My daughter wrote a paper for college about the Pledge of Allegiance and how children have been forced, or at least pressured to recite it. She wrote of what it means to pretend to patriotism. She also wrote of what happens when someone stands up to the pressure. I'm proud of her work on the project.
It got me to thinking that if I were her Instructor, I would want her, and anyone who were to read her words, to consider the subject a few items further. So I wrote some review questions for her. Some are rhetorical, so it's all academic I suppose. All the same, I have decided to post them here - below the squiggle, of course.
Review Questions
Does the right to free speech include a right not to speak?
If one wants to, can she create her own pledge of allegiance?
Is one more patriotic if he recites a pledge or if he exercises his right not to?
Did the addition of the words "under God" in the pledge transform the pledge into a religious tract? A prayer perhaps?
Why is it so important to some God believers that others adopt their narrow point of view towards religion?
Is patriotism sometimes conflated with superstition - we had better incant magic words or bad things will happen to our country?
And
What does it say about a country where we celebrate liberty and justice for all, but at the same time strive to limit liberty and justice for some?