jumping doris

The people who stand up the straightest may get chosen to go on the UFO.

TruBrit

omg no i didn't know, not teasing honest. poor kids, that reminds me of my friend who was a roman catholic having to recite whatever when paying her penance...

TruBrit

tks ray, never heard it before

southern comfort

Kinda like God Save Queenie

southern comfort

whereas god save queenie is all about her damn us peasants

britvic

You are not forced to say any such thing in British school's.

TruBrit

nobody makes us learn God save the Queen hand on heart, from what's been said here sounds like it's pretty mandatory even from a very young age. like i said i've never heard it before so will question OH about it later.....anyway i'm no peasant, speak for yourself

britvic

At Military do's I will stand up out of respect, but will not recite it or have hand on my heart.

TruBrit

actually no it isn't...God Save The Queen is our national anthem, this is a pledge and not the american national anthem.

TruBrit

i've never even heard it........so at what age do they have to start to recite it?

britvic

Pretty sure it's taught at most school's very young, 5 year's.

ali_j

Let's not forget the follow on:

Honour the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas one and indivisible.

TruBrit

now you are joking

Tootsie Frickensprinkles

The pledge of allegience seems to me to be just the beginning of a whole process of cultural and educational indoctrination that unfortunately many Americans never break out of, completely unaware that the state even exists.

I realise it varies from area to area and my opinion's not a critism of the people anyway, probably more of a clear indication that I just cannot get to grips with the American psyche.

Quite a number of my OH's family though, who are people I am most fond of seem blissfully unaware of what is glaringly obvious to me. They are brainwashed in so many beliefs. It would be really interesting to pin down what it is that causes the differentials .. is it purely education?

ali_j

LOL! I am not kidding! I teach in Elementary schools, and we all say that too, in Texas. Some schools make you stand and listen to America the Beautiful too!