I work in education. Earlier today, I was accidentally out of the room during morning announcements (I'm usually sitting in the back). When I came in, the pledge of allegiance was going HARD. It took all my willpower to prevent myself from sprinting to my desk to sit down so I wouldn't be standing during the pledge of allegiance (fascist brainwashing!).

Evidently, my behavior was conspicuous and my coteacher asked 'Are you an objector?'

Sheepishly, I replied "...yeah."

On 9/11 of all days.

    • bubbalu [they/them]
      ·
      10 months ago

      I have reached one step higher n normally I pointedly sit there quietly and then (am the only one) saying the daily affirmation very loudly so its not like they just didn't hear me previously.

        • bubbalu [they/them]
          ·
          10 months ago

          It's cute. They have a second pledge where they promise to love themselves, study hard, and recite that they are essentially empathetic, intelligent people worthy of dignity.

          • Redbolshevik2 [he/him]
            ·
            10 months ago

            Hell yes.

            I am an empathetic, intelligent person worthy of dignity and I DO NOT pledge allegiance to the United States of America!

  • PM_ME_YOUR_FOUCAULTS [he/him, they/them]
    ·
    10 months ago

    Whenever I move into a new classroom and there's an American flag up, the first thing I do is snatch that sucker down and throw it into a closet. Now I have an enormous gay flag to replace it with.

    Death to America

    • pillow
      ·
      7 months ago

      deleted by creator

    • JuneFall [none/use name]
      ·
      10 months ago

      You see people who don't care did exist before the oath of allegiance, but since it is established the relation to it is framed in the terms of for or against (objectors).

      Of course this has a dialectical attribute the non-participant of the oath was only created due to the "oath ritual" in its specificity.

      Corollary if someone would object or not participate, then this becomes a very clear political act, the negation of it. So while it is a tool of forced unity it also bears the seed of resistance in it, even for "unpoliticals". Would love to know how many "unpolitical" students in the USA do object, though.

  • Elon_Musk [none/use name]
    ·
    10 months ago

    When forced into that situation the correct action is to give a "roman salute" to the flag before placing your hand on your heart.

  • CannotSleep420@lemmygrad.ml
    ·
    10 months ago

    When I came, in the pledge of allegiance was going HARD.

    The comma placement makes it sound like you came during the pledge of allegiance.

  • CrispyFern [fae/faer, any]
    ·
    10 months ago

    One time I went to a minor league baseball game and was standing in a long line before the game for beer. I kinda zoned out and daydreamed for a while and when I zoned back in I noticed EVERYONE in line in front of me was turned around staring at me. I had a moment of panic before I realized that the national anthem was playing and there was a flag directly behind me.

    • JuneFall [none/use name]
      ·
      10 months ago

      I had a moment of panic before I realized that the national anthem was playing and there was a flag directly behind me.

      So can you translate for a non USA-brain what consequence this has?

      • Smeagolicious [they/them]
        ·
        10 months ago

        I think the idea is that fae thought people were staring for some unknown startling reason before noticing that they were simply exhibiting the traditional Amerikkkan pavlovian response of staring at the nearest flag and holding your hat/hand over your heart/saluting when the anthem plays, regardless of context. There's no real consequence other than an awkward moment, usually, unless you're really unlucky and some chud is feeling very patriotic/drunk that day. Fistfights and such may start or escalate from there in the worst situations, but it's not extremely common.

        • JuneFall [none/use name]
          ·
          10 months ago

          the traditional Amerikkkan pavlovian response of staring at the nearest flag and holding your hat/hand over your heart/saluting when the anthem plays, regardless of context

          This does sound so strange to me.

  • eatmyass
    ·
    10 months ago

    deleted by creator

  • ZapataCadabra [he/him]
    ·
    10 months ago

    Not only do I not put my hand over my heart or stand during the pledge, I convinced my friend who is also a teacher to not do it.