it's intended to make this country better.
You are overthinking this WAY too hard. I'm not dedicating my loyalty to the government, I'm honoring and dedicating my loyalty to my COUNTRY. The land I live on, the land that bears one of the greatest countries in the world. Don't think so hard about that shit, man, you make yourself look completely ignorant. Respect the country that keeps your ass alive. Common sense...
@ultimate0death Maybe you didn't hear me at the end. Refusing to stand is not something I do out of disrespect or in spite of the government. Like I said, I wouldn't rather live anywhere else.
It's far more respectable to say that the pledge gives a false portrayal of the country. America was founded on free speech and the ability to call out claims made by anyone, or in this case, the pledge.
And it's more ignorant to blindly accept a pledge that you are indoctrinated with.
@ultimate0death Not thinking hard is ignorance. Some one who cares about the truth and what they say should analyze the pledge in every way. There are those who will agree with what I say because they are not easily manipulated.
Thank you for commenting though. I appreciate hearing your point of view.
As for common sense, I recommend Thomas Paine. You obviously haven't read it. Other wise you'd be gifted with uncommon sense.
I like your your views and skepticism, its great that your speaking out against the pledge when everyone else just goes along with it, but America as destructive as the Nazis, really? Too far, think about the holocaust etc.
emily0071000 2 weeks ago
@emily0071000 We're not exactly innocent!!! spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAjapanact.htm
eig1979 4 days ago
@eig1979 there's a link to a website...
eig1979 4 days ago
@eig1979 yeah i know, but still no where near as bad
emily0071000 2 days ago
I agree with you 100%. When I was in highschool, I hated saying the pledge, not for any of the reasons you stated, but simply just because I didn't feel like standing. Laziness? Sure. But, now that I think about it I think its stupid, and how the teachers would always "force" you to say it, even though they have no legal standing to do so. I hate how people say we our a Nation under God, whne the Treay of Trippoli, explictitly states we are not.
DoubleR2591 3 weeks ago
@SmackaBeta Okay then, question whom really controls this country. You question all and never seek truth. I don't agree with our government and carrying for founding and original idea of America. So,if you truly understand the truth purpose of this country, which isn't the perversion of what we live in today. So what's the big contend against the Pledge for your Nation?
whiteguy212006 4 weeks ago
If you don't stand or care for the Pledge of Allegiance, then get the fuck out of America you brainwashed, unmanly, unpatriotic little shits!
whiteguy212006 1 month ago
@whiteguy212006 I literally just shook my head at the current state of our country you are sadly portraying. Not caring for a corrupt, 20 second saying, does NOT in any way make one "unpatriotic" or "unmanly". Your comments on us being "brainwashed" only serves to make you appear foolish, mr. "Whiteguy212006".
In fact for stating that those against the pledge are "unpatriotic little shits" is making YOU the one less American. The true Americans are the ones who will continue to question all.
SmackaBeta 1 month ago
Germany today is a democracy :D
JelllyBeean1337 2 months ago
I dont like the pledge NOR the N.A. During the N.A.national anthem, people get pissed if we DONT stand. FUCK YOU.
-14 yr old black kid muslim
FolkBoyify 2 months ago
As a kid, I didn't like saying the pledge of allegiance to the flag for much the same reason I didn't like it when my parents made me pray in front of a statue of the virgin mary. There's something fundamentally wrong about making somebody venerate an object and robotically chant to it. It's a secular prayer, of sorts.
logik316 2 months ago
You don't get it...
snyd3rcg 3 months ago
@snyd3rcg I feel very sorry for you. I'm glad you felt the need to voice your daft confusion.
