Pledge of allegiance UK

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**strybjorn Grimskull**

source: http://trialbyjeory.wordpress.com/2013/06/02/nick-boles-wants-a-pledge-of-allegiance-in-british-schools-discuss/

So i wanted to consult the people of Dakka on what they think, is making kids do a "pledge" a good thing, and i'm not talking about just Britain here, do Americans think it is time to stop there daily pledge.

So Dakka, views.

**Coolyo294**

I don't know how other schools do it, but at my school we only have to say the pledge once a week on monday. And you're not even required to say it if you don't want to.

**MeanGreenStompa**

I think it's brilliant.

The British need a revitalization of their sense of patriotism, it's one of the things I really like about living in the States, they love their own country, instead of some strange sense of shame about the empire and quiet refusal to admit that Britain is bloody great, full of inventors and history and punches well above it's weight on the world stage and has done for about the last thousand years.

**SilverMK2**

I had to sing hymns and recite prayer through most of school - i dont think it ever made me a christian or a person different tp who i wpuld have been if my schools did not have them.

At the end of the day it is just words; you need to put spme meaning behind it for it to have any real impact.

**Alfndrate**

Actually in that vein.. I wonder how many kids actually know the US pledge...

**strybjorn Grimskull**

MeanGreenStompa wrote:
I think it's brilliant.

The British need a revitalization of their sense of patriotism, it's one of the things I really like about living in the States, they love their own country, instead of some strange sense of shame about the empire and quiet refusal to admit that Britain is bloody great, full of inventors and history and punches well above it's weight on the world stage and has done for about the last thousand years.

The people of Britain know that it is was great, and your right a Brits invented the TV,Bike,telephone and was highly credited with the discovery of peniciline (most were also Scot's *cue happy dance*), But Britain IMHO has had better days, no empire, no longer the most dominante country, not as economicly strong as other countries, and a whole country that wants to split away, is now the best time to have a pledge, or should they wait for things to get better, then start to "re-patriate" the country.

**Rented Tritium**

The pledge is fething creepy.

**kronk**

I like it and support it.

**Gentleman_Jellyfish**

Alfndrate wrote:
Actually in that vein.. I wonder how many kids actually know the US pledge...

From memory

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

**Dreadclaw69**

I wait with baited breath to hear what he proposes for a pledge of allegiance for Northern Ireland

**strybjorn Grimskull**

The biggest problem i find it encounters is what to put into it.

Do you make it about the Queen, Britain itself, former glory days the future, just what do you put in.

**Da Boss**

British people are plenty patriotic already. They don't need something like this, in my view.

**poppa G**

I don't mind every now and and then but everyday?

**kronk**

Everyday and twice on Sundays.

**Rented Tritium**

It's the job of the people to define themselves. If they are less patriotic, that is their business. A government derived of the people should feel no need to market itself back to those people.

**Tyranidcrusher**

It is a bit overnationalist isn't it?

**George Spiggott**

SilverMK2 wrote:
I had to sing hymns and recite prayer through most of school - i dont think it ever made me a christian or a person different tp who i wpuld have been if my schools did not have them.

Same here and when I told the teacher I didn't believe I got told to mime to them.

Terrible idea. A much better idea would be having a lesson dedicated to explaining how Britain works and how it came to be that way.

**Frazzled**

strybjorn Grimskull wrote:

source: http://trialbyjeory.wordpress.com/2013/06/02/nick-boles-wants-a-pledge-of-allegiance-in-british-schools-discuss/

So i wanted to consult the people of Dakka on what they think, is making kids do a "pledge" a good thing, and i'm not talking about just Britain here, do Americans think it is time to stop there daily pledge.

So Dakka, views.

I pledge allegiance to the Haggis and plate on which it stands. One nation, highly divisible with incomprehensible accents and stiff upper lips for all (except the Irish).
Irish Anthem-where's my beer?
Scottish anthem-argh glar blargarg kalar (translation - does anyone else feel a breeze up their???)
Welsh anthem -aherlihihehriiherherr (translation -aherlihihehriiherherr)
English anthem -Manchester United you mangy bastar..)

**Ahtman**

Gentleman_Jellyfish wrote:
Alfndrate wrote:
Actually in that vein.. I wonder how many kids actually know the US pledge...

From memory

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Same, but then we had to do it every morning for the first ten years of school, I think. That kind of repetition leaves scars.

**Frazzled**

We had to sing the Yellow Rose of Texas. To graduate elementary school, we had to cross the Rio Grande and steal cattle while shouting "FOR HOUSTON! FOR TEXAS!"

**Kovnik Obama**

I disagree with any ritual designed to instill blind obedience and bias toward your own community.

Anyway, you never know when treason is actually going to be the best course of actions.

**Kilkrazy**

Brits don't go in for all that rally round the flag stuff.

**azazel the cat**

Kovnik Obama wrote:I disagree with any ritual designed to instill blind obedience and bias toward your own community.

Anyway, you never know when treason is actually going to be the best course of actions.

This. So much this.

In any case, kids in the US are not actually required to recite it or even stand during it (and I think its original salute is now highly discouraged as well).

**mega_bassist**

When I was in school, we said the Pledge every day (and that was in two different school districts in my time). I didn't realize people did it any other way until I was in college, haha.

On Topic - I think it's a good idea. I like the fact that the we have one, and that it's regularly recited.

**Compel**

My school (Scotland, if my flag is still messed up), had morning assembly for 15 minutes, which somehow was able to get us out of doing any "Religious Education" style classes. It included hymns, the 'school song' fairly often, short readings from assorted things and that was that.

I think we sung "God save the Queen" at the end of year ceremony in the town hall.

That was about that.

I can't imagine much good coming from adding any sort of pledge (For Queen and Country?) would really help.

**Dark Apostle 666**

I'm proud of my country, but I find the idea of a pledge insipid... and very un-british, though I can't tell you why I feel that. maybe because it's such an "American" thing.

Not that being American is a bad thing, but I don't think it's a good idea to just copy stuff like that. We'd be better off with a better compulsory History syllabus to build pride in our country, or whatever.

Forced devotion leads to distaste, in my experience. We had prayers and religious songs at my primary school, and I ended up strongly anti-religion. Or at least, anti forced religion.

So I'd be cautious of this kind of idea. That's my two pence, anyway

**Compel**

Sky TV recently did a 6 episode tv show called, "The British" that had that sort of goal (it was aired shortly after the Olympics).

Maybe someone could suggest they make that available to schools?

**Jihadin**

Besides the Pledge of Allegiance during school I had also this

No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a noncommissioned officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as "the Backbone of the Army." I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the military service and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit or personal safety.
Competence is my watch-word. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind -- accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain technically and tactically proficient. I am aware of my role as a noncommissioned officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment.

Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders

Also a few others

**Howard A Treesong**

I think some Americans think that we're not patriotic because we don't do pledges to the flag and other overt acts if nationalism. Like many things about Britain it's more understated, by our standards the pledge of allegiance is quite crass and unneeded. Most of the time I think we are supportive and proud of our country but don't beat on about it. Sometimes we do have big patriotic moment. When Kate and Wills got married, London was swarmed by people there to watch and wave flags, most of the country tuned in to watch on TV, all of their own accord.

Look at the difference between our top military awards, the Medal of Honor against the Victoria Cross. The American award is gold metal and colourful, the VC is a single dull metal cast from an old cannon. The point being that it doesn't need to be showy, it's modest and understated because it's accepted that its importance speaks for itself. That sums up a lot of differences between US and Beitish cultures, we think you're brash and loud, you think we're quiet and non patriotic.

**Jihadin**

Cowboys versus scoundrels eh