Atheist-Friendly Pledge of Allegiance

[argexpat]

I [robotically mouth the words to a loyalty oath I was forced to memorize during government-sponsored childhood indoctrination out of fear of being ostracized] to and to the [corporate plutocracy] for which it stands, one [arbitrarily bordered land mass occupied by racially diverse people ruled by an entrenched white elite] under , indivisible, with liberty and justice for [those who can afford it].

home.comcast.net/~atryferis/wsb/media/411121/site1002.jpg

[Griffey]

Woah, someone call the FDA, this bitterness is off the charts

I love it. It's excellent. And so true. I might memorize it and start saying it under my breath during pledge time!

[Hilly]

Well, sorry but I find it mostly cynical. The United States is not perfect, but still is a great country deserving of some respect. I don't believe this pledge reflects that.

[nonny]

I agree hilly. Even though I think it would take a really long time to say this pledge.

[Franc28]

Hilly said:

Well, sorry but I find it mostly cynical. The United States is not perfect, but still is a great country deserving of some respect.

Since when ?

[Maverick]

argexpat, I noticed that you posted a thread with this message in the Expressive Outlet & Multimedia section. Please be aware that posting the same message multiple times is considered spamming and isn't allowed at this board.

If you think you've posted something in the wrong section, feel free to ask one of the mods or myself to move the thread to the appropriate section.

Also, a belated welcome to the board, argexpat. I look forward to hearing more from you in the future.

[pieisgood]

I agree with Hilly's stance (that the US isn't all bad), but I still think it's more in good fun than to insult it. We make fun of GWB, for example, all the time, but he's done something good (there was that time in '82).

I disagree with the message, but I think it's pretty funny. It might be tough to talk fast enough to say it during the pledge, but that's never stopped me before!

[Yaw]

pieisgood

We make fun of GWB, for example, all the time, but he's done something good (there was that time in '82).

There was? Is there documented proof of this?

At any rate, argexpat forgot to mention some reference to the Civil War after "indivisible". Otherwise, this reminds me a lot of the Royal Canadian Air Farce's "Politically Correct Stories" sketches.

[AuntieSocial]

Well, I find the whole idea of a loyalty oath ridiculous ... and I did get a few giggles out of the offering above.

Yaw is correct ... there should be some mention of the Civil War, the Amerindian situation or the Civil Rights situations when they mention indivisible.

[Hilly]

Well maybe I need to lighten up a bit, If it (this pledge)was meant as satire OK.


on May 17th, 2004, 9:49pm, Hilly wrote: The United States is not perfect, but still is a great country deserving of some respect.

Franc28 said:

Since when ?

Personally speaking, I've felt this way since I can remember being aware of my neighbour to the south, so mostly my whole life.

[Maverick]

I think it's pretty funny and makes its intended point. It ridicules the entire concept behind pledges by re-defining the words in the Pledge of Allegiance. I agree that doing something with "indivisible" would've been good. Though the Civil War is not the only example of when our nation is divided, it might be the best one.

Hilly said:

Well, sorry but I find it mostly cynical. The United States is not perfect, but still is a great country deserving of some respect. I don't believe this pledge reflects that.

Hilly, are you referring more to the general U.S. population when you say that this is a country that is still deserving some respect? Or are you referring to the political system?

nonbeliever said:

I agree hilly. Even though I think it would take a really long time to say this pledge.

It would, but I don think it was a pledge that was meant to be spoken. If it was, then prepare to take a deep breath before you start!

[Hilly]

Maverick said:

Hilly, are you referring more to the general U.S. population when you say that this is a country that is still deserving some respect? Or are you referring to the political system?

Both. As argexpat pointed out the populace of the US is racially diverse, I think thats a good thing. Canada is very racially diverse as well.
I am not convinced however about the part stated that the US is being "ruled by an entrenched white elite" or the bit about the flag representing "corporate plutocracy" I find those statements unjustified.
I can't speak to the political system, other than to say its a democracy that seems to be working well, with a system of checks and balances. An ongoing process open to change.
I tend to look at the United States as a country with a great responsibility of having, perhaps, the unenviable position of being the world super power and all the responsibility that comes with that. Not an easy task. But I think their up to it, whereas say China or Russia are not.

[nonny]

UM hilly were you saying that the US is a democracy?? BEcuase it is a Republic "And to the Republic for which it stands" (irony quoteing the pledge here).

[Franc28]

nonbeliever said:

UM hilly were you saying that the US is a democracy?? BEcuase it is a Republic "And to the Republic for which it stands" (irony quoteing the pledge here).

*Someone* has been sleeping under a rock since WW2...

[AuntieSocial]

nonbeliever said:

UM hilly were you saying that the US is a democracy?? BEcuase it is a Republic "And to the Republic for which it stands" (irony quoteing the pledge here).

nonny, you are correct. The USA is considered a "Citizenship Republic", but, as Hilly pointed out, they have strong democratic tradition.

According to the CIA World Factbook, the U.S.A.'s government system is a "Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition"

Portrait of the USA states in Chapter 4:

The Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution after it, combined America's colonial experience with the political thought of such philosophers as England's John Locke to produce the concept of a democratic republic. emphasis mine

Couples Company has a couple of articles that may be of interest:

Definition of Democracy
The article goes into greater details, but this following passage applies to the political system in the USA.

Representative Democracy:
This approach entails people voting to elect representatives in a free and fair electoral system to make policy for them under a wide range of checks and balances to help ensure leadership accountability. The United States is a Republic which follows the ideals of a Representative Democracy. Our Electoral College is an example of voting via a Representative Democracy.

Definition of a Republic

And since we are on the topic of satire ... I found this on one the Couples Company website:

Psalm 2003

Bush is my shepherd, I shall be in want.
He leadeth me beside the still factories,
He maketh me to lie down on park benches,
He restoreth my doubts about the Republican party,

He guideth me onto the paths of unemployment for the party's sake.
I do fear the evildoers, for thou talkst about them constantly.

Thy tax cuts for the rich and thy deficit spending
They do discomfort me.
Thou anointeth me with never-ending debt,
And my savings and assets shall soon be gone.
Surely poverty and hard living shall follow me,
And my jobless children shall dwell in my basement forever. -AMEN