The Pledge

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“My country, right or wrong,” is a thing that no patriot would think of saying except in a desperate case. It is like saying, “My mother, drunk or sober.” -G. K. Chesterton
The pledge doesn’t say “my country, right or wrong.”
 
“My country, right or wrong,” is a thing that no patriot would think of saying except in a desperate case. It is like saying, “My mother, drunk or sober.”
-G. K. Chesterton
Yeah, but she’s still your country, and your mother. Normally, I like Chesterton’s quotes, but he (or I) is (am) missing something on this one. Bad analogy, maybe?

I like this one a lot better:
Every morning, I get up, get out of bed, and get on my knees and thank God for waking up in America … (She is) the light of the world … A nation of heroes … The real stars are wearing body armor on top of their battle dress uniforms in 130 degree heat and they do not have stunt doubles to come in for them when the going gets rough and the bullets and the shrapnel start flying. They are the real stars, fighting terrorism and trying to free a nation.
  • Ben Stein
 
rlg94086- More than I though I’d get! 😉 😃
👍 The beauty is that all of our postings have about the same worth in the grand scheme of things. And, you are right, they may be overvalued. 😛 😃
 
I didn’t say one has to recite the pledge to be a patriot. What I said is that someone who has “lost respect for the country” is, by definition, not a patriot.

And, by definition, I literally mean “definition:”
So by this definition, if you used to have respect and lost it, you are an “ex-patriot”, even though that word is reserved for those who have already left…

Maybe it’s time to have names such as “former patriot” or even “lapsed patriot”

I think at the moment, I’m a former patriot, with some hope for the future
 
So by this definition, if you used to have respect and lost it, you are an “ex-patriot”, even though that word is reserved for those who have already left…
You are thinking of someone who expatriated. They have the same root word, but someone who expatriates is not necessarily an ex-patriot. 😉
Maybe it’s time to have names such as “former patriot” or even “lapsed patriot”

I think at the moment, I’m a former patriot, with some hope for the future
I have hope for you too. 😉 …just need a little rehab is all. 😛
 
Or perhaps I am a patriot of what America should truely be.😉
Well, it depends on what you mean by that. You can dislike the current officeholders and be upset about the direction we are headed, but I believe there is a difference between that and dedication to the “republic for which it stands.” IOW…to “support” the United States “authority and interests” does not mean US right or wrong. It means you respect the fact that representatives elected by majorities of your countrymen are making decisions. And, you accept those decisions while you work toward change.

It is the same in any group vote. If you are going to turn your back on the group every time they vote, then why vote? Why not tell them, “I don’t care what y’all decide, I’m doing this!”

I fully respect people who disagree with me on issues concerning our country. And, most of them pledge allegiance right along side me because together we are working to improve our country. Sometimes my side of the issue wins, sometimes their side of the issue wins. There is no reason to hate your opposition.

Now if by “what America should truly be” you mean replacing the US Constitution with some other form of government, then I understand why you don’t want to pledge allegiance. You truly don’t believe in a republican system. If so, what do you want? Dictatorship? Theocracy?
 
I don’t believe in a party system, as did some of our founding fathers(washington). What I mean is some of the things we have legalized, our foreign policy, etc.

Of course I don’t expect everything to be perfect, that is unrealistic.

Please, I would wish for someone to explain for me the rational of saying the pledge. It makes a person more patriotic? It reaffrims what we believe in it?
 
The pledge doesn’t say “my country, right or wrong.”
You’re right, it doesn’t. It is ambiguous. I say the pledge because I’ve said it for over 50 years and I love this country. However, some say the pledge with the notion that somehow America is God’s primary agent of change in the world and the God is an American. This approach can make a country a little myopic.

Our citizenship is in Heaven. This country is broken. But it is still my country and out of my love for it and a respect for what she once was, I will always say the pledge.
 
I love my country. When people that ran it didn’t do that to my liking, I still loved her.

If you lost respect for your child due to the actions he or she has taken have you stopped loving your child? Do you stopped pledging support to that child?

It’s when things are going badly that we need more patriotism. Change only occurs when people care. Lack of patriotism is a defeatist attitude and allows for others to make changes that effect our life without your say so, knowledge, or consideration.

Patriotism allows for the citizenry to be involved in making the republic what it is, and what it will become. To stop being patriotic due to a hopefully passing emotional state is being a poor citizen.