EnhanceTheTruth 3 months ago
@snyd3rcg dude u commented on my video too.. do you just go around trolling any video that contradicts your opinions??.. theres a difference between embracing the rights you fought for (including the right not to stand for the pledge) and disrespecting you fighting
EntertainingShit 3 months ago
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MrEPICinDAhouse 4 months ago
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MrEPICinDAhouse 4 months ago
Everyone has justice and liberty except for.....basically evreyone
DarlingImDead 5 months ago
@DarlingImDead i saw u subscribed :D
1simplysub 5 months ago
Me to
DarlingImDead 5 months ago
I can understand your reasons for not reciting the pledge. Your reasons for not standing out of respect for the playing of the national anthem are less clear.
KingmanOldDude 5 months ago in playlist More videos from EnhanceTheTruth
@KingmanOldDude I usually stand up for the anthem, but I don't put my hand over my heart or anything. I actually don't mind the anthem that much. It does say "home of the free" though, which America is not really. Thanks for watching. :)
EnhanceTheTruth 5 months ago
i dont say the pledge for the same reasons. never have, never will.
RaWrZx13x 6 months ago
All throughout elementary, middle, and high school, I was indoctrinated by my teachers to believe we were in a democracy. I still don't get why they'd do that. I also don't get why people would bash you for not reciting the Pledge when it's not even mandatory. I don't recite it because "liberty and justice for all" doesn't exist and neither does the concept of "indivisible". I understand Under God was an anti-communist thing but we can take it out now. We've changed it several times before ^_^
TheMassaCreature 6 months ago
@TheMassaCreature People just don't know better. The US is closer to a republic than a democracy anyway.
People bash me because I live in the South and they're all nationalist rednecks. :/
If I were president it'd be one of the first things I'd do. I'd get God off the money and out of the pledge. Thanks for watching man :)
EnhanceTheTruth 6 months ago
great video. but pledging allegience to the united states flag just means to me i will put this country before all others within reasonable standards. not that i will follow it into the next nazi regime
as for your teacher and dad. fuck that ignorant bullshit. i hate when people try to make others feel bad about themselves because their beliefs were offended.
DoomShallot 6 months ago
@DoomShallot Pledging your allegiance means you'll sick to something no matter what. I was trying to make the point that if some one REALLY pledged their allegiance and the US became nazi-like, that they would stay with the US. Of course most people wouldn't do this (hopefully). So they're hypocrites. They say they pledge allegiance but they don't really mean it. And if the do, then they're really kind of dumb.
EnhanceTheTruth 6 months ago
Your teacher is a dumb blockhead and she hates you because of your supierior intelligence.
You are not less patriotic, you are the kind of man which actually built america.
Thinking men, not sheep built america.
KrutoyPostowoy 6 months ago
@KrutoyPostowoy That's right :) America was founded on defiance of authority. :)
Thanks for the kind words, friend.
EnhanceTheTruth 6 months ago
I stand- Erm... Sit with you.
OsxinBraveheart 6 months ago
the seperation of church and state originaly was to prevent the government from taxing churches, and to stop churches from having any legual power, but no one seems to rember that,
PIKAMONjake 6 months ago
@PIKAMONjake It's actually a term coined by John Locke. He used it when he talked about social contract and religious tolerance. Basically saying that government had to stay neutral. A lot of our country was formed on religious freedom. People like Anne Hutchinson and William Penn fought for religious freedom.
But the separation of church and state was only acknowledged in 1947. It had nothing to do with taxation. Churches have lots of legal power and lots of money.
EnhanceTheTruth 6 months ago
where can i get this incredible elevator music?!?!?
rebos911 6 months ago
The civilian salute is stupid anyway. The Pledge of Allegiance is stupid and contradictory anyway. The United States are really the Divided States. Liberty and justice for who? Not everyone.
Purianite 6 months ago 4
@Purianite That basically sums it up!
EnhanceTheTruth 6 months ago
this is retarded
we do have a democracy
a representative democracy
which still gives people the sovereignty
the only thing that bugs me about the pledge is the "under God"
its supposed to be illegal
barneysixx 6 months ago
@barneysixx I said in my video that it kind of is a democracy. But it's not. It's mainly a republic, but citizens do get to vote on some individual things but we don't have popular sovereignty on everything. A democracy doesn't work well on a big scale.
