Comments on: Two cases of interest http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/25/two_cases_of_interest A Blog of Atheist Thought Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:40:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: billh http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/25/two_cases_of_interest/comment-page-1#comment-86465 billh Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86465 I recommend that 2 pledges be said. <br /> <br /> First by those that are unpatriotic and don't understand the constitution and want the modified version.<br /> <br /> Then by those that are patriotic and do understand the constitution and want the unmodified version.<br /> <br /> There is a third alternative. Say the pledge but at the "one nation, indivisable" point, say it very loud to drown out the "under god" and make your point. I recommend that 2 pledges be said.

First by those that are unpatriotic and don’t understand the constitution and want the modified version.

Then by those that are patriotic and do understand the constitution and want the unmodified version.

There is a third alternative. Say the pledge but at the “one nation, indivisable” point, say it very loud to drown out the “under god” and make your point.

]]> By: dsilverman http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/25/two_cases_of_interest/comment-page-1#comment-86475 dsilverman Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86475 Deep, That's what I do, except without the comma after "nation". I say "one nation indivisible", which places my "indivisible" right at the point of the comma that everyone else is using. Everyone is pausing, but I am speaking. They all hear me say "indivisible". Then I continue from there. Gets the point across. Deep, That’s what I do, except without the comma after “nation”. I say “one nation indivisible”, which places my “indivisible” right at the point of the comma that everyone else is using. Everyone is pausing, but I am speaking. They all hear me say “indivisible”. Then I continue from there. Gets the point across.

]]> By: Cynic http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/25/two_cases_of_interest/comment-page-1#comment-86476 Cynic Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86476 I refuse to participate in a test of my loyalty, and I hope my children will resent the implications of the pledge just as strongly. I refuse to participate in a test of my loyalty, and I hope my children will resent the implications of the pledge just as strongly.

]]> By: what http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/25/two_cases_of_interest/comment-page-1#comment-86482 what Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86482 The pledge solves no problem, fills no deficiency, promotes no well being. It is meant to do one thing and one thing only - to intimidate. The pledge solves no problem, fills no deficiency, promotes no well being. It is meant to do one thing and one thing only – to intimidate.

]]> By: pixel http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/25/two_cases_of_interest/comment-page-1#comment-86483 pixel Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86483 I wondered what I would do about the pledge when I went back to teaching (6th grade) this January.<br /> <br /> It just sort of worked out that the class was very busy in the mornings and I would forget to turn on the tv to listen to the announcements and pledge. Once I realized that I had been forgetting to turn on the tv I just conveniently "forgot" every morning from then on. Not having the distraction kept my mornings quieter and kept the students on task. I wondered what I would do about the pledge when I went back to teaching (6th grade) this January.

It just sort of worked out that the class was very busy in the mornings and I would forget to turn on the tv to listen to the announcements and pledge. Once I realized that I had been forgetting to turn on the tv I just conveniently “forgot” every morning from then on. Not having the distraction kept my mornings quieter and kept the students on task.

]]> By: what http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/25/two_cases_of_interest/comment-page-1#comment-86485 what Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86485 Pixel<br /> <br /> Sounds like a good plan. If you can remember it. :-) Pixel

Sounds like a good plan. If you can remember it. :-)

]]> By: Chris B http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/25/two_cases_of_interest/comment-page-1#comment-86486 Chris B Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86486 Nationalism (and its synonym patriotism) are nothing more than state-worship. <br /> <br /> As the founders of our country did, we should fear the power of the state, not worship it. <br /> <br /> The ritualistic display of reverence towards symbols of our bureaucracy can only be intended to promote nationalism over other ideologies. State-worship also reverses the proper relationship between citizens and government. Government is supposed to be the servant of the citizens, not the other way around! Government is supposed to do things like run the fire department, keep the electricity on, enforce the law, and other services for our benefit. Government was never established to be an extension of god. Nationalism (and its synonym patriotism) are nothing more than state-worship.

As the founders of our country did, we should fear the power of the state, not worship it.

The ritualistic display of reverence towards symbols of our bureaucracy can only be intended to promote nationalism over other ideologies. State-worship also reverses the proper relationship between citizens and government. Government is supposed to be the servant of the citizens, not the other way around! Government is supposed to do things like run the fire department, keep the electricity on, enforce the law, and other services for our benefit. Government was never established to be an extension of god.

]]> By: charlie http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/25/two_cases_of_interest/comment-page-1#comment-86487 charlie Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86487 yeah.....what Chris B said yeah…..what Chris B said

]]> By: billh http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/25/two_cases_of_interest/comment-page-1#comment-86489 billh Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86489 Simple question. How do you show your patriotism? Or better yet, do you believe in patriotism? Simple question. How do you show your patriotism? Or better yet, do you believe in patriotism?

]]> By: Cynic http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/25/two_cases_of_interest/comment-page-1#comment-86490 Cynic Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86490 Must it be shown? Change that to "how do you show your love, or better yet, do you believe in love?"<br /> <br /> If patriotism is love of country, shouldn't it be subject to the same parameters? That's the thing about the pledge and the like. If you were married to someone who every day asked you to pledge yourself formally and show your patriotism toward them, you'd dump their ass, right? Who likes to be questioned like that?<br /> <br /> Who? "Patriots" do. Must it be shown? Change that to “how do you show your love, or better yet, do you believe in love?”

If patriotism is love of country, shouldn’t it be subject to the same parameters? That’s the thing about the pledge and the like. If you were married to someone who every day asked you to pledge yourself formally and show your patriotism toward them, you’d dump their ass, right? Who likes to be questioned like that?

Who? “Patriots” do.

]]>