US schools and the Pledge
Apr 6th 2007, 12:28 am
#47
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,393
Re: US schools and the Pledge
I attended private (Christian) school when I grew up in the States until high school, so I never recited the pledge. When the 'hand over heart' stuff happened at baseball games or whatever, I didn't participate. I felt like boycotting it, to be honest. As inconsequential as that sort of protest is. Yes, I had a bad attitude before I moved to England. And my 'being negative' seemed to arouse great fear in my immediate family. One is nothing if not 'positive' in America!
I'm very sorry that you are so negative and hateful in your mind and heart to a country that allowed you to do what you so wanted to do, turn your back on it, not participate in changing its government and bad mouth it at every opportunity you are given. I'm also so very sorry that you are being forced to return to a country that you hate.
If you truly feel this way about the US then there is no quality to the life you will be offering your children. I'm sure that at whatever ages they are at the moment they have already been indoctrinated with your hatred and will only have difficulties in finding acceptance with their peers when they are here in the US and start the same hateful triade that you are expressing here.
Please, I urge you to tell your husband you will not under any circumstances whatsoever return to the US. I urge you also to go to the US Consulate in London and renounce your US Citizenship. You should only be a member of a society that you are truly comfortable with; not one that you are only going to be using to financially better yourself while you give back nothing of value to its betterment.
I digress.
Some of the benefits to me in living in the U.S.:
hyper convenience - from the big fridge which can hold a month's meals, to the trolley without four moving wheels, to the lightening speed washer and dryer...
more stuff (due to larger salary, lower cost of living, great tax breaks and our GBP brought over in a fab exchange rate)
home ownership (though I do not want this to be used against me i.e. 'we'll have to sell at a loss!' come time to move on)
moving to an area of U.S. filled with transplants (some calling it 'Little New Jersey' and whatnot)
That's all I can think of at the mo.
I will have a think about cultivating a more curious, anticipatory attitude, based on this thread. I don't want to bring on more suffering for me. And I have a brave face I must put on to keep the children from freaking out.
Some of the benefits to me in living in the U.S.:
hyper convenience - from the big fridge which can hold a month's meals, to the trolley without four moving wheels, to the lightening speed washer and dryer...
more stuff (due to larger salary, lower cost of living, great tax breaks and our GBP brought over in a fab exchange rate)
home ownership (though I do not want this to be used against me i.e. 'we'll have to sell at a loss!' come time to move on)
moving to an area of U.S. filled with transplants (some calling it 'Little New Jersey' and whatnot)
That's all I can think of at the mo.
I will have a think about cultivating a more curious, anticipatory attitude, based on this thread. I don't want to bring on more suffering for me. And I have a brave face I must put on to keep the children from freaking out.
Best of luck to you.
PS I buried my father on Monday who fought alongside of tens of thousands of other people from all countries of the world in WWII so that you could have the attitude that you display here. I thank my father for helping to give you that right.
Last edited by Rete; Apr 6th 2007 at 12:30 am.
Apr 6th 2007, 1:04 am
#48
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,023
Re: US schools and the Pledge
I'm very sorry that you are so negative and hateful in your mind and heart to a country that allowed you to do what you so wanted to do, turn your back on it, not participate in changing its government and bad mouth it at every opportunity you are given. I'm also so very sorry that you are being forced to return to a country that you hate.
I have to admit...I haven't voted in the UK elections since living here. Rightly or wrongly...I feel that I gave up the right when I became an expat.
Apr 6th 2007, 1:05 am
#49
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,023
Re: US schools and the Pledge
To the OP...I presume you completed a US tax return every year you lived in the UK.
Apr 6th 2007, 1:12 am
#50
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: US schools and the Pledge
See, this is why you can't discuss politics with American people. They can't take any criticism of their country....even from their own.
And Americans weren't the only ones who died fighting the second world war. There were many Canadians, Rhodesians, South Africans, Australians, etc... (whose countries weren't involved in any way) etc..who fought and died too.
And Americans weren't the only ones who died fighting the second world war. There were many Canadians, Rhodesians, South Africans, Australians, etc... (whose countries weren't involved in any way) etc..who fought and died too.
Apr 6th 2007, 1:16 am
#51
Banned
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: unknown
Posts: 1,509
Re: US schools and the Pledge
I didn't even know kids had to pledge to this silly flag until I saw this thread.
I asked my wife if this was true and she confirmed it. She seems to think this is normal. I think it is offensive to people like me who see the flag as nothing more than a square piece of material with a fancy pattern on it.
I wouldn't pledge to that flag or any other because I am not some kind of mindless slave. I think it's time to move back to England.
I asked my wife if this was true and she confirmed it. She seems to think this is normal. I think it is offensive to people like me who see the flag as nothing more than a square piece of material with a fancy pattern on it.
I wouldn't pledge to that flag or any other because I am not some kind of mindless slave. I think it's time to move back to England.
Apr 6th 2007, 1:17 am
#52
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Location: unknown
Posts: 1,509
Re: US schools and the Pledge
I don't see why instead of a pledge to a flag they can't just have a pledge to God.
Apr 6th 2007, 1:18 am
#53
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: US schools and the Pledge
Since the OP may possibly be suffering from depression, it might be an idea to cut her some slack...
Apr 6th 2007, 1:18 am
#54
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,023
Re: US schools and the Pledge
See, this is why you can't discuss politics with American people. They can't take any criticism of their country....even from their own.
And Americans weren't the only ones who died fighting the second world war. There were many Canadians, Rhodesians, South Africans, Australians, etc... (whose countries weren't involved in any way) etc..who fought and died too.
And Americans weren't the only ones who died fighting the second world war. There were many Canadians, Rhodesians, South Africans, Australians, etc... (whose countries weren't involved in any way) etc..who fought and died too.
When push comes to shove most will defend their country. It's a bit like criticising your relatives...it's OK for you to do it but you don't like it when someone else does.
Apr 6th 2007, 1:19 am
#55
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Posts: 27,078
Re: US schools and the Pledge
See, this is why you can't discuss politics with American people. They can't take any criticism of their country....even from their own.
And Americans weren't the only ones who died fighting the second world war. There were many Canadians, Rhodesians, South Africans, Australians, etc... (whose countries weren't involved in any way) etc..who fought and died too.
And Americans weren't the only ones who died fighting the second world war. There were many Canadians, Rhodesians, South Africans, Australians, etc... (whose countries weren't involved in any way) etc..who fought and died too.
Apr 6th 2007, 1:20 am
#56
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Posts: 27,078
Apr 6th 2007, 1:21 am
#58
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Re: US schools and the Pledge
Apr 6th 2007, 1:21 am
#59
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Posts: 27,078
Re: US schools and the Pledge
I was saying the most other countries have their own flaws as well.
Apr 6th 2007, 1:22 am
#60
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Re: US schools and the Pledge
According to the recent health study at my work I am suffering from "chronic depression" to. News to me but now these bloody counsellors keep sending me letters each day to try and set up appointments.