Why do Americans pledge the Pledge of Allegiance?

Answer 1

Those who do say it do so because they believe you should express your loyalty to your country - every day, in the case of school children.

Those who don't say it do so for many reasons:

1. Meaning lost in endless repetition, no explanation given, no history provided.

2. Comprises an ideological viewpoint that is forced on little kids by authorities to whom they are dependent.

3. The two above, taken together, is the definition of brainwashing.

4. The absurdity of having to repeat a pledge daily that apparently is only good for 24 hours.

5. The conforming routine of it, which makes you feel like a brain-dead robot sheep as opposed to a citizen of a free country who enjoys individual liberty.

6. Subordinates the people to the government, which we are told on good authority was created by us, with allegiance to us, not us to it.

7. Exalts nationalism over federalism contrary to the basic principles of our Republic. Subsuming states and individual rights to central government is a necessary pre-requisite for a centralized, socialist government to gain traction. This was an explicit goal of Francis Bellamy, the socialist author of the PofA.

8. Encourages jingoism. Antagonistic tribalism. No other countries have their citizens swear a loyalty oath to their government (except Mexico and the Philippines, mimicking the U.S).

9. Concocted by a company that sold flags as part of a plan to compel schools to buy more flags while instilling socialist-style nationalism in American children.

10. Unsavory connection with Nazis. The Pledge originally featured the Nazi-style salute. In fact, Hitler got it from the Italian fascists who much admired, that's right, kids in America doing it while saying the Pledge. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellamy_salute (Man, if that doesn't give you chills)

11. Is patriotic lip-service in place of, even at the expense of, actual civic engagement and action. (Symbolic patriotism)

12. Is uncritical patriotism at the expense of maintaining oversight over government. (Blind patriotism)

13. Considered by many Christians idolatry, taking the name of God in vain, swearing oaths, serving two masters.

14. Divides the nation (and the classroom) along religious lines. Only those represented by the Judeo-Christian "God" need apply as patriots (Ironic that "under God", comes right before "indivisible.")

15. Is hypocritical on the part of adults, bullying little kids into doing something that adults themselves don't do. (You say the Pledge every day, do you, and on a government mandated schedule?)

16. And last, but not least, pledging allegiance to a flag is just stupid.

Answer 2

First, it should be noted that the Pledge was created and written at a time when there was a massive influx of immigrants coming to the United States, and it was believed that having one unifying ritual, such as a pledge of allegiance, would make these new Americans feel more loyal to their new country. It was written by a Protestant minister named Francis Bellamy, and it did not mention God or religion at that time; it was simply meant as a way to show patriotic pride in the USA. Years later (in 1954), during McCarthyism, the words "under God" were added, ostensibly to show that unlike the Communists, Americans believed in God. The pledge has been recited in schools for over a century, mainly as a ritual that is supposed to teach children love for their country by recognizing its flag (the symbol of America). Unfortunately, the language has changed since Rev. Bellamy's day, and many children have no idea what it means to "pledge allegiance"-- they do it because they are told to.

Answer 3

It expresses their loyalty to their flag and their liberty,justice, and independence