Religions > Atheism > The pledge makes us one nation, under nationalism, with brainwashing for all
| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"" |
| Date: |
19 Sep 2005 08:07:05 PM |
| Object: |
The pledge makes us one nation, under nationalism, with brainwashing for all |
http://www.kykernel.com/media/paper305/news/2005/09/16/Opinions/The-Pledge.Makes.Us.One.Nation.Under.Nationalism.With.Brainwashing.For.All-987485.shtml
Your shorter link is: http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q356612DB
The pledge makes us one nation, under nationalism, with
brainwashing for all
By Doug Scott
Kentucky Kernal
Sept. 16, 2005
[excerpt]
… But my discontentment with the Pledge of Allegiance doesn't end
with the inclusion of "under God." The entire concept makes me very
uneasy. The image of my high school history class all standing
alongside its rows of desks, reciting the same words in a monotone
cadence, is very reminiscent of some sort of Hitler Youth,
nationalistic brainwashing ceremony. The idea that, beginning in
kindergarten, we as a society urge our children to memorize and
recite a pledge of national pride is unsettling - when children
learn the words to the pledge, they don't have a full comprehension
of what they are saying every morning. Just in the same way that a
religious institution would not demand that a child make a
profession of faith at such a young age, neither should we expect a
6-, 12- or 16-year-old to pledge allegiance to a nation and set of
ideals he or she can barely comprehend. Not to mention that
"indivisible" is practically impossible to say when you're still
trying to master lowercase letters. "Liberty and justice for all"
means having the freedom to grow up and decide if you want to
pledge allegiance to the United States. For some, this may be so.
But to others, for whom liberty and justice has been elusive or
nonexistent, the idea of pledging allegiance to this country may
not be agreeable. And when a student refrains from pledging
allegiance in the morning at school, this is often looked down
upon, especially with the warped concept of "patriotism" that has
become commonplace in this country since Sept. 11, 2001. …
Shouldn't our focus be on preparing children for their future, and
not insisting that they engage in a daily nationalistic ritual?
***************************************************************
Posting and reading from alt.politics.usa.constitution OR alt.education
The Rise of the Theocratic States of America
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocracy.htm
American Theocrats - Past and Present
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocrats.htm
The Constitutional Principle: Separation of Church and State
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
[and to join the discussion group for the above site and/or Separation of
Church and State in general, listed below]
HRSepCnS · Hampton Roads [Virginia] SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
[Its not just Hampton Roads folks who are members, there are members from
all over the U.S. and a couple from overseas as well]
***************************************************************
.. . . You can't understand a phrase such as "Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion" by syllogistic reasoning. Words
take their meaning from social as well as textual contexts, which is why "a
page of history is worth a volume of logic." New York Trust Co. v. Eisner,
256 U.S. 345, 349, 41 S.Ct. 506, 507, 65 L.Ed. 963 (1921) (Holmes, J.).
Sherman v. Community Consol. Dist. 21, 980 F.2d 437, 445 (7th Cir. 1992)
.. . .
****************************************************************
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE:
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
****************************************************************
.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: The pledge makes us one nation, under nationalism, with brainwashing for all |
22 Sep 2005 05:54:34 PM |
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On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 16:07:05 -0400, wrote:
http://www.kykernel.com/media/paper305/news/2005/09/16/Opinions/The-Pledge.Makes.Us.One.Nation.Under.Nationalism.With.Brainwashing.For.All-987485.shtml
Your shorter link is: http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q356612DB
The pledge makes us one nation, under nationalism, with
brainwashing for all
By Doug Scott
Kentucky Kernal
Sept. 16, 2005
[excerpt]
… But my discontentment with the Pledge of Allegiance doesn't end
with the inclusion of "under God." The entire concept makes me very
uneasy. The image of my high school history class all standing
alongside its rows of desks, reciting the same words in a monotone
cadence, is very reminiscent of some sort of Hitler Youth,
nationalistic brainwashing ceremony. The idea that, beginning in
kindergarten, we as a society urge our children to memorize and
recite a pledge of national pride is unsettling - when children
learn the words to the pledge, they don't have a full comprehension
of what they are saying every morning. Just in the same way that a
religious institution would not demand that a child make a
profession of faith at such a young age, neither should we expect a
6-, 12- or 16-year-old to pledge allegiance to a nation and set of
ideals he or she can barely comprehend. Not to mention that
"indivisible" is practically impossible to say when you're still
trying to master lowercase letters. "Liberty and justice for all"
means having the freedom to grow up and decide if you want to
pledge allegiance to the United States. For some, this may be so.
