Reply #12: yes [View All]

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i understood it to be a loyalty test and a means of religious indoctrination

thank you, arwalden, for leaving out the "under god" part added in the '50s, but unfortunately my PUBLIC school insisted on keeping it in. to try to get around the constitutional issues, they always had a student (usually a class president of some such) recite it over the school-wide p.a. system....

each year, i stood on the first day and recited the pledge, sitting down with my mouth shut during the "under god" part, standing to finish the pledge, then sat down.

the rest of the year, i stayed in my seat. when people nudged me to join in, i'd say, "i already pledged my allegience once. there was no expiration date, it's still valid. when you pledge your allegience, does that mean only for one day and you won't be loyal to your country tomorrow unless you pledge again?"