So, on this day, I had a meeting for Civil Air Patrol, of course.
Since I wasn't in charge, we were ordered to face the flag, salute and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
As we stood there, for about three minutes due to the flight sergeant's inability to make things up on the spot, I tried to recall the first words of the simple pledge to my beloved country.
I slowly caught the words a few times, "I pledge..." and it turned into the cadet oath, with "To serve faithfully in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program.." following. I tried again. "I pledge to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the republic [about this moment, an clip of an older man popped into my head about which words had been changed and I tried to remember what was added] for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all."
Awesome. I was in the zone, and I was proud.
Then we got the order to recite The Pledge Of Allegiance.
Every
Single
One of us
Sputtered.
We jumbled over words, rushed though a little of the oath, and other things, before I finally came back to Earth, and started out with a strong "I pledge allegiance to the Flag, of The United States of America..." and the other cadets followed in a slightly loud, but still muted voice.
After that little show of...Well, nothing, I realized how much America has changed. And now I realize how much it has changed since 9/11.
I went to a private catholic school. No, I'm not catholic anymore. But, as I recall, we used to say The Pledge Of Allegiance every day of class, first thing in the morning. Class would stand, face towards the flag, put our tiny little hands over our tiny little hearts, and with our tiny little voices, recite The Pledge Of Allegiance.
When I got into, I dunno, say 5th or sixth grade, this slowly dropped off and was only done by one of the regular substitute teachers. After 9/11, it stopped all together.
Maybe they were afraid some extremist Muslim or something would decide to bomb the school and destroy the Jesus and Mary statues.
Or something else.
When I got into 10th grade, there was a flag in most classrooms. But, we never said The Pledge Of Allegiance.
I'm not sure where this came from, but there is apparently a trend that non-patriotism is a good thing. I've met more anti-Americans than I have Jewish, Pagan, Wiccan, Baptist, and other less popular religions. Which turns out to be a lot.
Then, I hear about these here groups, like the westburo baptist church, who would literally dance and spit on soldier's graves.
But luckily we have laws that keep them about 100 foot away whenever they protest a burial.
Well...That's a start anyway.
Could this entire anti-America, anti-military hippie shit-like shit, be related to kids just not being taught about America's rich history, and being kept in practice with traditions and ceremonies?
Possibly.
Will this be the down fall of America?
Not while people like me are around.
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