But to others, for whom liberty and justice has been elusive or
nonexistent, the idea of pledging allegiance to this country may
not be agreeable. And when a student refrains from pledging
allegiance in the morning at school, this is often looked down
upon, especially with the warped concept of "patriotism" that has
become commonplace in this country since Sept. 11, 2001. …
Shouldn't our focus be on preparing children for their future, and
not insisting that they engage in a daily nationalistic ritual?
KY Kernel - Opinions
Issue: 9/16/05
The pledge makes us one nation, under nationalism, with brainwashing
for all
By Doug Scott
Score another point for common sense. On Wednesday, yet another
federal judge ruled that the words "under God" in the Pledge of
Allegiance are unconstitutional when recited in public schools, as
they are an endorsement of religion. The decision, handed down by
Lawrence K. Karlton of Federal District Court in Sacramento, Calif.,
was immediately met with the predictable outrage from religious groups
who see the ruling as another act of judicial activism.
What the religious right doesn't seem to understand is that religion
of any kind does not belong in public schools in the form of a
state-endorsed exercise. When a student recites the Pledge of
Allegiance in its current form, he or she is affirming a belief in
God. For a public school, a government-funded institution, to endorse
this is completely absurd. In a country that prides itself on freedom
and equality, it is hypocritical to have students recite a pledge
espousing a belief in God, lumping religious faith and national pride
together.
This is not to say an individual's religious beliefs cannot exist in a
public school. Some seem to hold an unfounded theory that taking God
out of the pledge and prohibiting state-sponsored prayer in public
schools would create a spiritual vacuum where students would not be
allowed to profess their faith. However, students can still wear
shirts with Bible verses on them and have days when they meet at
flagpoles to pray. The issue at hand is whether it's appropriate - and
it isn't - for public schools to endorse religion.
But my discontentment with the Pledge of Allegiance doesn't end with
the inclusion of "under God." The entire concept makes me very uneasy.
The image of my high school history class all standing alongside its
rows of desks, reciting the same words in a monotone cadence, is very
reminiscent of some sort of Hitler Youth, nationalistic brainwashing
ceremony.
The idea that, beginning in kindergarten, we as a society urge our
children to memorize and recite a pledge of national pride is
unsettling - when children learn the words to the pledge, they don't
have a full comprehension of what they are saying every morning. Just
in the same way that a religious institution would not demand that a
child make a profession of faith at such a young age, neither should
we expect a 6-, 12- or 16-year-old to pledge allegiance to a nation
and set of ideals he or she can barely comprehend. Not to mention that
"indivisible" is practically impossible to say when you're still
trying to master lowercase letters.
"Liberty and justice for all" means having the freedom to grow up and
decide if you want to pledge allegiance to the United States. For
some, this may be so. But to others, for whom liberty and justice has
been elusive or nonexistent, the idea of pledging allegiance to this
country may not be agreeable. And when a student refrains from
pledging allegiance in the morning at school, this is often looked
down upon, especially with the warped concept of "patriotism" that has
become commonplace in this country since Sept. 11, 2001.
Churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship exist so
that we may all exercise religious freedom the way we choose. In the
same way, we all have a right to express ourselves, including our
pride and dedication to our country, in the manner we choose. From
kindergarten through high school, children learn the history of this
country and how it functions, as well as other important skills they
will need to function in society. Shouldn't our focus be on preparing
children for their future, and not insisting that they engage in a
daily nationalistic ritual?
Doug Scott is a journalism senior. E-mail dscott@kykernel.com.
--
Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president
represents, more and more closely, the inner soul
of the people. On some great and glorious day the
plain folks of the land will reach their heart's
desire at last and the White House will be adorned
by a downright moron." --- H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
Religion is the original war crime.
-Michelle Malkin (Feb 26, 2005)
.
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