The Pledge of Allegiance: Forced patriotism for kids?

[Insomniac]

Dare I point out that this incessant bickering about who is on what topic is even more off topic than the post in question?

[Humchuckninny]

Dare I point out that you also participated in the, what was it, "incessant bickering?"

 

Snafu -I agree, your point did have validity to it. It was the simple insults and the derrogatory tone that bothered me, and I accept your apology. I also offer my apologies for the overreaction.

 

The difference is this - the original post wanted to discuss the morality of enforcing patriotism i.e., brainwashing. The topic steered away in two ways - one, the "under God" portion. We began talking about that a bit. And two, the morals behind forced patriotism were no longer the main focus - it was how patriotism is best invoked into one's mind. The methods and location, specifically. Not whether or not it should happen, but how it should happen. I know, the difference seems subtle, but it is there and changes the course of debate entirely.

 

What you said wasn't different from the TOPIC, no. The topic being forced patriotism. And that was my entire point - that what you said didn't follow the general line of debate throughout the entire forum. It's just one of my huge pet peeves - when people don't actually read where the discussion has progressed to and contribute to the current discussion. It was nothing personal at all, I swear

 

Oh, and I know that topics rarely stay "on topic." It just makes me mad when the topics change, people don't read the changes and post what they think. It's always been something that makes me mad.

 

The definition of brainwashing is (according to Heritage dictionary) n : forcible indoctrination into a new set of attitudes and beliefs. Which is precisely what happens in reciting the pledge. It's forced indoctrination (reciting in the unavoidable public school) of new attitudes (patriotism). It is not necissarily that you don't have a mind of your own - brainwashing doesn't mean you wash your brain at all. And it doesn't work on everyone by any means. I have my own patriotism stemming from much different roots than reciting the pledge. People are often able to identify brainwashing even while it's happening to them, and it doesn't mean it's effective. I hope that makes sense.

 

[snafu]

Ok and I can concur with that.

 

If setting up values for our young is brainwashing then I guess you can call it that. That