# Do Other Countries Have a Pledge of Allegiance? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 10, 2001, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604 "2001-10-10T17:07:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ZomZom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zomzom/32/5620_2.png) [@ZomZom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZomZom)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/1 "2001-10-10T17:07:01Z")
Well, do they? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/2 "2001-10-11T14:20:13Z")
Well we (UK) don’t, and have always thought the US a bit odd about this. There is a brief oath you have to take before being granted citizenship, but that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/3 "2001-10-11T16:17:41Z")
We in Denmark don’t have one either - I don’t think it’s that widespread, really. OTOH, we have no oaths I know of in public life: We don’t swear in the PM, there’s no oaths in courtrooms nor in the armed forces. S. Norman ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/4 "2001-10-11T16:41:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > \*\*Well we (UK) don’t, and have always thought the US a bit odd about this. > > There is a brief oath you have to take before being granted citizenship, but that’s it. \*\* There’s also an oath you have to take to be a MP, MSP or MWP. Police officers also have to take an oath, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the armed forces had the same. But then these are all to the Queen, rather than the country and some people do have a problem with that. Me included. ---
**Author:** ![TheeGrumpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheeGrumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheeGrumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/5 "2001-10-11T23:50:38Z")
😃 ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/6 "2001-10-12T00:22:03Z")
We don’t have any pledge of allegiance, though some people in certain positions, Prime Minister for example, undertake an oath. ---
**Author:** ![TheThill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheThill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheThill)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/7 "2001-10-12T00:28:21Z")
Anybody over here (in Germany) that I’ve told about that little American quirk has thought it to be quite unusual, to say the least. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/8 "2001-10-12T02:39:07Z")
There aren’t many other countries whose flags have the iconic significance the US one’s does. Are there any others whose very anthem is about it, for instance? ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/9 "2001-10-12T02:45:47Z")
You mean you guys in them there forin countrys ain’t got no plege of allegence? How else do you instill a reflex mentality of being comfortable in making showy displays of loyalty while in a heavily socially enforced atmosphere? ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/10 "2001-10-12T03:01:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dave Swaney \* > How else do you instill a reflex mentality of being comfortable in making showy displays of loyalty while in a heavily socially enforced atmosphere? We roll up our trouser legs and do the Gumby dance. Seems reasonable…Doesn’t everyone ? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/11 "2001-10-12T03:40:18Z")
**skogcat** was not totally correct about Australia. It is true that there is no Pledge of Allegiance taught to Australian citizens the way that the US Pledge is taught to schoolchildren etc. in America. There is, however, a pledge that is taken by those who have immigrated to Australia and wish to become Australian citizens. There are, in fact, two Australian Citizenship Pledges. Number 1, which is known as the Oath, reads: > [@](#): > > From this time forward, under God, > I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, > whose democratic beliefs I share, > whose rights and liberties I respect, and > whose laws I will uphold and obey. Number 2, known as the Affirmation, is identical except for the removal of the words “under God”. A potential citizen can choose either one. These pledges were adopted in 1994, and replaced the previous pledge in which new citizens swore allegiance to the English monarch. ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/12 "2001-10-12T04:15:31Z")
As the real thing doesn’t exist, in German class we were forced to memorize the _American_ pledge, translated into German. ---
**Author:** ![jack\_ss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c77e96/32.png) [@jack\_ss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_ss)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/13 "2001-10-12T04:21:45Z")
I heard that the american pledge of allegience was first instituted after the Civil War “one nation under God, **indivisible** …” maybe as insurance that through indoctrination as children we would be less likely to secceed from the union again in the future. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/14 "2001-10-12T04:33:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jack@ss \* > \*\*I heard that the american pledge of allegience was first instituted after the Civil War “one nation under God, **indivisible** …” maybe as insurance that through indoctrination as children we would be less likely to secceed from the union again in the future. \*\* No, originally to commemorate Columbus Day, believe it or not, and it dates from 1892: > **[Flag of Freedom - Home of Heroes](https://homeofheroes.com/flag-of-freedom/)** > > The Flag of Freedom is the symbolic embodiment of the American People's resilience in trying times. Read more about the Flag of Freedom on Home of Heroes. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/15 "2001-10-12T06:04:31Z")
The whole pledge thing never made much sense to me. First, why pledge allegiance to the FLAG? The constitition would make much more sense. Second, why do it every day? Did they think I changed my mind overnight? Third, the “under god” part violates separation of church and state. And finally, forcing kids to pledge an oath of allegiance seems to stand against the very ideals that America stands for. ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/16 "2001-10-12T07:01:13Z")
From [here](http://www.usflag.org/the.pledge.of.allegiance.html) > [@](#): > > In June of 1954 an amendment was made to add the words “under God”. Then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower said “In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of reigious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war.” Michael Dukakis got in a little hot water over his veto of a Massachusetts bill that would have required teachers to lead their class in the pledge each day. [This site](http://www.cwu.edu/~millerj/jack/flag.html) gives a pretty good overall history. > [@](#): > > Among the nations in the world, only the USA and the Philippines, imitating the USA, have a pledge to their flag…In 1892, a socialist named Francis Bellamy created the Pledge of Allegiance for _Youth’s Companion_, a national family magazine for youth published in Boston. ---
**Author:** ![Kaje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f04885/32.png) [@Kaje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaje)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/17 "2001-10-12T07:04:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DanBlather \* > \*\*The whole pledge thing never made much sense to me. First, why pledge allegiance to the FLAG? The constitition would make much more sense. Second, why do it every day? Did they think I changed my mind overnight? Third, the “under god” part violates separation of church and state. And finally, forcing kids to pledge an oath of allegiance seems to stand against the very ideals that America stands for. \*\* You got it all wrong… it supports the very ideals America stands for… Its in the declaration of independence: “life, liberty, and the pursuit of global assimilation” ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/18 "2001-10-12T07:21:08Z")
I don’t get it. How can you have freedom if you don’t force all the children to mindlessly recite patriotic loyalty oaths that they’re too young to even understand? ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/19 "2001-10-12T13:11:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mhendo \* > \*\ ***skogcat** was not totally correct about Australia. It is true that there is no Pledge of Allegiance taught to Australian citizens the way that the US Pledge is taught to schoolchildren etc. in America. There is, however, a pledge that is taken by those who have immigrated to Australia and wish to become Australian citizens. > \*\* When I was in primary (elementary) school in the 70s, we had to recite a pledge once a week at school assembly. I’ve forgotten the exact wording, but it was something along the lines of “I honour my Country, I respect my Flag…”. As for this being a general Australian thing, it might well have been the midnight creativity of a drunken school principal, so I can’t vouch for it. ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604/20 "2001-10-12T13:58:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kaje \* > You got it all wrong… it supports the very ideals America stands for… Its in the declaration of independence: “life, liberty, and the pursuit of global assimilation” Could someone link to the Declaration of Independence for me? I haven’t read it in a while, an apparently I’ve forgotten the language concerning global assimilation. Sua [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-have-a-pledge-of-allegiance/86604.md?page=2)