And a representative democracy is only used in the UK and Germany, not in the US. Don't believe me? Look it up.
Yeah, the "under God" is unconstitutional.
Thanks for watching. :) Have a nice day.
EnhanceTheTruth 6 months ago 3
LOVE.THIS.only video i could find about this
1simplysub 6 months ago
@1simplysub Thank you so much :) I'm glad I could help!
EnhanceTheTruth 6 months ago
@1simplysub I just looked at your channel and you're that "creepy" girl from TheAmaingAtheist. Holy crap. XD
Thanks again though for commenting. If you have any video suggestions, let me know. :) Stay creepy! :D
EnhanceTheTruth 6 months ago
@EnhanceTheTruth the funny thing is ,is that i noticed this is a response to tjs videos and i found this by searching it not looking at video responses btw its ok if i make a video about this and put parts of your vid into mine?
1simplysub 6 months ago
@1simplysub Yeah, he doesn't have to approve the responses so it's like free publicity. But I'm glad you found it by searching. I couldn't find any myself so I chose to make one. :P
Yes, yes! Feel free to use anything as long as you don't twist my words around. Though I trust you wouldn't do that anyway.
Thanks for spreading the word about this topic. It really needs to get out there. :)
EnhanceTheTruth 6 months ago
@EnhanceTheTruth Nice video, I agree with everything you said about the pledge. Although I just want to say that it really doesn't make sense to say that Caesar "unfairly" gained power. He gained power because not only did his troops love him but the people of Rome loved him too and wanted him to be king. He was like their champion while the senate was hated and corrupt.
5StarGeneralXenoCO 6 months ago
@EnhanceTheTruth During the battle of Alesia in Gaul when his troops were retreating Caesar supposedly got on horse back and rode to the middle of the battle field, sword in hand ready to fight, screaming "WHO WILL FIGHT FOR ME!?" which gave his troops the spirit to fight on and win the battle. I'd like to see a general now a days do something like that.
5StarGeneralXenoCO 6 months ago
@5StarGeneralXenoCO One thing you have to understand is the difference between moral and unquestioning dedication. For troops, I can understand moral. But for whole countries the dedication to the leaser is not good. That kind of dedication leads to the formations of societies like Nazi Germany.
There is a time and place when the dedication is needed. In battle, yes. In government, no.
I hope you understand my point. Thanks for commenting :)
EnhanceTheTruth 6 months ago
@Acquiesce16 You don't have a position to argue against.
Seriously look at this en.wikipedia (dot) org/wiki/Ad_hominem. Do not come back until you understand what you're talking about.
EnhanceTheTruth 6 months ago
@Acquiesce16 I really hope you're trying to troll me and you're not actually that stupid.
EnhanceTheTruth 6 months ago
@Acquiesce16 Meh. Look at the childish moron who lacks the attention span to listen to some one speak and instead focuses on their looks and makes an ad hominem attack.
You're truly pathetic.
EnhanceTheTruth 6 months ago
If anyone says "If you don't like the pledge, why don't you go live somewhere else?" you should respond "If you like socialism, authoritarianism and robotic chanting of pledges so much, why don't YOU go live somewhere else (e.g. China, Russia, Cuba, et cetera)?" If necessary, add "I am the one who supports freedom. Not you."
news2journalism 7 months ago
@news2journalism Hahaha! That's great! I've got to remember that one!
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
please watch red skeltons pledge of allegiance video
bigmancoolguy 7 months ago
@bigmancoolguy Thanks for the recommendation. I just watched the whole video, but it's virtually meaningless. The man makes argument from emotion, not logic. If you followed the same sense of thinking you could justify killing innocent people. He only remarks on how the the flag stands for good things, he doesn't actually make any critical remark about the implications of the words.
And that video is very old. At that time, gay marriage and things like that weren't as recognized.
