Thursday, September 17, 2009

Another day, another example of right-wing hypocrisy: The Pledge of Allegiance edition

Posted by Chris Haire on Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 8:09 AM

I think I'm going to give myself a nickname.

How about Mr. Friendly? Or Mr. Sensible? Or Mr. Fair? Or Mr. All Bright and Cheery?

Anyone of those fits, don't you think?

I mean, if Lou Dobbs can call himself Mr. Independent, I can call myself Mr. Southern Hospitality.

Of course, both of us are completely full of shit. And, I don't know about Lou, but that's the way I like it. Dishonesty is the best policy folks. And hypocrisy is a way of life.

Last night, Lou and his guests were gargling words about some BS involving the Pledge of Allegiance.

According to Fox News, the education sec for the state of New Mex considered an ACLU-backed measure that would not only allow students to refuse to recite the pledge but would require schools to notify parents that their children had the right to keep their mouths shut when everybody else in Mrs. Crabapple's class talked about "one nation under God" and all that.

Well, this didn't sit too well with Lou and his pals, nor with Fox fans. Their argument more or less was this: giving kids the right to not say the pledge is simply un-American; that's not the way we do things here in America, and that's not the way we did it when I was child, so you're darn tootin' them kids gotta say the Pledge of Allegiance.

Here's the thing: Dobbs and his fellow "independent" friends will be the first to tell you that's it's your god-given right to call for the demise of the federal government, the ouster of each and every member of Congress (except for the guy from your district), and the failure of the president of the United States, but your right to thumb your nose at Uncle Sam, to exercise your right to rebel against the government — to let the powers that be know that you're mad as hell at the direction this country has taken and you're not going to take it anymore — just doesn't extend to the Pledge.

You can show your dissatisfaction in other ways (particularly if the head buffoon is a Democrat), but you have to, have to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Your right to protest only goes so far. Free speech has it's limits. Hypocrisy has no bounds.

Topics: National Politics
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maybe we should tell these people to not use U.S. currency. it does state "in god we trust". the pledge of allegiance shows allegiance to the country in which you live and should be said. although this country may have its problems, it is still a great place to live and being a citizen entitles you to all the freedoms this place has to offer. why is it so difficult to show some pride in your country and say the pldge that unites all of us and affords as all of these freedoms. it makes no sense to me.

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Posted by trae on September 17, 2009 at 10:13 AM

I stopped saying the "under god" part long ago. It doesn't belong there. It was added in the 50's during the anti-Communism red scare, because the Soviet Union was officially atheistic. It was not added by our forefathers, and it's not part of our country's heritage other than the heritage of fear left over from the Cold War.

I'm good with the rest of the pledge, because I mean it when I say it - "one country, indivisible."

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Posted by ETimmonsP on September 17, 2009 at 10:58 AM

The beauty of being an American citizen is that you don't have to like America. In fact, you can think it's the worst place in the world — proclaim it as loudly as you like. Protesting our country, our government, is a protected right. The problem here is that some folks really get bugged by the way others protest (marching on Washington, sit ins, flag burning, wearing American flag shirts, comparing the prez to Hitler), which really means they don't like what those other folks are protesting about. What one person thinks is great about America, another person hates.

Here's the thing: America doesn't cry when you don't recite the pledge. America doesn't pout when you refuse to sing the national anthem. America doesn't throw a hissy when a blowhard calls the president a liar (which of course he is — as they all are; they're politicians, so get over it.) In America, you are free to disagree, and that's a damn good thing. You're even free to say FU to the entire thing.

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Posted by chrishaire on September 17, 2009 at 11:23 AM

I'll never forget the first day back to school at the start of my junior year. My first period teacher was the assistant athletic director as well as my history teacher. Real straight-laced guy.

We stood up for the pledge, not a soul in the class said a word, and we sat down for the rest of the announcements. When the person on the intercom was done, the teacher got up and told us our grandparents would "backhand" us if they just saw what we did, and said that from that day forward there would be major trouble if we all didn't say the pledge loud and proud.

And the next morning, and all the other 170 days of that school year my class had to be the loudest, most patriotic class in Aiken County.

But seriously, students shouldn't be forced to recite the pledge. I doubt I'd recite it right now if asked to. But that's just me.

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Posted by Jason Usry on September 17, 2009 at 1:47 PM

New pledge to consider:

I pledge allegiance to the media outlets of the Blue States of America, and to the progressive socialist democracy for which they stand, one divided nation, rejecting God, with tyranny and injustice for all.

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Posted by I P Yuengling on September 17, 2009 at 2:10 PM

Here's another:

I pledge allegiance to bi-partisan bickering and name-calling, because it makes me feel good to dismiss other people, use labels I heard someone shout on Fox or MSNBC, and never get anything accomplished. This way, I don't have to think for myself, at all.

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Posted by ETimmonsP on September 17, 2009 at 2:35 PM

I guess the folks at Fox do not know their history-the Pledge was written by a socialist.

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Posted by labreidi on September 17, 2009 at 3:07 PM

Maybe we should just have one line that pertains to each case:
Agnostics: one nation, maybe under god
Atheists: one nation, not under god
All other religions: one nation, under MY god

sound good? great! let's move on.

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Posted by yournamehere on September 17, 2009 at 4:09 PM

Nation under god. Whose god?

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Posted by Charlestowne on September 17, 2009 at 8:41 PM

As a pledge, it's one sentence too long. After I pledge allegience to the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, what else is there to say?

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Posted by soup331 on September 17, 2009 at 11:35 PM

How do you pledge allegiance to your country and then called it's duly elected president a Nazi?

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Posted by Charlestowne on September 18, 2009 at 4:39 PM

It was not part of the original written pledge and only added after the McArthantics that ran up to the Cold War.

Just to prove we were not all pinkos. My child has the right to not say the words "under god", but I do request her to stand and give respect to our nation and those that serve her.

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Posted by Luna on September 22, 2009 at 1:14 PM
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