Bob

In a citizenship ceremony, yes, but for everything else? school, city office meetings etc.

And in a seperation of religion from state, one shouldn't have to go through another hoop to say the pledge, it should already have been taken out, it's not like it was originally a part of the pledge.

NC Penguin

I dunno about how the OP feels about this but until I was a naturalized American, I did not pledge allegiance to the flag. When the American national anthem was played and I was present, I did stand up but did not put my hand on my heart nor face towards the flag. This was simply as a matter of respect.

I went the whole hog as described above after I was naturalized. I feel it would be inappropriate for me to pledge allegiance to the Stars and Stripes before I was an American citizen, even if my N-400 application were in progress.

That's just how I feel on the matter.

md95065

These are exactly the kinds of attitude that really irritate me.

(Although I realize that crg14624 wasn't being completely serious there are many people who probably really do think that way ...)

If you don't think that the words really mean anything or you don't believe that they are significant and important why say the damn thing in the first place?

It is precisely because I do take such things seriously that I choose not to participate in reciting something that I feel is meaningless.

Kaffy Mintcake

That's a really classy suggestion Rete. I like it.

fatbrit

The new and improved version goes:

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with equality, liberty and justice for all."

Much better, I think.

lapin_windstar

Well, either it's an important promise (in which case people who don't mean it shouldn't say it) or it's not an important promise (in which case why bother?)!

Kaffy Mintcake

what was wrong with "of the United States of America"

fatbrit

My flag is much more contemporary: my documents, my little pony, etc. Also encapsulates the individualism that is part of our make-up.

Xebedee

"One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?"

thinbrit

My question was specifically relating to the legalities of the act. I think in filing my N-400, on one level, I sort-of pledged my allegiance.
I had not realized the correct protocol for non citizens was to simply stand, and not hold your hand over your heart. I've been holding my hand over my heart and remaining silent all this time.
I don't want to be disrespectful to my host country, so perhaps I should ask the other committee members how they feel. Maybe it would be simpler to ask the chairperson pro tem to lead the allegiance until Uncle Sam says "yes".

crg

Do you really want to be know as "that guy"? Just suck it up and say the damn thing.

I sang O'Canada at a hockey game once, and I didn't all of a sudden start mispronouncing words like "about" and ending all of my sentences with "Eh". It won't kill you.

Bob

but if we don't hear from her, we'll know who to blame

lapin_windstar

There's no protocol except not to act like a jackass, which is a pretty good guide for life generally. I don't care for the singing, standing and mawkish hand over heart business, but others do, so when they go in for it, I stand out of respect for their feelings. Failing that, you can take the Borat approach and sing your own national anthem to the tune of their national anthem...

I would not, however, stand if there was ever an attempt to play the British national anthem at public events (like they used to do at films up the - 1950s, was it?).

made of kent

I think thats exactly what you should do, the fact they have voted you in, means they respect you, and clearly you respect them.
I haven't had that moment yet had the pledge allegience thing, but when I do I will stand and respect it, just as I did in the UK for "God save our Queen" (funny how a lot of people forget our song is just full of God!) I don't believe in monachy, but I still respect my home countries traditions and if I ever become an American citizen, I will say those words and mean them, but it wouldn't make me any less English, that how it is, today we meet people in their 70's whos parents where Scotish, and how proud where they of this ancestry, very! becoming American is not about losing your heritage, its about embracing another!

lapin_windstar

1) I don't think anyone has forgotten the word "God" in the English national anthem, but there's no First Amendment to separate the Church and State in the UK.

2) If you don't support the monarchy, why would you sing that you do?