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
I agree with all the points in this video. I tried to stop standing for the pledge because I didn't stand for anything that America stands for. I got some shit for it so I just decide to stand up anyways. I just was say the anthem. It is not worth the frustration.
MrSpockZilla1 7 months ago
@MrSpockZilla1 Yeah, sometimes people just like to be dicks and not really care about WHY you're not standing. In my opinion, if you see something wrong and you don't stand up (I guess it's the opposite in this case) just because others give you crap then that's pretty weak. I can understand that it's hard, I live in the deep south with a bunch of redneck nationalists and they go crazy sometimes. But what's the point in being intelligent enough to see this, but not strong enough to act? :/
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
Very nicely said. I've been trying to get this through to some of my friends, but they all tell me the same thing. "Why don't you go live in Pakistan or something if you don't like the country, huh?" I truly believe that I'm the only rational person in my school...
puffyreptar 7 months ago
@puffyreptar I know how you feel! One good thing to retort with is something along the lines of "America doesn't try to force me to say the pledge, the government does."
Pointing out that it's the government putting the pledge where it is emphasizes that they're trying to control you. It's hard to talk about this without seeming like a conspiracy nut, but it makes sense. Good luck with your friends. I know it can be hard. :)
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
Great post. The Pledge was the origin of the salute of German National Socialism (See the work of the symbologist Dr. Rex Curry). Francis Bellamy and Edward Bellamy influenced the NSDAP, its rituals, dogma and symbolism. America was and is a NSDAP type nation, and the Pledge is part of it. There are more youtube videos about Curry's amazing work. No one would pledge if government schools taught the truth (and they won't).
news2journalism 7 months ago
@news2journalism Thanks for the extra info! The tie to the Nazi salute is pretty interesting. The US also used a lot of swastikas before Hitler did. I'll most likely make a video about that in the future. :)
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
Interesting video here... there is no pledge of allegiance in UK.
But they want citizenship classes for 5-15 year olds soon.
pauldavidbeard 7 months ago
@pauldavidbeard I could understand that if it's like a history class or culture class. Thanks for the comment :)
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
1. You misspelled performed as "prefomed". 2. The U.S. is indivisible because we are a union (hence *united* states), not because we all agree on everything. 3. I agree with most of what you said, but I think true patriotism is when you actively work to reform the juxtaposition between our government's various freedom clauses and the injustice/imperialism/prejudice our government actually perpetuates, not when you willingly recite some pledge. Dissent can be patriotic.
oniontearz 7 months ago
@oniontearz (1/2)
1. Thanks for catching my spelling error!
2. Like I said, the US was literally divided during the Civil War. Although it was the "United States" it was still early America. So I think it's kind of ridiculous to say we're indivisible, when we have been divided. 3. I;m glad you agree on some level. My main point here (that I wasn't able to convey due to time) was that Americans are indoctrinated with the pledge and it's a simple form of manipulation.
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
@EnhanceTheTruth We went to the Civil War specifically to prevent the Confederacy from seceding. Lincoln never actually acknowledged the south as an entity independent from the U.S.. Technically, then, the U.S. has never actually divided and the pledge reiterates the value of the union. I can see how the pledge can be indoctrinating and I've never taken the pledge seriously- that being said, there are far better ways to fight for social justice than simply abstaining from reciting mere words.
oniontearz 7 months ago
@oniontearz That's debatable. Lincoln only did that as a psychological tactic, which proved highly effective. Whether Lincoln acknowledged it or not, the nation had a war against itself and was split. The Confederacy was it's own thing (I'm reluctant to say country or nation). And America is divided in many more ways, socially, economically, and politically. Not that I think this bad! America is centered on diversity.
Believe me, I do. I protest frequently. Don't forget, this is my FIRST video.
