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Dirtbagleftist wrote

Besides sports events we have them in our classrooms where in most cases we are required to pledge allegiance to the darned thing every morning. Technically speaking that is illegal of course, but teachers still require us to do it out of 'respect'.

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happysmash27 wrote

Several schools I have been to don't have the pledge at all, and all of them that did only required one to stand up, in my experience.

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Dirtbagleftist wrote

My middle school and firs high school didn't either but that was in the north. Not the case here in Indiana

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glitter_v0id wrote

I had a teacher who regularly gave detentions for not saying the pledge. Not even "refuse to stand", but not saying it loud enough he could hear it.

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ladyanarchist wrote

How is the flag treated in other countries? In the United States, worship is a good term for it. Defamation of the constitution, military, and flag are a few things that will trigger rage in a colonial settler like nothing else will.

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[deleted] wrote (edited )

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ladyanarchist wrote (edited )

People in the United States have been subjected to intense propaganda their entire lives that links the flag to their identity and feeling of belonging. When it is questioned it triggers irrational and often violent behavior even from people that you wouldn't expect it, like elementary school teachers.

Flags are on people's houses, cars, buildings, as interior decoration, as clothing, and classrooms.

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dele_ted wrote

I live in Denmark, and the flag i encounter most often is the American flag. I live close to the American Embassy, and their flag is plastered all over the place, it looks completely ridiculous.

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seitanicqueer98 wrote (edited )

i would say it varies. there are people on the extreme end of the spectrum who regard it as some sort of sacred symbol of patriotism/nationalism, who support bans on burning it, etc. the american civil religion theory proposes that the flag has a religious dimension for a number of conservatives/christian nationalists/people who glorify militarism. even if people don't worship it, a lot of others romanticize it or see it as a popular decoration

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RosaReborn wrote

As an american now living in Germany, it is crazy how omnipresent the US flag is in public buildings compared to here. EVERY single classroom, EVERY single court building, EVERY single yard on the 4th of July etc. etc. etc.

I haven't seen a german flag here in months

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DissidentRage wrote

Where I live you can go to a variety of locations where you will see giant US flags flapping or draped in areas where it is totally inappropriate or inapplicable. There are a few car dealerships that fly giant 50 foot flags from the center of their lots. There are corporate business centers that have flag poles in front of them. They are fucking everywhere.

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braketheboxes wrote (edited )

It is indoctrination, regardless of its use. Attachment to a nation is simply tribalism at the next level. This leads to conflict naturally as you are on team X therefore you are not on team Y. It divides the masses and makes useful cannon fodder when a war is required to further ultra rich interests.

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