# Adults reciting the Pledge of Allegiance **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 7, 2019, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286 "2019-08-07T01:32:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/1 "2019-08-07T01:32:17Z")
At the beginning of every meeting at my condo, we are asked to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Although patriotic, this ritual seems childish since we were all compelled to recite this in school. The National Anthem is too long, and not everyone wants to sing. Is there something else we could say or do? ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/2 "2019-08-07T01:42:22Z")
Light calisthenics. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/3 "2019-08-07T01:47:58Z")
Bellamy salute, in silence. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/4 "2019-08-07T01:51:25Z")
“No gods, no masters” ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/5 "2019-08-07T01:54:05Z")
> [@DaveRaver](#): > > At the beginning of every meeting at my condo, we are asked to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Although patriotic, this ritual seems childish since we were all compelled to recite this in school. The National Anthem is too long, and not everyone wants to sing. Is there something else we could say or do? Have you considered just getting on with the busienss of the meeting? I’m not seeing any need to say or do anything at all by way of patriotic display. It hardly seems the time or the place, to be honest. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/6 "2019-08-07T01:56:22Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Bellamy salute, in silence. A throwback to the good ole’ days? I’m sure it’d be a hit! They might even make the news!! ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/7 "2019-08-07T02:29:17Z")
Well, since you called it a Bellamy Salute, I can’t legitimately suggest doing that (which was the first thing that came to mind) along with a hearty “Hail Caesar”. Hmmm. Reciting the Code of the Sith? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/8 "2019-08-07T02:32:23Z")
Okay, fight my ignorance. Bellamy salute? You could always take a knee. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/9 "2019-08-07T02:39:35Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Okay, fight my ignorance. Bellamy salute? It’s named for Francis Bellamy who designed what to do with your hands during the Pledge of Allegiance. We changed the gesture in the Flag Code in 1942. I bet you can[see](http://tattletailzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/bellamy-salute.jpeg) why. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/10 "2019-08-07T02:39:51Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Okay, fight my ignorance. Bellamy salute? It was old man Bellamy’s idea, and a good ‘un, until that Devil Adolf ruined it forever more. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/11 "2019-08-07T02:47:27Z")
Agree with **UDS**. Shouldn’t the meeting just begin with the chair asking if everyone’s got the agenda and calling the meeting to order? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/12 "2019-08-07T02:49:50Z")
Where on earth do you live where adults feel the need to proclaim their loyalty to the US of A? Is this like a deep south thing? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/13 "2019-08-07T03:07:13Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Is this like a deep south thing? Only if they’re using the Southern Pledge of Allegiance, which contains the additional line “for two hundred and thirty-eight out of two hundred and forty-three years.” ---
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/14 "2019-08-07T03:12:30Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Where on earth do you live where adults feel the need to proclaim their loyalty to the US of A? Is this like a deep south thing? Nope, it’s New York. It’s just the way things have been done here apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/15 "2019-08-07T03:23:08Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > Have you considered just getting on with the busienss of the meeting? I’m not seeing any need to say or do anything at all by way of patriotic display. It hardly seems the time or the place, to be honest. This. I find it ridiculous that we make our children recite a loyalty oath in school. Is forced patriotism real patriotism? And the anthem before sporting events is equally dumb. Except maybe for international matches. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/16 "2019-08-07T03:56:06Z")
> [@DaveRaver](#): > > Nope, it’s New York. It’s just the way things have been done here apparently. Not just NY; I’ve hit it in PA and IN as well at various clubs, meetings and other things. I never minded much as long as people realize that not participating is an option I may select. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/17 "2019-08-07T04:04:37Z")
From Sir Terry Pratchett’s Nac Mac Feegle, we have this gem: “Nae King! Nae quin! Nae Laird! Nae master! We willna’ be fooled agin!” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/18 "2019-08-07T04:17:40Z")
Do a prayer. At my city’s council meetings, they do a prayer and then the Pledge. :eek::eek: It’s uh…well, I am present at least. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/19 "2019-08-07T04:25:10Z")
Do a prayer, but a prayer that has nothing to do with the actual tasks at hand, such as a prayer for burial of the dead (earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust). ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286/20 "2019-08-07T04:54:16Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > Have you considered just getting on with the busienss of the meeting? I’m not seeing any need to say or do anything at all by way of patriotic display. It hardly seems the time or the place, to be honest. > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Agree with **UDS**. > > Shouldn’t the meeting just begin with the chair asking if everyone’s got the agenda and calling the meeting to order? And I agree with both of these posters. It’s a condo meeting, convened to discuss business related to the condominium, nothing else. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adults-reciting-the-pledge-of-allegiance/838286.md?page=2)