The only way to change this country is by being involved. One cannot be involved if he doesn’t care.

It’s my country, whether I am drunk or sober. It’s my country if I am right or wrong. It’s my country, no matter who is president. It’s mine. Ownership beings with it responsibility. I have a responsibility to my country. Negating patriotism negates responsibility.

Please rethink your position. Please care and work to make this country better.
I couldn’t think of anywhere else to put this beside secular news, so here it goes.

I was wondering if we are required, as Catholic, to stand up and say the Pledge.

I have issues with saying it and many things about this country have caused me to lose respect for it and I don’t see the point of standing up and saying it if there is no meaning for me.

[mod note: no news link is OK on this thread]
 
I heard someone say once,’" This would be the worst country in the world if it weren’t for all the others."
 
However, some say the pledge with the notion that somehow America is God’s primary agent of change in the world and the God is an American. This approach can make a country a little myopic.

Our citizenship is in Heaven. This country is broken. But it is still my country and out of my love for it and a respect for what she once was, I will always say the pledge.
I agree with this, except always saying the pledge.
 
I love my country. When people that ran it didn’t do that to my liking, I still loved her.

If you lost respect for your child due to the actions he or she has taken have you stopped loving your child? Do you stopped pledging support to that child?

This doesn’t quite fit. A country is not like a child. My kids will always be my kids. People change countries all the time for various reasons.
b_justb;3145885:
It’s when things are going badly that we need more patriotism. Change only occurs when people care. Lack of patriotism is a defeatist attitude and allows for others to make changes that effect our life without your say so, knowledge, or consideration.

Patriotism allows for the citizenry to be involved in making the republic what it is, and what it will become. To stop being patriotic due to a hopefully passing emotional state is being a poor citizen.

The only way to change this country is by being involved. One cannot be involved if he doesn’t care.

It’s my country, whether I am drunk or sober. It’s my country if I am right or wrong. It’s my country, no matter who is president. It’s mine. Ownership beings with it responsibility. I have a responsibility to my country. Negating patriotism negates responsibility.

Please rethink your position. Please care and work to make this country better.
So, does this mean in the 1770’s you would have been a loyalist?

No disrespect intended - a big percentage were.
 
This doesn’t quite fit. A country is not like a child. My kids will always be my kids. People change countries all the time for various reasons.

So, does this mean in the 1770’s you would have been a loyalist?

No disrespect intended - a big percentage were.
I didn’t live in the 1770’s, I couldn’t tell you. I am here now; I am a Patriotic American now. I don’t think patriotism has to do with political parties or labels. It has to do with ownership and responsibility. It doesn’t deal with emotionalism or agreement with authority. I know how the “love it or leave it” slogan real chaps people sometimes, but that’s the deal. Love it or get out. You may not like it right now, but love it and work to change it so you do like it. If you don’t care, get out of the way. (“You” generally speaking; I’m not personally attacking you or any other poster. OK? OK.)
 
I didn’t live in the 1770’s, I couldn’t tell you. I am here now; I am a Patriotic American now. I don’t think patriotism has to do with political parties or labels. It has to do with ownership and responsibility. It doesn’t deal with emotionalism or agreement with authority. I know how the “love it or leave it” slogan real chaps people sometimes, but that’s the deal. Love it or get out. You may not like it right now, but love it and work to change it so you do like it. If you don’t care, get out of the way. (“You” generally speaking; I’m not personally attacking you or any other poster. OK? OK.)
I didn’t think you were attacking me. 👍

From my perspective, the “Love it Leave it” slogan is purely emotionalism. It sets up a black or white choice that ends all debate and any thinking or compromise.

On the other hand, it simplifies things in a good way that it acknowledges we always have a choice. One must decide what is best for his family to survive, thrive, practice their religion and better themselves. The USA is a very good option, but not the only one.

I love the ideals the country was founded on, and I love what this country was once, but I won’t blindly act like it is the only choice I have. As said above, we are to be citizens of heaven. These national borders, boundries and blind patriotism have caused more harm than good.
 
This doesn’t quite fit. A country is not like a child. My kids will always be my kids. People change countries all the time for various reasons.

**So, does this mean in the 1770’s you would have been a loyalist? **

No disrespect intended - a big percentage were.
Am I to infer that you are in favor of an overthrow of the government today? I mean logically, if you think that today’s patriot would have been a loyalist, I’m assuming that would make you in favor of revolution? :eek:
 
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