I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. The Pledge of Allegiance is something that I don't really remember understanding as a child. My teacher would say “stand for the pledge” and no one asked why we were standing or why we had to recite it because “hey, we don’t have to ask questions because everyone else was standing and reciting.” So, the Pledge of Allegiance became one of those unwritten social rules of society that I didn’t have a full understanding of but I also didn’t question it because I assumed that all my peers understood it. As I got older, my understanding of the Pledge changed. The Pledge of allegiance is said throughout schools to instill a sense of Patriotism and duty as United States citizens. The main question I aim to answer today is as follows: What are we going to have to do to develop character, prepare for useful citizenship and foster patriotism? The question may be difficult to answer but the solution is simple. First, we must look at why developing character, preparing for useful citizenship, and fostering patriotism is important. Looking back to my story, I thought I was the only one who didn’t fully grasp why we were standing for the Pledge, but the fact of the matter is, many children don’t understand either, and eventually these children will be grown adults in this society. Every single person born in the US is part of the very foundation of this country. To have a successful, prosperous country, we must have a good
"I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation
If you think about it, you have probably been saying the Pledge of Allegiance everyday since first grade. When you initially learnt it, you didn’t even know what it meant and by the time you did understand it, you said it by pure rote. No one questioned it, but why should they? It doesn’t take much energy to stand up and recite a short verse everyday. However do you say these significant words with any sincerity? But stop and think for a second, why are we required to start each school day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Don’t you think it is about time to understand why exactly we say the Pledge? Is it to honor our country? Is it to respect our freedom? Is it to hail our
Most of the time people will forget what America means and stands for when the Pledge is the most basic form of a definition of
Since the Pledge of Allegiance was something that was recited every single school morning, it did not have much importance to me and just became a school routine, you stand up, place your hand on your heart, repeat the words, and sit down. Even at one point it became annoying to me. If you were to not fully participate you would be slightly scolded by the teacher or given a look. Now that I am older I have learned more about what it means and understand that it has an emotional meaning to some Americans. The Pledge of Allegiance is a patriotic vow to the United States to remain loyal and obedient to the country that offers freedom and
Why the pledge of allegiance should be revised, by Gwen Wilde, is a very well written essay that the reader would most likely deem convincing. Gwen Wilde states that the Pledge in its latest from simply requires all Americans to say the phrase “one nation, under God,” when many Americans do not believe in God. She uses many different writing strategies to get her point across in a very precise and appropriate manner. Although there are some minor problems, this analysis will explain how Gwen Wilde uses certain writing strategies that are able to back her argument with a very convincing approach.
Across California, schools are no longer are required to recite The Pledge of Allegiance in public school, but outside its mandatory. Studies have shown that this has no effect on the children, no matter what test scores the school has. The choice of whether to teach it or not, is up to the principals or teachers of the school, nevertheless the school is still required schools are required to have a “patriotic exercise” everyday. There have not been any particular differences between schools that teach it and schools that do not. Parents do not seem to mind their child not knowing the pledge, for example Todd Davis. His fifth grade son knows the pledge by heart and in two languages, but his second grade daughter did not know what it was. David shrugged it of not caring because there is no necessity
For years American citizens have held respect for something important to veterans all over America, known as the Pledge of Allegiance. The pledge of allegiance is a solemn oath of loyalty to the US, declaimed as part of flag-saluting ceremonies. It’s tradition to stand during the allegiance, and place your right hand over your heart. Doing so, shows respect to America, and to the veterans who fought for our freedom. Recently, individuals have been speaking out as to why you shouldn’t be forced to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance.
Summary: The division between church and state is a gray line that is often crossed and argued about. For example, Gwen Wilde, the author, argues that the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance requires people who do not believe in God to recite something they do not necessarily believe in. If a person chose not to say the full Pledge, including to utter the words “under God” they run the risk of being called unpatriotic. The author continually argues that the words “under God” add a religious doctrine that not all Americans believe in.
As a daily routine many schools have their students start by standing up, facing the American flag, and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. This is something that most students have memorized since kindergarten and in some cases even preschool. The students recite the pledge every morning and most of them don’t know what it means or aren’t really sure why they have to say it. If students don’t know what the purpose or the history behind something is, they generally don’t take the matter seriously, which with The Pledge being a serious matter, students need to know the history in order to show respect. The Pledge of Allegiance should be said every morning by students at schools in the USA and they should be aware of its meaning.
Guns firing, soldiers yelling, we battle fiercely at Fort McHenry. Day breaks, and stars and stripes wave in the air. The American Flag stands for freedom, hope, equality, opportunity, and democracy. The flag represents the American Dream. We may not always realize it, but our flag also represents hope for a brighter and better tomorrow. Standing for the Pledge of Allegiance, my classmates and I don’t always think about what we’re saying or what we’re doing. Sometimes we just don’t recognize what the flag, the pledge, or even America means to people. The thing is, I feel so fortunate to live in a country like the United States; I just don’t know how fortunate I am sometimes. Some people, people who are not as fortunate as I am, dream of coming
When I was in Mrs. E’s kindergarten class, everyday we would stand up in that small, but comfortable room, face the flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance. As a little kid you really don’t understand what exactly the Pledge is saying, it was just a bunch of words we would have to say everyday as a class. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized the Pledge was a very important part of everybody's day.
"I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under Congress, the Supreme Court, the Declaration of Independence, our founding fathers, and the President, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Every morning over 75 million students around the nation recite the Pledge of Allegiance verbatim (Digest of Education Statistics). If one walks up to one of these students and asks them about the meaning and the origin of this pledge, what would they say? Nothing. However, even though more than a million students recite these words every day, not more than half probably know the true meaning behind these words. One cannot deny the fact that most of these children just want to get this pledge “over with” to continue talking to their peers. The Pledge of Allegiance has gone through several changes since Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, wrote it in 1892. The pledge acts as a source of patriotism, national pride and controversy. The
Ironically, the Pledge of Allegiance originated from the hand of a social minister and chairman of the National Education Association, Francis Bellamy. Bellamy’s goal with the initial 23 word pledge was to impress it upon receptive, youthful minds, and convey the compassion and the patriotic duty deserving of the Republic. As a result, “more than 12 million public school children in every state in the Union” spoke the Pledge of Allegiance that day (Moss 2006). Since then, it has been a catalyst for tradition turned into mandatory law.
It’s 8:10AM in 2008r, and I’m sprinting to my class line. I make it in time, and I settle in. Boy, girl, boy, girl, my class, from the parking lot, turns to face the left side of the school building where the flag pole is. Our eyes follow the flag as it slowly rises to the top. We all become silent. Every single day, the words, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” would come out of my mouth out of respect towards those who, day in and day out, risk their lives for me to live free in this magnificent country. This of course is joined by my hand resting over my heart. I do this, and my over five hundred and fifty classmates and teachers, do this, too.