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
@EnhanceTheTruth Lincoln used it as a political tactic. My point is that, at least policy-wise, the U.S. never acknowledged a legal cessation of states. Again, the fact that nobody has seceded given how divided we are in every other way is a testament to our thus-far indivisible union. I didn't mean to imply that you aren't politically active. I just meant that there are more pressing issues at hand to discuss than the implications of the pledge of allegiance.
oniontearz 7 months ago
@oniontearz "Up until 1860, no one doubted that a state which wanted to get out of the Union was free to do so. It had taken a voluntary act by each of the states to become a part of the Union, so wouldn't the state's people have the right to leave, if they felt being part of the Union no longer met their needs?"
I know they didn't officially leave by the Union's standards. But that was done on purpose. I seriously just finished my college US history class. I'm not talking out of my ass here.
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
@oniontearz I don't know if we'll agree on that, but from what I know and researched, the South seceded, became the Confederacy (a completely independent structure with a government, land, and currency) but Lincoln always considered them apart of the Union as physiological/political warfare. But they did secede.
I will make a lot more videos on a lot more topics. But in my eyes, any injustice is an injustice and it should be corrected as soon as possible. I'm just (trying to) spreading the word
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
@oniontearz But you should take the pledge seriously. At the risk of sounding purely rebellious, conforming is just as much a problem. I believe what I am doing is a fair amount of social justice. Refusing to stand will at least get people to think about the meaning behind the pledge's words. Don't forget the Constitution is just words. Words hold a lot of power.
And some times inaction can mean a lot. Though I hold a dim candle to her, think of Rosa Parks' refusal to move.
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
@EnhanceTheTruth My high school doesn't have a flag and I haven't had to think about it for three years- I never said I "conformed". Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks were very important, brave, and symbolic women, but what really brought about segregation reform was the financial aspect of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Parks was chosen to be the symbol of an otherwise very active social agenda. Wouldn't you rather see gay rights reforms or anti-racism reforms than the abolition of the pledge?
oniontearz 7 months ago
@oniontearz (2/2)
People don't take the time to look into the pledge. You wouldn't agree to any pledge put in front of you (I hope). Nor would you recite it every day from preschool to high school. So why do people mindlessly absorb the pledge? Because it's a simple way of getting people to love America. They don't say "hey it says justice for all, but my gay friend can't marry." In a way it is opposing juxtaposition. It's gov't deception.
Thanks anyway for sharing your view. I appreciate it. :)
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
@EnhanceTheTruth I guess I see it more like "hey it says justice for all, which is exactly why I'm going to fight until my gay friend *can* marry". I like what the U.S. is supposed to stand for, so I will call out our faults and organize until its theory matches up with its practice. I don't disagree with what you've said- what I'm adding is that refusing to say the pledge is not inherently "un-American", even if it might be interpreted as such, because it's intended to make this country better.
oniontearz 7 months ago
You are overthinking this WAY too hard. I'm not dedicating my loyalty to the government, I'm honoring and dedicating my loyalty to my COUNTRY. The land I live on, the land that bears one of the greatest countries in the world. Don't think so hard about that shit, man, you make yourself look completely ignorant. Respect the country that keeps your ass alive. Common sense...
ultimate0death 7 months ago
@ultimate0death Maybe you didn't hear me at the end. Refusing to stand is not something I do out of disrespect or in spite of the government. Like I said, I wouldn't rather live anywhere else.
It's far more respectable to say that the pledge gives a false portrayal of the country. America was founded on free speech and the ability to call out claims made by anyone, or in this case, the pledge.
And it's more ignorant to blindly accept a pledge that you are indoctrinated with.
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
@ultimate0death Not thinking hard is ignorance. Some one who cares about the truth and what they say should analyze the pledge in every way. There are those who will agree with what I say because they are not easily manipulated.
Thank you for commenting though. I appreciate hearing your point of view.
As for common sense, I recommend Thomas Paine. You obviously haven't read it. Other wise you'd be gifted with uncommon sense.
Feel free to reply... or not. Thanks again.
EnhanceTheTruth 7 months ago
Great video, I totally agree!
SoLo92ut 7 months ago