To me, you sound like that hero… Thank you - for standing up in a harsh environment. Atheists, at least American Atheists, have long referred to it as ‘The Prayer of Aledgence.’ I agree, and if forced to ‘recite it’ (as I was within school settings), I simply finished a sentence ahead of most…

Was at a political meeting where the chair asked if we should recite ‘the pledge?’ I was impressed we’d been given a choice, and said, no. Instantly attacked by the ‘old US vet’ among us, describing how he’d ‘fought for that flag’ … I told him (in front of all), it’s not the flag, it’s the ‘pledge’ and it’s added ‘under god’ that offends me. He came unglued ..so the chair began the prayer…

It’s wrong, like having added the god graffiti to our money in order to ‘fight godless communism’ during the cold war… That war’s over - and it’s time to remove god references from everywhere they’d been placed! ...and since it was recently asked why ‘politics’ is so often raised within these discussions ..let’s just say, had most of our choices won the last US presidential election - a Supreme Court willing to take on this injustice would no doubt have appeared. As is ..we get to remain mute ~

I don't say "under god"....Not only god is a fairy tale but the two words were not in the original POA.

The "Pledge of Allegience" should never be uttered, or honored, until the pledge is recited by someone over the age of 18 years old. I think that it has been deliberately degraded by pandering assholes who like watching children blather it incessantly every classroom day...like cute kindergarteners singing "twinkle, twinkle little star". Take the Pledge. Become a citizen when you reach the legal voting age. Be held personally accountable for you actions thereafter.

God is supposed to be everywhere so how can it even be possible?

There are 3 pledges 1892. ..1923 changed by Congress from "my" flag to " to the flag of the United States of America " 8 words replaced 1 word.....then the illegal under gawd lie was added by Congress 1955. .... I always recite 1892 and finish 4 seconds before the crowd

I tell people about "The added later" all the time! Sorry you had to go through that. And thank you for your service.

I still use the original version.

And when I appeared in court I stated, "I solemnly affirm." The non-religious version, in other words. You can't swear if there's nobody to swear by.

I've been omitting for a long time too.

My opinion is the pledge is just another piece of brainwashing indoctrination to get folks to believe we got something in common with the ruling elite 1%. The same with that anthem. Frances Scott Key was a slave owning racist pig. We're not taught in school that in the war of 1812 thousands of slaves actually fought on the side of the British and in turn the British gave them sanctuary. I don't give a shit what anybody says I would kneel right beside Colin Kaepernick!

People still say the Pledge? Interesting. I don't think I've said it since they stopped forcing us to say it in school over two decades ago.

Haven't been to a game where it is required in years. Pats or Red Sox.

I stopped reciting the Pledge a very long time ago. I honestly don't believe anyone should be compelled to do it. Or stand for the national anthem. I really don't like symbols, whether religious or nationalistic. I realize it's an unpopular position, but I honestly do not care.
I don't think participating in those things is any kind of quantifier, or qualifier, of whether someone loves their country.

I must have been in 7th grade when the pledge was changed last. I vaguely recall the teacher announcing it. I don't include Unter Gott these days when I say the pledge. I just wish we could get that reference off our money also.

I had a fairly old very religious relative that was in a debate club when the "under god" was added. She argued against it by saying:

1. this is just going to cause an argument one day by skeptics

2. god is a big boy and can take care of himself.

hearing point 2 from such a religious women still gives me pause. She always, despite her devotion to faith, was such a smart lady. I don't say it and neither did she, which besides some DNA was about all we ever had in common, haha.